Mens - St Jean d'Herans
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PROTESTANT MENS, OR LITTLE GENEVA IN THE ALPES
The Reformed Church of Mens was founded in 1561 by Eymard Pichon, a minister from Grenoble. Thanks to the presence of the Duke of Lesdiguières, the burg quickly became a Protestant stronghold that kept the peace in the region for many years until the truce of 1589 which officially ended the Religious Wars in the Dauphiné. Mens is the most important Reformed parish in the Trièves. With it's rich merchants and well-off artisans the town continues to this day to contribute to the area's rich cultural heritage.
The model school in Mens
In 1829, the minister, André Blanc, opened a public school in Mens. Five years later, Mr. Guizot, who was the public education minister, established the school as a "model school" for the department and used it to train future teachers. Soon after, the school gained renown. So much so, that many of it's students came from all over France.
The Châtel or Calvin's bonnet
You may leave the Sur les Pas des Huguenots trail for a short excursion to Le Châtel (known as "Le Bonnet de Calvin" in the Trièves). It is an emblematic peak in the Southern Dauphiné and it marks the start of the Dévoluy massif. The peak offers an exceptional panorama of the Obiou, the Ecrins and the Vercors. In addition, if you are there in spring, the orchids, and other colorful flowers will be in full bloom.
Why is it called Calvin's bonnet ? Simply because it's shape reminds us of the hat carried by the famous Reformer !
What to see and do : The churches of Mens and Saint-Jean-d'Hérans, the Trièves museum, the square "la place de la halle" in Mens, the "Café des Arts" in Mens, the exhibitions, the Engrangeou, the market on Saturday mornings in the market hall...
Tourist information
Mens
Festival of music, words and images! An astonishing, varied and contemporary festival in early August in Mens, the historic capital of the Trièves: jazz music, a big ball, poetry and surprises of all kinds for young and old alike.
Étape qui se combine aisément avec la suivante.
Plusieurs randonneurs nous informent que la chambre d'hôte Les Agnelles à Saint-Jean d'Hérans ne fait plus d'accueil.
Dommage je voulais faire étape à St Jean après avoir passé du temps à Mens, marché, belles rencontres. Une chambre hôte complète et l'autre qui à priori n'existe plus malgré sa présence sur Internet et des panneaux l'indiquant.
Le balisage GR n'est pas placé correctement quand on prend le chemin dans l'autre sens. A de multiples endroits nous avons dû suivre notre intuition et notre sens de l'orientation...
L'étape en vidéo et en image : http://dodiblog.unblog.fr/2015/04/12/chemins-des-huguenots-etape-mens-saint-jean-dherans/
A propos de balisage, les plaques directionnelles jaunes ont été fort appréciées mais certaines sont déjà cassées comme à Mens : à noter que dans ce village, de multiples panneaux jaunes indiquent St Jean d’Hérans ; il serait peut-être intéressant d’apporter une attention particulière pour éviter toute confusion au départ du village.
Vous pouvez participer à la qualité de cette rubrique ! Merci d’alerter l’Office du tourisme de l’étape des données erronées que vous auriez constatées.
Tourist Offices
Accommodation Partners 
Other Accommodations
Other accommodationCornillon-en-Trièves
14-bed gîte in former stables with breathtaking views of the Devoluy. Vast outdoor space adjoining the gîte.
CampsiteMens
Ideally located in the heart of the charming village of Mens (300 m from the center), the historic capital of the Trièves, a place of calm and authenticity, in a setting of greenery and mountains, between the Vercors and the Dévoluy.
Restaurants
Camping Pré Rolland RestaurantMens
Bar, snack bar, restaurant, pizzeria open onto swimming pool.
Auberge de Mens Hotel-RestaurantMens
From the sunny south terrace to the shady east terrace at lunchtime, from the bright dining room to the patio, you have a choice of settings to enjoy seasonal, spontaneous and intuitive cuisine made entirely on site.
