In the shadow of Montferrand castle

It stands as a witness to history, facing the Pic Saint-Loup. The Pic is a lighthouse. Whether you're by the sea, in the Cévennes or in our garrigues, the Pic is there, piercing the Mediterranean sky. A unique relief at the foot of which the vines flourish.

It's a bouquet of scents. Coppices of holm oak and pine trees punctuate the garrigues where thyme, rosemary and savory exhale their fragrances. These scents, distilled by Mediterranean nature, play a major part in the signature of the wines whose AOC Pic Saint Loup appellation is identified with this mythical summit!

It's a style. The Pic Saint-Loup region is subject to wide variations in temperature, which benefits its highly distinctive wines: finesse and aromatic freshness brought out by the garrigue!

To discover them, stop off at one of the estates and enjoy this majestic setting at your leisure!

From Les Matelles to Saint-Jean-de-Cuculles

This is the village where we begin our tour. First, let's take a look at the source of the river Lez. The village on the banks of the Lirou is a picturesque medieval settlement surrounded by 15th-century ramparts, with narrow streets lined with traditional houses. Take a bend in an arched passageway and you'll come to the Maison des Consuls, a museum. Here you can witness a lively dialogue between the archaeological and contemporary worlds.

The permanent exhibition features some of the finest pieces of prehistoric and protohistoric furniture found in the area. The contemporary exhibitions, which are always interesting, are often poetic and showcase artists (visual arts, photography, painting, etc.).

From Saint-Jean-de-Cuculles to Cazevieille

To the south of the Pic Saint Loup, it's well worth stopping off at this little village perched on a hillock overlooking the landscape. It's like being at the end of the world. Its small Romanesque church, fortified in the 14th century, and the remains of ramparts from the same period, dominate an environment of garrigue and vines. The village is renowned for its live nativity scenes and santons in December, and its flower market on 1 May. And what about the Combe de Mortiès, to which so many locals refer?

Leave Saint-Jean-de-Cuculles and head towards Cazevieille for 3 km. Before the Domaine de Mortiès, turn left into the combe.

This exceptional geological site, at the foot of the Pic Saint-Loup, is made up of mounds of black marl, water-worn rock.You're actually walking on a huge deposit of fossils hundreds of millions of years old!

This natural heritage must be preserved.

From Cazevieille to Viols-en-Laval

Ancient farmhouses dominated by medieval towers, one of which stands out against the sky, and a few later houses - this is the village from which a pilgrimage route was created in the 19th century. Once used by charcoal burners, today it is the route to the summit of the Pic Saint-Loup.

Up there, the panorama stretches out towards the sea on one side and the Cévennes on the other.

Further on, a small chapel stands next to a monumental cross marking the highest point (658 m).

From Viols-en-Laval to Viols-le-Fort

Buried under a lump of stone until 1967, the prehistoric village of Cambous dates back to the end of the Neolithic period, more than 5,000 years ago. It is one of the oldest stone villages in France.

Over an area of almost a hectare, you can discover the foundations of a dry-stone dwelling and the reconstruction of a hut from that era... White oaks Nearby, you are surrounded by the coppice of a mixed oak forest (holm and white oaks, interspersed with scrubland).

From Viols-le-Fort to Murles

A village entrenched behind its medieval ramparts. The surrounding area is full of prehistoric remains, some of which are accessible on foot (Sentier des Drailles). The medieval wall was built at the beginning of the 15th century during the Hundred Years' Wars to shelter the inhabitants who were frightened by the Routiers' hordes.

From Murles to Saint-Gély-du-Fesc

Established in medieval times, the village today is a fine example of the typical garrigue habitat of the Pic Saint-Loup. Narrow streets weave between the houses (some of which were built using stones from the fortress).

Nearly a kilometre away, the small Romanesque church, now dedicated to the Holy Cross, has volumes that conform to the regional model.

Saint-Gély-du-Fesc

Before entering the village on the road, stop off at Domaine de l'Oulivie, a family-run organic farm that processes and sells its own produce. What flavours! It's time to taste the oils, olives and tapenades. You're in the Mediterranean, and if you enjoy the unique experience of tasting olive oil, don't miss out on the pleasure of tasting the local wine. AOC Pic Saint Loup of course, or IGP Val de Montferrand. The road through the village of Saint-Gély has been travelled since prehistoric times, linking the mineral-rich Cévennes with the salt works on the Mediterranean coast.

The Parc de Coulondres, once part of a large agricultural estate, is now a popular destination for walks. And for family outings, there are several options to choose from at Saint-Gély: satisfy the curiosity of your "pitchouns" at the Parc de Coulondres, watching deer, peacocks and other animals, or introduce them to golf on the children's course! Back to Les Matelles.

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