Villages in the Languedoc France

Day 52/ France 37

Travelled: 157km from Bedarieux to Villeneuvette, St.Jean de Fos, St Guilhem de Desert, La Couvertoirade (parking €4) and Lanuejols free aire (44.1299,3.3831)

After our coffee and pain au chocolate for breakfast whilst chatting with our daughter and grandson, we set off from Bedarieux. On the drive out we spotted a couple of the 7 arches of the old viaduct. 

It wasn’t far along the road that we parked up in Villeneuvette, a village in Herault region of Occitania, with an interesting history. It was created in 1673 under Louis XIV, as a factory town to make Royal fabrics, which also provided housing. At the time employing 800 people , 300 of whom lived there. It continued to prosper during the First World War, specialising in military clothing. Eventually closing its manufacturing in 1954. Today 70 or so inhabitants remain and tourists can admire the ruins of the factory.

We continued along roads less travelled to St.Jean de Fos, situated in the Herault Valley famous for its wine, olives and pottery. 

We navigated Bluey through the narrow streets, eventually finding a parking area big enough. 

We wondered back into the village centre.

Unfortunately the Romanesque church with its 12thC tower, was closed. 

As we left we got a look at the UNESCO classified 1000year old Devils Bridge, marking the end of the Herault Gorge.

We then drove along that gorge to St.Guilhem Le Desert, which was not motorhome friendly. We ended up driving to the dam wall 2km from the town and the doubling back to a small spot 1.2km from town along the Compostela walk.

The village was worth the effort.

It was founded in 804 as a Benedictine Abbey, but declined after the 100 year Religious War. In 1840 it was salvaged from total ruin and from 1960 brought back to its original appearance. In1998 it become a classified UNESCO site and has about 270 inhabitants. We enjoyed strolling through the narrow streets.

 

The main square was enhanced by the huge plane tree (1855).

We went inside the church and into the cloisters. We watched an interesting video regarding the history of the abbey.

Then slowly made our way back to Bluey. We got some distance and speed on the motorway heading to our next destination,

La Couvertoirade, a well preserved fortified medieval village (Classified most beautiful villages in France). It was founded by the knights Templar but enlarged by the knights Hospitaller, who also built the church and  ramparts still seen today in the mid 1400’s. We entered via the north gate and then explored its narrow streets. It was much cooler here being at 800m alt. There were restaurants and shops selling a variety of goods scattered throughout the village.

 

From here there were many routes we could choose for our next destination. Due to the cloudy weather we decided against the Col de Minier (1264 alt). Instead we focused on getting to the Gorges de La Jonte, driving via Nant and then up into the Cévennes region stopping along the way in Lanuejols at the free aire.