Saint Guilhem le Desert

To the northeast in the foothills of the mountains is one of the “Most Beautiful villages in France” and a UNESCO World Heritage site, Saint Guilhem le Desert. Definitely worth a visit but can get VERY busy during the summer especially during the French national holidays.

There are several more pictures of Saint Guilhem in the photo gallery and also of the Pont de Diable, worth a call on the way there, and of the Cirque de Navacelles, an amazing geological feature which is well worth a visit whilst up that way.

Minervois Village

To the west of Saint Chinian is the Minervois, renowned for it’s wine but also a place of wonderful rock outcrops and ancient stone villages.

Further still to the west is the city of Albi, which has the largest brick-built cathedral in the world and a fascinating old town on the river bank.

Albi

In the opposite direction lies the famous Roman aqueduct at Pont du Gard, well worth a day trip and can be combined with Avignon, Chateauneuf du Pape and Baumes de Venise, famous for sweet Muscat wine and Olive Oil.

Pont du Gard

Baumes de Venise