LA GARRIGUE

La Garrigue (in occitan: Garriga) is a scrubland in low altitude, located in the Mediterranean region. The Garrigue is caraterized by soft-leaved plants communities growing  in calcareous plateaus, with some part where the vegetation is more dense, forming what is called “Maquis”.

You can find The Garrigue landscape, a few miles from Montpellier. Many part of Languedoc Roussillon and Provence Regions are covered by the Garrigues, because the seacoast is a perfect habitat for that kind of vegetation.

Many grape varieties grow in the Garrigue. Many wine producers in that region add the word Garrigue as part their label name.

LA CAMARGUE IN MONTPELLIER REGION

The Camargue is a french geographic region located in the south of France, near Arles, between the Mediterranean sea and the two arms of Rhône River Delta. It covers some parts of The French communes of Arles and Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, which are the largest communes in the Metropolitan France. An expension of the Camargue lies on the neighboring Depatment of Gard, it is called The Petite Camargue (Little Camargue)

The Camargue covers an area of about 930 Square Kilometers, that makes it the West Europe’s largest river delta . The third of the Camargue region is lakes or marshland, its brine ponds provide one of the rare European habitats for The Flamingo.

The Camargue is famous for the Camargue bulls and Camargue horses. Its flora is adapted to cope with the saline conditions, so you can notice Sea lavender and tamarisks flourishing along.

The central part of the Camargue, which is located around “Etang the Vaccarès” Shoreline, has been protected as a regional park since 1927. Now it is incorporated into the “Parc Naturel Régional de Camargue” for its importance of being a haven for wild birds.

As it is a great economic actor in The Region, the Camargue was designated a “Ramsar Site” as a “Wetland of international importance” in 1986.  The Camargue is a perfect habitat for rice plantation, and sea salt production, as well as for many grape varieties such as “pinot gris” that gives “Vin des Sables” known as Pino Grigio, in many parts of the world.

Many parts of the Camargue are similar to African landscapes, which served as shooting sites for film producers who simulated african scenery in many footages of their movies, such as: “The Professional” in 1981, starring Jean Paul Belmondo.

Many Safari Tours are organized in the Camargue, by many local tour operators, including the Tourist Office of Montpellier.

THE VIADUCT OF MILLAU (LE VIADUC DE MILLAU)

The viaduct of Millau is a multi cable-stayed design bridge, located in the Languedoc Roussillon region, in the South of France near the city of Millau. The viaduct is linking the Causse Rouge to the Causse of the Larzac. 

Built with 205,000 tonnes of concrete and 35,000 tonnes of steel, The viaduct of Millau stands on 7 pillars, 270 meters over the river Tarn. The height of the summit of the pilons is 343 meters, that makes it the highest bridge in the world.

The viaduct of Millau was built in less than 3 years. It was inaugurated by the former President Jacques Chirac on the 14th of December 2004 and opened to traffic two days later.

Montpellier is 122 kilometers from the Viaduct of  Millau. The automobilists no longer need to take the bends over the mountain to reach Millau city. It is safer and faster to reach the city of Millau by the Viaduct.

The viaduct of Millau was the missed link on A75 motorway that links Paris to Perpignan and Clermont Ferrand to Béziers. Thanks to The Viaduct of Millau you can save around 30 minutes driving than the former itinerary that used to take you into Millau traffic jam.

LE PONT DU DIABLE SAINT GUILHEM DE DESERT

The real name of this bridge is “Pont du Gourg Nègre” (in occitan: Gurgite Nigro) (in English: Black Abyss) because of the abyss over which the bridge was built.

