How to visit Saint Guilhem le Désert and the Gorges de l'Hérault? You are on holiday in the South of France or on a weekend in the Hérault and you are looking for ideas for visits or tourist routes 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 route starts in Montpellier, passes through the Hérault Gorges, via Saint Guilhem le Désert, and ends at the Cirque de Mourèze . It offers a multitude of landscapes ranging from the heights of Montpellier to the Larzac plateau, from rivers to canyons, from tranquil lakes to mountain cirques, and from garrigue to Languedoc hills.
Below you will find the stages of my road trip around Saint-Guilhem le Désert with the Google Map of the route.
Ideal for a long weekend , this tourist route can easily be integrated into a multi-day tour in Occitanie , on the Mediterranean coast of Languedoc or following a road trip in the Camargue.
How to visit Saint Guilhem le Désert and its surroundings?
How to visit Saint Guilhem le Désert and the Gorges de l'Hérault ? Where to start from, by what means, what is the nearest airport?
As someone from Toulouse, I simply took my car towards Montpellier to arrive in Saint Martin de Londres in 3 short hours and from there, start my 3-day tour 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?
Choosing my stops among all the beautiful sites, pretty little villages and numerous natural sites around Saint Guilhem le Désert is not easy! Especially since I only had 3 days and therefore had to organize the stops so as not to waste too much time traveling.
I therefore chose to limit my tour to the north of the Montpellier region, around Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert and the Hérault Gorges . Here are the sites I selected, which are truly unmissable 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 of St. James, in the middle of the Hérault Gorges, dominated by beautiful white cliffs, lies a little gem: the medieval village of Saint-Guilhem le Désert.
How to visit Saint-Guilhem le Désert?
To visit Saint-Guilhem le Désert, you can book a day trip from Montpellier for a private guided tour with a 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 as "Most Beautiful Village of France" , this village is simply enchanting!
It was built in 806 by Guilhem, Duke of Aquitaine, around the Benedictine Abbey of Gellone, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site . 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 about this superb hike and the village of Saint Guilhem le Désert :
Where to sleep in Saint-Guilhem le Désert
To fully enjoy the site, to stroll around at nightfall, to dine in a romantic restaurant… the best option is to stay overnight. I recommend La Taverne de l'Escuelle.
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
The Devil's Bridge is one of the oldest medieval bridges in France. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is located at the entrance to the Hérault Gorges between Saint-Jean-de-Fos and Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert. There is a beach near the bridge where swimming is permitted and canoes can be rented.
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 waterfall, you can visit a site rated 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 in order to arrive at the Canyon du Diable (40 minutes drive).
Canyoning in the Gorges de l'Hérault
You can enjoy the whole afternoon at this tourist site which is also a great geological site and a perfect site for canyoning ( ideal for beginners).
If you are looking for instructors to accompany you, do not hesitate to contact Entre2nature 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 ( La Taverne de l'Escuelle ).
Lake, vineyards, cirque, limestone rock, medieval village … This is the program for DAY 3 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.
Lake Salagou is surrounded by mountains colored red by ruffes (clay sediments rich in iron oxide) and black by volcanic rocks. The region is also prized for its Lucques olives, olive 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 the Belvedere in the Courtinals park , from where you will have a superb panorama of the Mourèze cirque and 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're looking for a place to stay with the most beautiful view of the Cirque de Mourèze, I recommend the Hôtel Les Hauts de Mourèze . Not only is the hotel excellent, but the location is simply magnificent. Imagine having breakfast with this picture-postcard view…
More information about this hotel in Mourèze
Want to discover my beautiful region of Occitanie a little more?
Here is my route from Montpellier to Perpignan
or the route of the most beautiful villages of the Lot and Aveyron