The hinterland
Set off to discover the Heart of Hérault : and share a truly exceptional moment
Sometimes nestled in a natural setting, sometimes the heir of a rich cultural heritage, this land of character, with many facets, offers itself freely to curious eyes. Far from the bustling life of the Hérault capital and the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, it reveals, in every season, all the intensity of the South, without sacrificing any of its authenticity…
Lodève
Sub-prefecture located 15 km from the campsite (10 minutes by car). You will find all necessary shops : supermarket, ATM, banks, post office, doctors, hospitals, etc.
- Every Tuesday afternoon in July and August, the local market takes place with its regional specialties.
- For art lovers, the Lodève Museum offers numerous exhibitions.
- You will discover a real heritage with its St-Fulcran Cathedral, its former episcopal palace, its carpet manufactory...
- Every Saturday morning there is the market, a true harmony of scents and colors.
Villeneuvette, royal factory
At 12 km from the campsite, the current organization of the city of Villeneuvette is the legacy of a history spanning more than 300 years. Created in 1673 by a merchant from Clermont, the manufactory received the title of royal manufactory under Louis XIV and was entirely dedicated to the production of fine, brightly colored cloths between 1720 and 1750. A French-style garden adorned with a water buffet was laid out, marking a new era of prosperity. In the 19th century, the Maistres, Languedocian entrepreneurs, specialized in army clothing fabrics. A strict discipline, symbolized by the inscription above the gate “honour to work”.
Most of the old buildings, as well as the garden, the large basin, and the pine grove, were acquired by the department of Hérault in 1989 and are the subject of preliminary studies for their enhancement in collaboration with the municipality of Villeneuvette. Any visitor will perceive that the friendly and peaceful character prevailing in this small city is due to the care given to the rehabilitation of the buildings and public spaces, but also to the respect for the site’s history.
Octon
At 2 km from the campsite, this village offers you many dining options : snack bars, pizzerias, restaurants, and guest tables. You will also find a café with a billiard table, as well as a grocery store… and all services.
Clermont l'Hérault
At 15 km from the campsite, you will find shops, banks, supermarkets, McDonald’s, post office, pharmacy, doctors, etc. A magnificent market with summer colors is offered to you every Wednesday morning. Clermont l’Hérault is located in the center of the Hérault department (34 France) at 40 km from the regional capital Montpellier, and 30 minutes from the Mediterranean. Since Roman times, Clermont has been a strategic crossroads economically and commercially, as its privileged location in the heart of Hérault at the junction of several roads allowed its economic and demographic expansion. Clermont was the capital of table grapes at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century before becoming an olive oil and wine town (cooperative oil mill since 1922).
The town was built on the side of a hill which houses the remains of a 12th-century castle as well as a typical 13th-century Gothic church. The town is crossed by a small stream which was formerly used for the cloth industry.
The Mourèze cirque
At 8 km from the campsite , the cirque de Mourèze offers you an astonishing landscape of oddly shaped rocks , a true work resulting from erosion on dolomite , by the combined action of wind and water. Between Clermont l’Hérault , Bédarieux and Lodève , the medieval village of Mourèze is surrounded over 300 hectares by a rocky chaos shaped by erosion, designated as the most important dolomitic site in France. Besides discovering its 12th-century Sainte-Marie Church , Mourèze offers a maze of streets from which start the walking trails leading to this crowd of stone giants standing as if in revolt. Very beautiful hikes to do.
Buddhist temple in Lodève
Béni par la visite de nombreux grands maîtres de la tradition bouddhiste tibétaine et en particulier par Sa Sainteté le Dalaï-Lama à deux reprises en 2000 et 2008, Lérab Ling est maintenant reconnu comme l’un des principaux centres d’étude et de pratique du bouddhisme tibétain en Europe. De nos jours, on reconnaît que le développement spirituel n’est pas simplement un luxe, mais une nécessité pure et simple pour notre survie. Nous constatons de façon croissante une soif presque désespérée et un besoin universel d’avoir une vision spirituelle, afin de disposer d'outils nécessaires pour faire face aux défis de la vie, trouver le bonheur et comprendre et transformer l’esprit. Dans un environnement naturel remarquable, vous pouvez visiter un magnifique temple bouddhiste ouvert au public d’avril à octobre.
