Der Ort Mende wird niemals sein erstes Gastspiel bei der Frankreichrundfahrt vergessen, und die Tour wird sich im Gegenzug in alle Ewigkeit an den Überflug von Laurent Jalabert am 14. Juli 1995 erinnern. Der Sitz der Präfektur des Départements Lozère war damals für das Peloton noch Neuland, während es bereits daran gewohnt war, an der Côte de la Croix Neuve aus dem Sattel zu gehen. Die Spanier Marcos Serrano (2007), Joaquim Rodríguez (2010) und Omar Fraile (2018) schlugen hier zu. Der Brite Steve Cummings setzte sich im Clinch mit Romain Bardet und Thibaut Pinot 2015 durch. Und bei der letzten Stippvisite der Tour in Mende ging 2022 der Australier Michael Matthews siegreich aus einem Ausreißversuch hervor, während Jonas Vingegaard der Beschleunigung von Tadej Pogačar standhielt.
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Mende and cycling
Mende will never forget its Tour de France debut, nor will the Tour forget Laurent Jalabert’s breakaway on 14 July 1995. The capital of Lozère was then still uncharted territory for the peloton, which is now accustomed to grinding its way up the slopes of the Croix Neuve climb. Spaniards Marcos Serrano (in 2007), Joaquim Rodríguez (in 2010) and Omar Fraile (in 2018) all made their mark there. Britain’s Steve Cummings seized his chance there against Romain Bardet and Thibaut Pinot in 2015. And in 2022, during the Tour’s last visit to Mende, it was Australia’s Michael Matthews who emerged victorious from a fierce battle amongst the breakaway riders, whilst Jonas Vingegaard held off Tadej Pogacar’s attack.
Christophe Laurent, who competed in the Tour in 2004 and 2006, was born in and still lives in Mende. The town is also the headquarters of the Tour du Gévaudan.
Sights
Gothic Cathedral of Our Lady and Saint Privat in Mende
Construction: 1368
History: built on the initiative of Pope Urban V, who was based in Avignon and hailed from Gévaudan, it was first consecrated a century later. The bell towers were erected in the early 16th century.
Features: Inside, visitors can admire early 18th-century Aubusson tapestries depicting scenes from the life of the Virgin Mary, some beautiful 16th-, 17th- and 18th-century paintings, 17th-century woodwork (the former rood screen and the canons’ stalls), a 12th-century Black Madonna and remarkable 17th-century organs.
Trivia: the large bell tower once housed the ‘Non Pareille’, which in its day (1517–1579) was the largest bell in Christendom; its clapper can still be found inside the cathedral. During the Wars of Religion, the bell was destroyed, along with part of the building.
Listed as: Historic Monument since 1906
Mende plateau and aerodrome
The Mende plateau, which overlooks the town, is covered in forest and home to a leisure centre (mountain biking, via ferrata, adventure park, play areas), as well as numerous hiking trails. It is a veritable green lung close to the town centre. At its summit stands the Mende-Brenoux aerodrome, which was the filming location for the final scene of Gérard Oury’s film La Grande Vadrouille.
Town Hall
Built: 18th century
Features: a former 18th-century townhouse, remodelled with modern elements, it boasts a beautiful slate roof, a fine interior staircase with a hanging keystone, and Aubusson tapestries. It became the town hall in 1851.
Listed as: Historic Monument since 1944
Notre-Dame Bridge
Built: 12th century
Features: dating from the 13th century, this bridge was for a long time the town’s only stone bridge. Spanning the River Lot, the main pointed arch vault has a span of 20.30 metres and a height of 7 metres. The second, smaller span is a semi-circular arch. This charming site is also well worth a visit for the superb roofs shaped like inverted ship hulls, which stand on either side of the bridge and are found in great numbers in the upper Lot valley.
Listed as: Historic Monument since 1889.
Urbain V Trail
The Urbain V Trail, which traces the life of one of Lozère’s most famous figures (Pope Urban V), runs from Nasbinals to Avignon. It passes through the town of Mende, where it follows the Way of the Cross, which has been restored by the local council. The French Hiking Federation officially recognised the Urbain V Trail as a long-distance hiking route in 2014.
