Lozère

The Lozère department is in southern France, in the Occitanie region, in the northern part of the Cévennes mountain range, and its capital is Mende, the smallest departmental capital in France. This is France's least populated department, and much of the Cévennes National Park lies within it, offering pristine mountain nature, limestone plateaus and deep valleys. Its economy rests almost entirely on mountain livestock farming (sheep, cattle) and nature-based tourism, with no industry present. Lozère is one of France's cheapest and calmest departments to live in, but its urban amenities, employment and transport access are very limited.

Mende, Marvejols, Saint-Chély-d'Apcher

• IUT de Mende

Because of the low population and small towns, the environment is very calm and safe. However, amenities and nightlife are much more limited compared to big cities.

Public transport mainly consists of TER lines and regional buses connecting Mende to Clermont-Ferrand, Nîmes and surrounding towns. Life without a car is possible, but for frequent travel, a car helps a great deal.