Menu
Sainte-Marguerite-Lafigère · Cévennes Ardèche
Since 2019, we have been reopening the old stone terraces, caring for the chestnut grove and growing two forest gardens between Les Vans and the Cévennes.
Individual forest garden visits are paused until Easter 2027. Groups and schools are welcome throughout the year by prior booking. From late September, pick-your-own chestnut days take place on Wednesdays and Sundays, depending on the weather and fruit maturity
Au Bois Tordu
Turning abandoned terraces into a living place
When we arrived in 2019, brambles, stones and steep slopes had reclaimed the old faïsses, the traditional Cévennes terraces. We began by clearing the land, reopening paths and giving the chestnut trees room to breathe again.
Little by little, 2.3 hectares have come back into use as two permaculture-inspired forest gardens, a restored chestnut grove, growing spaces and a place where we can share what the land teaches us. This is a working farm shaped by water, seasons, slope and hands-on experience.
Read the story of the farm →
Visit the micro-farm
A season for harvesting, a whole year for sharing
Paused until Easter 2027
Individual forest garden visits will resume at Easter 2027. The dedicated page will be updated before the new season.
Visitor information →Welcome all year round
Schools, associations and private groups can visit by prior booking. The content, pace and duration are adapted to the age, project and season.
Plan a group visit →Pick your own chestnuts
Wednesdays and Sundays, €3 per kilogram, by reservation only and when weather and fruit maturity allow.
See the practical details →
Chestnut season
Pick chestnuts in the landscape where they grow
Come and gather your own chestnuts in a steep Cévennes grove that we restore year after year.
- From late September to mid-November
- Wednesdays and Sundays
- €3 per kilogram picked
- Advance booking required
- Opening confirmed according to weather and fruit maturity
Grown, foraged and made here
Artisan chestnut products and botanical syrups from Ardèche
Our recipes follow the fruit, flowers, herbs and chestnuts that are genuinely available on the farm. We work in small batches and do not buy in missing ingredients simply to keep an artificial year-round range.
The external SumUp shop shows the products currently available to order.
Lou Palet — by Au Bois Tordu
A project under consideration, not an open venue
Lou Palet carries the history of a former crêperie and farm table. We are exploring the idea of a Cévennes farm stop serving local potato criques, galettes, crêpes, drinks made with our syrups and farm products.
The concept, investment and funding are still being studied. Lou Palet is not open and no opening date has been announced.
Seasonal calendar
What you can do now
Dates involving nature remain indicative and are always confirmed before your visit.
Paused for the season
By reservation, with adapted content
Wednesday and Sunday · €3/kg · booking required
Through the SumUp shop or by contacting us
Press and radio
In the press
The chestnut grove, stone terraces and work on the farm, as seen by visitors who came to meet us.
ICI Drôme Ardèche · Radio
Au Bois Tordu on ICI Drôme Ardèche
Discover the feature about Au Bois Tordu in the radio programme Circuits courts en Drôme Ardèche.
Visit the programme on ICI ↗Bobine Magazine · Reportage
Les Cévennes, grandeur nature
Bobine’s Cévennes feature visits Au Bois Tordu and describes the chestnut grove and terraces brought back into cultivation.
Read the Bobine article ↗Both original features are in French on the media websites.
Come to Au Bois Tordu
At the end of the road, land brought back into use
Au Bois Tordu740 route du Jou
07140 Sainte-Marguerite-Lafigère
Ardèche, near Les Vans+33 7 69 76 87 50contact@urbital.frOpen directions ↗
Book or ask a question
Please contact us before travelling
Chestnut picking, group visits and order collection are confirmed only after we reply.
Wear sturdy footwear. For groups, please tell us the participants’ ages, group size, accessibility requirements and preferred topic.