WINE ROUTE FROM THE UPPER TO THE MIDDLE HÉRAULT VALLEY, A MEDIEVAL VINEYARD

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Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert A stopover not to be missed! Situated in the heart of the Grand Site Gorges de l'Hérault, it is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and is part of the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela. You'll discover that its magic is the meeting of a myth - Guillaume d'Orange or Guillaume au court nez - and a place. This small medieval town opens up its treasures to you: the Abbey of Gellone, its museum and cloister! Stroll through the picturesque alleyways, meet local artisans and sit back and relax at a café on the village square, under the surprising plane tree planted in 1855. Beyond the cobbled streets, walk above the medieval village and follow the trail to the cirque de l'Infernet!

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Saint-Jean-de-Fos Here you are in the pottery village of Saint-Jean-de-Fos. Push open the door of Argileum, the pottery house housed in a 19th-century workshop. Here you can learn about the history of ceramics, the skills involved and how the material is transformed.

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Aniane Continue on to Aniane, where you'll visit the Church of Saint-Sauveur, the famous abbey of the Order of St. Benedict founded in 792, and the Chapelle des Pénitents. You're following in the footsteps of the monks of the Hérault valley! In the 11th century, they were the main wine producers. They had vast vineyards and a large workforce. From the balcony of the town hall, which adorns the narrow façade overlooking the square, President Fallières is said to have addressed the crowd of rebellious winegrowers in 1907. Aniane's vineyards extend over a wide variety of landscapes and soils. Gravel, pebbles, limestone and yellow marl make up the matrix of this highly complex terroir. Add to this a privileged microclimate, characterized by cool nights in the summer, carried by breezes blowing in from the Larzac foothills. You're at the heart of our region's viticultural magic. Here, every year, the Aniane Wine Festival is a resounding success!

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Gignac Follow the irrigation canal to Gignac, built using the techniques of the time, in ashlar. The town backs onto the hillside, with its Saracen tower and, one floor higher, the church of Notre-Dame de Grâce, extended by the promontory of the Way of the Cross. All around are rolling hills lined with vineyards and punctuated by the canal and its 173 km network. These buildings, a major landmark on the route, shape, order and give rhythm to the site.

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Le Pouget A circular village on a promontory, Le Pouget offers a breathtaking view from its summit towards the setting sun, the Pic de Vissou and the Montagne de Liausson. Linger at the Dolmen de Gallardet on the Crozes hill, a veritable construction buried in the mound. Enjoy the vine-covered hillsides!

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Puilacher This village appears in texts as early as the 11th century. The current layout of the château, listed as a Historic Monument since 1984, is made up of two parts forming a "T", with one wall adjoining the church. The village's other distinctive feature is a modern house with a monumental facade built in the early 1920s, in stark contrast to the other dwellings. It reflects the last phase of wine-growing expansion in the valley after the crisis of 1907 and the establishment of the cooperative movement. Representative of art nouveau in the early 20th century, it is an essential component of the village's composite charm.

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Bélarga Stop for a moment on the banks of the Hérault at the foot of the remains of the medieval mill.

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Saint-Pargoire Here, the streets trace the shell of a snail, the village's totemic animal! Legend has it that these placid horned beasts saved the village from starvation after a heavy storm brought them out of their holes. Today's Gothic church seems oversized for such a village. Its imposing proportions testify to the prosperity of the village at the time of its construction.

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Vendémian You'll discover its tambourine ball game pediment, a sport for some, a tradition for others, both typical of the Hérault region. Another specialty to be savored without moderation: table grapes (Chasselas and Servant).

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Aumelas A singular commune made up of two large hamlets: the picturesque Cabrials to the south, with its fortified Romanesque church and goat-scented name, and Mas Arnaud to the north. Your gaze will first catch the silhouette of Castellas, built on a fortified site since the Middle Ages. As you leave the village, take time to enjoy the exceptional panorama over the causse and the wine valley. The wines are elegant for the reds, fresh and fruity for the whites. It's said that in the 11th century, the Guilhem de Montpellier family was already exporting wine all over Europe.

https://www.herault-tourisme.com/

Hérault Tourism

Vignobles et Découvertes