For ten days, this thirty-year-old adventurer traveled 240 km on foot to connect Aumont-Aubrac in Lozère and Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert in Hérault. A journey where he chose to feed himself exclusively on the fruits of nature.
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Antoine de Suremain is the author of the book Walking in the desert, on the road to Saint-Guilhem, published by Salvator. In this book, he recounts his solitary walk for 10 days, in the fall of 2022, on this 240 km route which links Aumont-Aubrac to Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert, between Lozère and Hérault. A journey where he nourished himself exclusively on the fruits of nature, found along the way.
His challenge: to live joyfully and intensely with little. And to evoke the spark of childhood: “It’s a bit like surviving on a desert island, like Robinson Crusoe.”
Antoine de Suremain only took a bottle of vinegar, walnut oil and salt in his backpack to season the nettle soups, dandelion salads and chestnuts that he prepared during his journey.
“Wild plants provide many more nutrients than industrial products. You should know that 80% of French wild flora is edible.”
Antoine de Suremainto franceinfo
What balance does asceticism bring about? “I eat better, I sleep less, my mind is clear,” summarizes Antoine de Suremain. To blend into the organic, and whisper its steps. Through the exploration of the plateaus of Aubrac, the Grands Causses, the Cévennes, Antoine de Suremain felt disoriented in his own country.
The contemplative dimension of this walk was also essential. “We can talk about a real inner journey, I rubbed shoulders with the unknown to better discover myself, I experienced solitude, when it is chosen, it is a luxury.” He relished the slowness, and appreciated being able to escape the tyranny of the stopwatch.