Montpellier Off The Beaten Path Tips by JLBG Top 5 Page for this destination

Clamouse

After Gellone, the abbey in the sun, you must visit the Clamouse cave, the cathedral in the night. Clamouse cave is a must. It was discovered in the late 40s and open for visit in the early 60s. That means that it has never been visited with oil lamp and has not been spoiled by the deposit of charcoal from these lamps, as many ''old'' caves (i.e. visited since the turn of last century : grotte des Demoiselles near Montpellier, grotte de Han in Belgium, etc...). Its the most ''decorated'' cave I know : it is full of concretions of all kind, of all color and of all size. The visit is really a must. It's the kingdom of night !

Roquefort

Only cheese that has been matured in a well defined area, about 1500m long and 400m wide can bear the name of Roquefort. The milk must come from a larger, but neighboring and equally well-defined area, from ewe of the local breed. You can visit the caves and see the cheese maturing.
There are several legends that explain why people had at one time the strange idea to inoculate the curd with moulds.

Nant

Nant is a nice and quiet little town, not far from the ''chaos'' of Montpellier le Vieux, of Roquefort, of Millau, la Cavalerie, etc... It is a good stop for an evening and night.

Montpellier le Vieux

25 km away from Millau, Montpellier-le-Vieux is an out of the beaten track place that is really worth a visit (5 euros). On the whole surface of the site, dolomitic rocks have been carved by water and wind to make the figure of a ruined city. It is called a ''mega lapiaz''.

See also Aveyron and the famous cave Aven-Armandl

Millau

There are several reasons for visiting Millau. This is the town where José Bové and his friends dismantled in 2002 a Mac Do that was to open a few days later and this is the town that has given its name to the ''Viaduc de Millau'' (Millau's viaduct) finished in May 28th 2004.

In the old city of Millau, weekly city market plays a main part in the city life.

Parc National des Cévennes

The Cévennes were and still are the stronghold of the ''Camisards'', local Calvinist Protestants who refused to abjure their faith after the revocation of the ''Edit de Nantes'' by the king of France. The Musée du Désert should be visited, in the Mas Soubeyran. It recalls all that history.
The countryside is very harsh, with nearly impenetrable mountains, numerous hamlets, which allowed the Camisards to resist to the french army. Two trees have contributed to the (relative) wealth of the Cévennes : the mulberry tree (the golden tree) for silk growing and the chestnut tree (the bread tree) for basic feed.

La Couvertoirade

La Couvertoirade is a place that was first fortified by the Templars order. Later, the king of France gave the stronghold to the Hospitallers order. A village began to build around the stronghold and city walls were built around the village for defense purpose. All this remains in very good condition and can be visited.

Due to its outstanding state of preservation, La Couvertoirade represents a real ''miniatures'' mediaeval village and the visitor will always be surprised, whatever his expectations, by these architectural and urban treasures found within.

La Cavalerie

Situated alongside the ancient way crossing the plateau from north to south and thus linking Orient and Occident starting from the ports on the Mediterranean coast, La Cavalerie main activities lies on the cultivated land of the ''Templar plain''.
The Hospitalier village still exists and you will discover a fortified enceinte with its imposing door, XVth century houses and XVIIth century hotels. In the astonishing XVIIIth century church, whose interior resembles that of a vaulted sheepfold, the remains of the Templars' church have been preciously preserved.

Saint-Guilhem-Le-Désert

Saint-Guilhem, has been for centuries a main stage on Saint-Jacques de Compostelle's road. Now it is a main destination from tourists. Its Gellone cloister is an oasis of peace in the middle of this tourist's turmoil.

Anduze

Anduze is sometimes called ''door to the Cévennes''.
One visit not to miss is the Bambouseraie de Prafrance. For more than a century and a half (1855), it has been growing giant bamboos and is the largest in Europe.
The estate has an area of 34 ha, is 11 km away from Alès and 2 km from Anduze. The estate receives thousands of visitors every year (up to 4000 per day) and is well known worldwide.