Cabanon of La Cigale

The plant diversity of the Massif des Maures fostered a mosaic of silvo-pastoral activities until the middle of the 19th century, providing a livelihood for many forestry craftsmen. These activities generated a small heritage of buildings and equipment linked to the processing of these resources. Numerous shepherd's huts, such as the one at La Cigale, used as daily shelters or even temporary housing for shepherds and "bouscatiers", are a reminder of the seasonal but cyclical nature of these activities. The remains of a cork transport cart and the marks of cork harvesting on several cork oaks destined for local cork factories can be seen 50 m below the cabin. Similarly, 500 m further down on the right, an ancient area marked by a tin oven is evidence of charcoal production. The surrounding place names also reveal the importance of pastoralism in the past in these hills: Les Vanades (fold, sheepfold), Signau de clau (enclosure) de Barrau and Comtadou, a rocky peak to the north, used as a corridor for counting ewes.
Built of local stone masonry, the La Cigale cabin is made up of two areas with separate entrances, which were probably the living area and a shelter for tools or livestock. Restored in 2005 by the ALPHA association and the ONF, it now provides shelter for walkers and hunters.