How to visit Saint Guilhem le Désert and the Hérault Gorges? You are on vacation in the South of France or on a weekend in Hérault and you are looking for ideas for visits or tourist circuits around Montpellier.
For that, here is my 3-day road trip in the Gorges de l’Hérault which might perhaps inspire you…
This 150 kilometer tourist circuit starts from Montpellier and passes through the Gorges de l'Hérault, through Saint Guilhem le Désert and ends at Circus of Mourèze. It offers a multitude of landscapes ranging from the heights of Montpellier to the Larzac causses, from rivers to canyons, from tranquil lakes to mountainous cirques and scrubland to the Languedoc hills.
Below are the steps of my road trip around Saint-Guilhem le Désert with the Google Map of the route.
Ideal for un big weekend, this tourist route can easily be integrated into a circuit of several days in Occitania, on the Mediterranean coast of Languedoc or following a road trip in Camargue.
How to visit Saint Guilhem le Désert and its surroundings?
How to visit Saint Guilhem the Desert and Gorges of the Hérault ? Where to leave, by what means, what is the nearest airport?
Me, who is from Toulouse, I simply took my car in the direction of Montpellier to arrive in Saint Martin de Londres in 3 short hours and from there, start my tour of 3 days in the heart of Languedoc.
But for those who travel by train, they can arrive at Montpellier Saint-Roch or Béziers station. And for those traveling by plane, you will have to land at Montpellier Méditerranée international airport.
In these last two cases, car rental will be the only solution to realize this tourist circuit in the North of Montpellier.
What to see around Saint Guilhem le Désert?
Choose my stages among all the beautiful sites, the pretty little villages and the many natural sites around Saint Guilhem le Désert is not easy! Especially since I only had 3 days and therefore had to organize the stages so as not to waste too much time on journeys.
I therefore chose to limit my circuit to North of the Montpellier region around Saint Guilhem le Désert and Gorges of the Hérault. Here are the sites that I have chosen which are real must-sees in the region:
- Pic Saint Loup
- Saint-Martin-de-Londres
- Saint-Guilhem-le-Desert
- The Devil's Bridge
- Gorges of the Hérault
- Umbrella Canyon
- Clamouse cave
- Aniane
- Devil's canyon
- Salagou Lake
- Circus of Mourèze
Saint Guilhem le Désert tourist route map
Mountain, scrubland and the most beautiful village in France… This is the program for DAY 1 of my tour!
Saint Guilhem le Désert surroundings - Pic Saint Loup
This is the 1st stage of my circuit (30 km from Montpellier) that I had programmed to climb this mountain which is considered to be one of the most beautiful natural and hiking sites in Languedoc.
In fact, I had read that at the top, at the top, the point of view is magnificent… but it took me 1 hour to 1:30 to reach it and the same to go down. However, it was very hot and I must admit shamefully that I had a big crisis of laziness which blocked me on the terrace of a small cafe in the village of Saint Martin in London.
Saint-Martin-de-Londres
At the foot of Pic Saint Loup, Saint Martin de Londres is a small village full of charm with its medieval houses and narrow streets. It extends around a priory in the 11th century built by the monks of Saint-Guilhem le Désert. The Romanesque church is interesting with its 14 meter high dome and its beautiful portal.
What to see in Saint-Guilhem le Désert?
On the way to Saint-Jacques de Compostelle, in the middle of the Gorges de l'Hérault, dominated by beautiful white cliffs, is a little gem: the medieval village of Saint-Guilhem the Desert.
How to visit Saint-Guilhem le Désert?
To visit Saint-Guilhem le Désert, you can book a excursion from Montpellier for a private guided tour with a 1-day guide.
But if you prefer to visit Saint-Guilhem at your own pace, I advise you to go there fairly early in the morning because this Great Site of France attracts hundreds of tourists every day and thousands during the summer.
You will need to park at the Maison du Grand Site (Pont du Diable car park), either at the top of the village at the Pré des Pères car park or at the Saint Laurent car park at the bottom of the village. You can take a free shuttle to the site.
What to visit in Saint-Guilhem le Désert?
Classified in 2012 "Most Beautiful Village in France", this village is simply enchanting!
It was built in 806 by Guilhem Duc d'Aquitaine around the Benedictine Abbey of Gellone which is listed in the world heritage of humanity by UNESCO. You can visit its pre-Romanesque crypt and the 11th century Romanesque church.
In the village, you can also discover the Chapel of the White Penitents, the old church of Saint Laurent (which is now the town hall) and stroll through the streets of the city.
Finally, to have a superb view of Saint-Guilhem le Désert and its Abbey, you can climb up to the ruins of the castle (path well signposted and traced in the village).
