L’édification d’un « parc imaginaire » des Cévennes

A study of the Cévennes region reveals how literary works shaped a collective identity and influenced its development as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. From the 18th century, diverse genres—oral and written, fictional and realistic—created shared cultural and landscape markers, forming the basis for a regional identity. This 'imaginary park' concept gained traction in the mid-20th century, blending nostalgia for rural life with traditional practices like agriculture and pastoralism, aligning with sustainable development ideals. However, by the 2000s, efforts to inscribe the Cévennes as a mixed cultural landscape on UNESCO's World Heritage List faltered due to its failure to meet universal significance criteria. The research highlights how local identity clashes with global heritage standards while noting untapped potential from Anglo-Saxon biorégionalism, which integrates place-based identity with ecocentric approaches.

Basset, K.-L., & Pelen, J.-N. (2016). L’édification d’un « parc imaginaire » des Cévennes. Territoire En Mouvement, 31. https://doi.org/10.4000/tem.3789