Blessed by the visits of many great masters of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition and in particular by His Holiness the Dalai Lama on two occasions in 2000 and 2008, Lerab Ling is now recognized as one of the leading centers for the study and practice of Tibetan Buddhism in Europe. Nowadays, it is acknowledged that spiritual development is not simply a luxury, but a pure and simple necessity for our survival. We increasingly observe an almost desperate thirst and a universal need for a spiritual vision, in order to have the necessary tools to face life’s challenges, find happiness, and understand and transform the mind. In an outstanding natural environment, you can visit a magnificent Buddhist temple open to the public from April to October.
Major sites
Between sea and mountains : discover the natural and cultural treasures of Hérault
In the south of France, Hérault, in Languedoc, invites you to visit remarkable, unique sites shaped by nature or by humans. Near the Mediterranean Sea, in the mountains, in towns or vineyards, a wide choice awaits you… Discover them quickly !
Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert
At 25 km from the campsite, in the heart of Languedoc and the Gorges de l’Hérault, the “Grand Site de France Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert – Gorges de l’Hérault” is one of the jewels of Languedoc. It is rightly considered one of the most beautiful villages in France. Between vertiginous cliffs, stretching along winding streets, Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert developed around the Abbey of Gellone, just a few kilometers from the Pont du Diable, both listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites as part of the Routes of Santiago de Compostela. The Saint-Guilhem mountains as well as the Pont du Diable are popular with hikers and allow visitors to discover magnificent panoramas as well as rare botanical species.
Clamouse Cave
An unmissable site 25 km away, between the Devil’s Bridge and the Grand Site de France « Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert – Gorges de l’Hérault », Clamouse is one of the most beautiful caves in Bas Languedoc. Discovered in 1945, classified as a « scientific and picturesque site » by the Ministry of Ecology, its wealth of calcite and aragonite concretions makes it an exceptional site. It is also distinguished by three stars in the Michelin Guide. This network of galleries stands out in particular for the activity of underground waters that invade it during floods and never cease to enhance it. Fine, tubular, eccentric crystallizations : they lead you into a magical world of extraordinary shapes. This « Cathedral of Time » is enhanced by a sound and light show.
The Grotte des Demoiselles
In the Languedoc, on the border between the Hautes-Garrigues and the southern Cévennes, in Saint Bauzille de Putois, the Grotte des Demoiselles (literally "Cave of the Fairies") offers a striking spectacle. In the depths of the Thaurac plateau, set out to discover a true underground cathedral. Also named "the cave of the fairies". This name is a reference to Occitan legends. Fairies are also called "Demoiselles". Discover an impressive natural architecture : giant draperies, pillars, imposing stalagmites and stalactites. The large hall called "cathedral" houses an immense concretion that recalls a statue of the Virgin and Child. Its proportions are spectacular : 120 m long, 80 m wide and 50 m high. Its surprising acoustics make it possible to host concerts. Here is an original performance hall !
The Cirque of Navacelles
At the heart of the Causses and Cévennes area, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Cirque of Navacelles is a former meander that the Vis River carved into the limestone of the Causse. Today, the waters of the river have abandoned it, offering us this natural wonder. In the north of the Hérault department, on the border with Gard, the Vis River carved its bed into the limestone of the causses (Blandas and Larzac), thus forming vast meanders. Over time, the erosion of the rock allowed the river to take the shortest route, and to abandon its former bed. Thus the Cirque of Navacelles was born. To discover it in its entirety, you should not miss the descent to the bottom of the cirque : 300 metres deep. There, in an oasis of greenery, near the waterfall of the Vis River, the village of Navacelles has settled. A botanical trail, accessible to everyone, has been created there. Today, the Cirque de Navacelles belongs to the Grand Site de France network, and can proudly welcome more than 250,000 visitors each year. Since 2011, it has been nestled in the heart of an area listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site (Causses & Cévennes).
