Historical of the campsite
History :
– the Domaine of St Julien de la Nef from the 1960s onwards
– of Isis Campsite, handed down from generation to generation since 1975
– the name “Isis”, which links us to Roman antiquity
– the Domaine’s Romanesque chapel
– those of the Cevennes, a land of refuge, marked by great movements of thought
The Domaine in the 60s
This was the period when the Faidherbe family took over the agricultural Domaine of St Julien de la Nef. It was at this time that the domaine crossed paths with a Cevenole woman, a hard worker and guardian of freedom, and a man from Brussels, a painter and botanist, their 4 children and their friends
It was at this time that fruit trees (apples, peaches, etc.) were still being grown, Acacia stakes were still being made and “vine mother plants” (baby vines) were being grown for the great vineyards of Bordeaux and the Rhône Valley
Agriculture, as we all know, is very dependent on the weather… it has its ups and downs!
Spring floods and frosts make bankers cringe, but stimulate the imagination which, combined with an inordinate amount of hard work that is well known in the Cevennes region, leads us to develop other sources of income, such as :
First, the refurbishment of the micro hydroelectric power station
Then, in 1969, the creation of the fruit processing company “CANTE MERLI”: forerunner and initiator of the famous Pomme Reinette du Vigan juice. Today, the company still produces a range of over 21 types of jam, fruit in syrup and fruit juice, using fruit from the domaine, wild fruit from the Cevennes and fruit from the region
But that’s not enough to support the family and take on far too many expenses. So in 1975, thanks to his boundless audacity and unfailing positivism, Merli decided to create “Isis Campsite”. Right from the start, he committed himself to the quality standards of a modern campsite with :
- A 3* classification
- All the amenities: bar, restaurant, food, entertainment, etc
- An avant-garde commitment to respecting the environment
In a spirit of sharing and exchange, with a deliberate emphasis on beauty, conviviality and friendliness, the campsite helps to create a family atmosphere of good-naturedness, trust and love, where everyone, from all walks of life, finds their place in the midst of a luxuriant and generous natural environment
We, the second and third generations, have naturally maintained this line of conduct, as the holidaymakers who have trusted us for three or even four generations can testify 🙂 Our imagination is still running wild
Our imagination is still running riot, and we’re still hard at work to maintain and preserve this fragile independence, with its apparent sense of freedom, which is so dear to our hearts
Maintaining the independence of our establishment is now our priority and our fight
– in the face of the terrible globalisation of marketing (terribly powerful online travel agencies based in tax-free countries)
– in the face of major chains, large groups, with huge financial capacities for investment and communication
– in the face of ever more onerous and anxiety-provoking regulatory requirements