What to do in Saint-Guilhem le Désert?
The nature around Saint Guilhem le Désert is beautiful. I therefore advise you (if you have time) to walk around the vineyards and olive-growing terraces or to take a beautiful hike in the mountains of Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert.
I particularly recommend the GR653-Circuit des Fenestrettes hike (10km / 3h) which offers one of the most beautiful views of the Cirque de l'Infernet and the Gellone valley.
See the video below on this great hike and on the village of Saint Guilhem le Désert :
Where to sleep in Saint-Guilhem le Désert
To be able to take full advantage of the site, to walk there at nightfall, to dine in a romantic restaurant… the best thing will be to stay there. I recommend you The Escuelle Tavern.
More information about this hotel in Saint-Guilhem le Désert
Cave, canyon and waterfalls… This is the program for the 2nd DAY of my tour!
Gorges de l'Hérault - Pont du Diable
Le Devil's Bridge is one of the oldest medieval bridges in France. It is listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It is located at the entrance of Gorges of the Hérault between Saint Jean de Fos and Saint Guilhem le Désert. There is a beach near the bridge which invites you to swim and where you can rent canoes.
Gorges de l'Hérault - Waterfall the umbrella or the fan
Here is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the Hérault gorges. To get there, coming from Saint Jean de Fos to Saint Guilhem le Désert by the D4, you can park next to a house on the right. A small path behind the wall will take you to the waterfall at about 300 m. Once there, you can swim under a curtain of rain falling on the river. A real joy !
Hérault gorges - Clamousse cave
About 1 kilometer from the Cascade, you can visit a site classified 3 stars by the Michelin guide: the Clamouse cave. Classified as a scientific and scenic site by the Ministry of Ecology, its calcite and aragonite concretions make it a site of great beauty.
Around Saint Guilhem le Désert - Aniane
After the visit, we will move away from the gorges to visit the village of Aniane and admire its 17th century abbey St Sauveur.
You will be able to take the midday meal well installed on the terrace of a restaurant on a small shaded place…
Then return to Saint Jean de Fos to take the direction of Jonquières then Saint Saturnin de Lucian to arrive at the Devil's Canyon (40 minutes drive).
Canyoning in the Gorges de l'Hérault
You will be able to enjoy the whole afternoon of this tourist site which is also a great geological site and a perfect site to practice the canyoning (ideal for beginners).
If you are looking for monitors to accompany you, do not hesitate to contact Between2nature Tel 06 81 72 23 78 Email: contact@entre2nature.fr.
At the end of the day, you have to come back to spend the night in Saint-Guilhem le Désert (The Escuelle Tavern).
Lake, vineyards, circus, limestone rock, medieval village… This is the program for the 3rd DAY of my tour!
35 km from Saint-Guilhem le Désert, Languedoc offers a contrasting and changing landscape from the Grand Site of the Salagou valley to the Cirque de Mourèze.
Around Saint Guilhem le Désert - Lac de Salagou
In the heart of Languedoc, Lake Salagou is the ideal place for swimming, for family walks or for beautiful hikes or mountain biking.
Le Salagou lake is surrounded by mountains colored red thanks to ruffes (clay sediments loaded with iron oxide), and black resulting from stones of volcanic origin. The region is also popular for its Lucca olives, oil, honey and vineyards.
Around Saint Guilhem le Désert - Mourèze
10 kilometers from the lake, you will reach the medieval village of Mourèze. You can visit the 17th century Sainte-Marie church and take some pictures of the pretty stone streets.
Around Saint Guilhem le Désert - Cirque de Mourèze
The Mourèze cirque, formed of limestone rocks that erosion has shaped into bizarre shapes, is a surprising site.
How to go to the Cirque de Mourèse?
When entering Mourèze, you can park in the car park on the right or go a little further and park in the car park on the left before the small bridge. Access to the Mourèze circus is from the center of the village.
You can discover it by taking one of the hiking trails which are very well marked.
On the other hand, you can also go to Belvedere of the Courtinals park, from where you will have a superb panorama on the Mourèze circus and on the village.
Which hike at the Cirque de Mourèze?
Here is the hike that I recommend you by following the discovery trail of Courtinals.
It is accessed by the Courtinals car park which is located at the entrance to the village. For more details, here is the practical information on the hike:
Which hotel in Mourèze?
If you are looking for a place to stay with the most beautiful view of the Mourèze circus, I recommend theHotel Les Hauts de Mourèze. Not only is the hotel great, the place is just beautiful. Imagine your breakfast in front of this postcard decor ...
More information about this hotel in Mourèze
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