The Oppidum d'Ensérune
An original cultural visit to enjoy with family or friends. Just 10 km from Béziers, this archaeological site is a remarkable testimony to a protohistoric village. Built on a rocky promontory, it offers a 360° panorama over the wine-growing plain, including the unusual drained pond of Étang de Montady. A major site of Mediterranean civilization, this oppidum is characteristic of settlement in southern Gaul from the Bronze Age to the Roman conquest. It was inhabited continuously throughout this entire period. On site, the museum presents the main results of the excavations, including a fine collection of ceramics and Gallic weapons. A strategic location : in the south-west of Hérault, the Oppidum d'Ensérune is located on a steep hill, at the crossroads of land and maritime routes. Below, ran the Via Domitia which linked Rome to Spain. The oppidum overlooks the entire Biterrois plain and its famous vineyards. The panorama is remarkable, notably because of the presence of the drained Étang de Montady, located in the plain a few hundred metres from the oppidum. This pond is a real curiosity in itself, since it has been cultivated in sectors, like a green sun, since the 13th century. It is in fact from the Oppidum d'Ensérune that one gets the most beautiful view of it. Passing beneath the hill, the Canal du Midi goes through the Malpas Tunnel, dug in 1679 over a length of 170 metres. It is the first tunnel in the world excavated for a canal.
The Canal du Midi
The magic of a site : Built during the reign of Louis XIV, by Pierre Paul Riquet, a brilliant designer who sought to connect the Atlantic to the Mediterranean for commercial purposes. In the south of France, in the 17th century, the project of linking the Mediterranean to the Atlantic came into being. Technical innovation combined with a strong concern for architecture and landscape, something very rarely found elsewhere. All of this was made possible thanks to the determination of one man, the ingenious native of Béziers, Pierre Paul Riquet. He had the genius to solve the main problem that arose : the permanent and complete supply of water. In the Montagne Noire, near Castelnaudary, he determined the exact watershed point between the Atlantic and Mediterranean slopes. He then diverted and collected water from the surrounding streams and stored it in a reservoir lake created for this purpose (St-Féréol). Finally, he transported this water to the Seuil de Naurouze, where the division between East and West occurs, supplying the two sides of the Canal du Midi, one towards Toulouse, the other towards Hérault and Marseillan. From Marseillan to Capestang, discover remarkable architectural structures. Today, it is a great leisure route to explore on foot, by bike, or by boat.
In 1980, freight transport stopped on the Canal du Midi. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996, the spirit of the canal today is relaxation. It can be enjoyed either by pleasure boat, on foot, on horseback and by bike along the towpaths. It is a beautiful way to visit Béziers and its region : the character of the south marked by a rich wine-growing past, bullfighting and rugby !
And it's also
- 14 years of construction
- 241 km long, from Toulouse to the Étang de Thau
- 63 locks and 350 engineering structures
- 10,000 boats per year at the Fonséranes Locks
- 90,000,000 m³ of water per year to supply the canal
Le coastline
Enjoy the sea without its drawbacks !
As it is easy to get around on our roads. Especially thanks to the free A75, you can easily reach our beautiful coastline, which is 45 km from our campsite. Hérault offers you 100 km of sandy and rocky beaches. You can enjoy the Mediterranean sun at any time of the day. Sète, Cap d’Agde, the Thau Basin… whether to laze around or savor seafood, there is no hesitation to have.
Sète
Nestled like a pearl between the Mediterranean and the Thau Lagoon, famous for its oysters, it is located 30 minutes from Montpellier.
With its very typical neighborhoods crossed by canals, where the colorful facades of the quays are reflected, Sète is just as much a seaside resort. It has preserved all the authenticity due to its ports, right in the heart of the city, where the ballet of trawlers and tuna boats and the stopover of cruise ships provide a spectacle throughout the year.
The jousts, since 1666, are closely linked to the founding of Sète from the first tournament that took place during the creation of the port on July 29, 1666. They reflect the soul of the people of Sète.
Cap d'Agde
The Cap d'Agde is a seaside resort of the French commune of Agde, built at the foot of an ancient volcano, Mont Saint-Loup.
It is bathed by the Mediterranean Sea. It is developed around a marina and yacht harbors.