 | St Guilhem-le-Desert |  | Dramatically situated at the bottom of a deep ravine, St Guilhem, with its cobbled streets and picturesque stone houses, has been charmingly restored and is, unsurprisingly, now extremely popular with tourists. Amongst the many small art and craft galleries is the 9th century abbey, founded by Charlemagne's counsellor Guile and now an UNESCO World Heritage site. Nearby, clinging to the sheer cliffs, is the dramatic path of “Les Fenestrettes”. Once a mule track, it is used today by the pilgrims on their way to Santiago. Also nearby is the Grotte de Clamouse with its impressive underground displays of aragonite stalactites and stalagmites. There are regular guided tours which last around 1 hour and include a dramatic sound and light display in one of the larger galleries. The waters which run through the grotte rejoin the Herault just below the caves by the Pont du Diable. This is a popular spot in the summer when the low waters reveal a pebble beach. Hire a kayak from here to paddle through the scenic Gorges de l’Herault or stand back in awe as the locals dive from the old bridge into the deep waters below. |
 | Pézenas |  | Once the seat of Languedoc’s parliament and reputed for its annual trade fairs, Pézenas was a centre of wealth and influence from the 16th to 18th century. The arrival of the railway to nearby Beziers heralded a more peaceful era and so this market town has escaped much of the tourist development more commonplace towards the coast. The grand town houses (or "hôtels particuliers”) bear witness to the town’s past, evoking an atmosphere of days gone by with inner courtyards, stone sculptures, ornate archways and impressive columns. Romeo and Juliet would not be out of place on one of the wrought iron balconies and the town has indeed a theatrical heritage. Molière, commemorated by the monument in the Place 14 Juillet, is said to have created some of his most famous characters here. Follow the historical walking tour around the town amongst the winding cobbled streets and you will discover architectural gems, small boutiques, craft shops and a good selection of restaurants. Market day on Saturday is particularly popular - get there early for a parking spot! The extensive market spreads along the main street with a good selection of stalls offering everything from fresh produce, giant paellas, clothes, toys and linens. |
 | Moureze |  | Close to Clemont l’Herault, the picturesque village of Moureze lies amongst an impressive dolomite landscape. Here, large limestone columns reach for the sky, rocks twist into strange shapes or balance precariously on top of each other. Amidst this rocky landscape, traces of early human settlement have been found and the Parc des Courtinals offers a unique panoramic view. Come in your walking boots to fully appreciate the surrounding scenery and climb to the belvedere for the best views of the Cirque de Moureze. There are a number of scenic drives in the vicinity from the winding D15 from Clemont l’Herault to Roujan, the D156 through Liausson along the Lac du Salagou or north on the D148 past the ruined village of Celles on the shores of the lake. |
 | La Garde Guerin |  |  This pretty mediaeval village, perched high in the mountains, enjoys a wonderful panorama. In the Middle Ages, it sat along an important commercial route to the Holy Land and was guarded by the Knights of St Gilles du Gard.
The village walls hide cobbled streets and centuries of history including the fortified houses where the knights lived whilst guarding the pass. The church, watchtower and chateau have all been classified as national historical monuments, whilst the village itself is amongst the “Plus Beaux Villages de France". |
 | Nimes |  | The walled city of Nimes is regarded worldwide as one of the most important of all the Roman cities of Gaul and easily has the best-kept ruins in the whole of France. A 45 minute drive from the coast, Nimes is worth every mile and more as Languedoc’s second largest city charms on every corner you turn.
The Arena of Nîmes without question is the most remarkable of all that is left from the Roman era. The outer facade is 21 metres high, made up of two levels of arcades with numerous internal staircases and galleries. Wander through the cool internal passages for a true sense of the enormity of the construction and marvel at the view from the “cheap” seats at the very top. Despite being constructed some 2034 years ago, this incredible amphitheatre still houses bullfights and concerts to crowds of almost 17,000 people. It was also the main setting for the massively successful motion picture Gladiator starring Russell Crowe.  The amphitheatre is not the only Roman monument in Nîmes still going strong; La Maison Carrée, a small temple dedicated to Emperor Augustus in the main square, was built 2026 years ago and has no competition in being named the best preserved Roman temple in the world. Situated in the “Jardins de la Fontaine”, the Temple of Diana was found in 1739 although today only the nave and 2 corridors remain. Built on a sacred site important to both the Romans and the Celts before them, the gardens offer a peaceful retreat from the busy streets below. Visitors come to admire the magnificent fountains, wander the shady walkways or picnic on the lawns. Also within the park is the Tour Magne, built around 15 BC. Although the top level no longer remains, the tower still stands 32 metres high and offers impressive views over the city. |
| Villefranche and 'Le Petit Train Jaune' | | Just off Languedoc Roussillon’s A9 autoroute is Villefranche, beautifully situated amongst the Pyrenees. An atypical 17th century fortified village, Villefranche has changed little over the years with visitors still able to walk the ancient ramparts. Local attractions include the impressive Grotte des Grandes Canalettes but the district is world famous for ‘Le Petit Train Jaune’, or ‘The Little Yellow Train’, a narrow gauge railway that commences its 63km route at Villefranche de Confluent station, journeying high into the mountains and taking you as far as Andorra! Quite simply, this is a ‘must do’ activity for anybody who is serious about experiencing the jaw-dropping Pyreneen scenery on offer. It is possible to travel in open or closed top carriages as the train rises higher and further into the mountains. It is a veritable adventure as it takes in not only numerous viaducts, tunnels and bridges, with unmissable photo opportunity after unmissable photo opportunity as you begin to see across the mountain peaks. The altitude the train reaches is such that it stops at Europe’s highest station at Bolquère. |
| Pont du Gard | | A first century Roman aqueduct 25 km northeast of the city centre is also a must. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the construction consists of three tiers of arches built on top of one another that reach across the Gardon River, over 50km above the water and has to be seen to be believed. This is a popular visitor attraction and as well as ample parking, you will find a multi-media exhibition, restaurants, shops and picnic areas. |
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