Malbosc is a commune (municipality) in the Ardèche department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in southern France.
Geography and Demographics
Malbosc is situated in the Cévennes region, at an altitude ranging from 210 m to 907 m, covering an area of 21.43 km². As of 2023, the population was 146 inhabitants (known as Malbossards or Malboscois). The village is composed of a central core and approximately ten hamlets and twenty isolated farmsteads scattered across the territory. It is part of the Communauté de communes Pays des Vans en Cévennes and is within the Parc Naturel Régional des Monts d'Ardèche and the Parc National des Cévennes (adhesion area).
Toponymy
The name derives from Occitan bosc ("wood" or "forest"), meaning "bad wood." However, according to local tradition, the name comes from the De Malbosc family, lords of the village originally from Gévaudan (Les Bondons), who settled there in the 12th century and gave the village its name.
History
From the 13th to the 18th century, the seigneury belonged to the House of Malbosc, a well-established noble family in the region. The Revolt of the Masks (Révolte des Masques), which affected several cantons at the end of the Ancien Régime, was led by the prosecutor of Malbosc, Antoine de La Billerie. He was arrested in Malbosc, tried, and hanged in Les Vans in 1783.
Notable Sites
- Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste: A 19th-century church, behind which stands a Romanesque church cited in a papal bull of Innocent III dated 12 November 1208.
- Château du 12th century: Only six building bodies remain at the lieu-dit of Chastellas, along with the Saint-Blaise chapel.
- Bois d'Abeau: A Sensitive Natural Area (Espace Naturel Sensible) featuring beech forests, broom moors, and diverse forest bird species.
Economy and Activities
The commune is a rural destination for hiking, mountain biking, fishing, and hunting. The GR® de Pays Le Cévenol long-distance hiking trail passes through the territory. A local farmers' market operates Sunday mornings from July to August on the church square.
