The period between the Edict of Fontainebleau (1685) and the “edict of toleration” in 1787 is referred to as the Desert: it is a period of secrecy and underground activity for the reformed faith. The term is borrowed from the crossing of the desert by the Hebrews after their escape from Egypt. In fact it refers to isolated places protected by watchers on the look-out for the danger of arrest and sentence.
Musée virtuel du protestantisme