Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert
France's second favourite village
Overpopulation
Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert is one of 158 “most beautiful villages of France” (Plus Beaux Villages de France).
The “desert” in the name of the village may refer to a time when overgrazing and overpopulation led to a lack of vegetation. What remained was used for lifestock feed or heating. This situation did not end until early in the 20th century, when enough people left the area to enable vegetation to recover.
Abbey
The count of Toulouse and duke of Aquitaine, Guillaume de Gellone (Guilhèm in the local Langue d’Oc, nicknamed the Great), founded an abbey in a remote area of the Hérault valley in 804. He became a saint in 1066, when the abbey was named after him.
Sections of the abbey were sold and can now be seen in The Cloisters, part of the Metropolitan Museum in New York. What remains is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The village was voted second favourite village in France in 2012.
Visiting Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert
Le Fort Pouzols-Minervois to Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert is a 90-minute drive (63 miles, 102 km). A visit can be combined with, for example, Montpellier, Pézenas, Béziers or Sète.
The Devil’s Bridge, also known as Pont de Saint Guilhem, is part of the legend surrounding Saint Guilhem. In the summer concerts and a medieval festival are held in the village. For more information, visit www.saintguilhem-valleeherault.fr.
Book your stay at Le Fort Pouzols-Minervois
Le Fort Pouzols-Minervois is a great base for exploring the Languedoc-Roussillon region.
Book your stay today on any of these great websites or directly with us.
Book your stay today on any of these great websites or directly with us.