Many historians pretend that “Pont du Diable” was built before the “Abbey of Gellone” in the middle ages. Because a written agreement dates back to around 1025-1030 A.D, between two abbots was discovered. It mentionned the name of the bridge. The Abbot Pons of Aniane agreed with the Abbot Geoffroy of Gellone to built a bridge across the Hérault river, in order to open a road for pilgrims coming from Aniane, to Santiago de Campostella (Spain)

This bridge is called now “Pont du Diable” (in english: Devil’s Bridge)  like all the bridges in the same style all over Europe. It was said that this kind of architecture was realized by Devils help or by the Devil itself, because it was very hard to built bridges in this style at that time.

We can notice that the architecture style of “Pont du Diable” is the same as the one we can see in the Abbey of Gellone, that let us suppose that both of them were built by the same craftmen.

Pont du diable is also listed as World Heritage Site by UNESCO in conjunction with the Saint James’s way to Santiago de Compostella (Spain)

Nowadays, you can swim under the bridges, as you can practice canyoning along the Hérault river, passing under the “Pont du Diable”

You can rent canyoning equipement near  “Pont du diable” on the river side.

PONT DU GARD IS NEAR MONTPELLIER

The Pont du Gard (The Bridge of the Gard) is an ancient Roman aqueduct bridge located in the Gard département of southern France. It is part of the Nîmes aqueduct that was built built by the Romans to carry water from a spring at Uzès to the Roman colony of Nemausus (Nîmes) that is situated 50 kilometers from the spring. The aqueduct was built mostly underground, but took a long, winding route that crossed the gorge of the Gardon, because the terrain between the two points was hilly. That required the construction of an aqueduct bridge.
The Pont du Gard was Built in the 1st century AD. It is the highest of all Roman aqueduct bridges and is the best preserved after the Aqueduct of Segovia (Spain). It was added to UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites in 1985 because of its historical importance.

The best way to get to the Pont du Gard From Montpellier is by car, please find below the link to the itenerary From Montpellier to Pont du gard:
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=fr&tab=wl

Otherwise you can go by bus, but from Nîmes, because there are no buses from Montpellier to Pont du Gard.
First you need to take the train from Montpellier railway station to Nîmes, then from Nîme you need to take bus N°B21 going to “Pont Saint Esprit” from Nîmes bus station, and you should get at “Parking Pont Du Gard Stop”

Here is the timetable of the bus company “EDGAR”

Click to access LIGNE%20B21%202012.pdf

Aigues-Mortes (Gard – France)

Most of the tourists I met in Montpellier, do not know about “Aigues Mortes” Or may be they do not know that it is not far from Montpellier. I can tell you: “if you miss “Aigues Mortes” that will be very sad; because you will miss the only France’s mediterranean sea port in the middle age, and the original medieval architecture of its surrouding walls, as well as the famous “Fougasse of Aigues Morte” which is a flat brioche, that the recipe is only one local bakery’s family secret taught from a genereration to another!!

What is the English for “Aigues Mortes”?

Aigues Mortes is from occitan: Aigas Mortas, i.e “dead waters”

Where is “Aigues Mortes” Located?

It is located in the French Department of Gard, in the South of France. It is 30 kms from Montpellier by road, and 35 kms from NÎmes. Aigues Mortes is situated in a  zone known as “La petite Camargue” which is a wetland near the seaside. In that zone, there is an important quantity of sea salt, as a result of water evaporation. That is why, sea salt production is an integral part of Aigues Mortes local economy.

When was Aigues Mortes founded?

Aigues Mortes was founded in 102 BC by the roman general and stateman “Gaius Marius” But the first manuscript that mentionned a place called “Ayga Mortas” dates back to the 10th century AD.

In the 13th century, the king of France “Louis IX” known as (Saint Louis) rebuilt the port of Aigues Mortes, which was France’s only mediterranean port. It served as the embarkation point for the seventh and the eighth crusades.

What is the particularity of Aigues Mortes?

The main attraction in Aigues Mortes are the 1650-meter-city walls, that surround it. They were built under the reigns of Philippe III “the bold” then Philippe IV “the fair”. they were completed between 1289 and 1300. All the walls are original and well-preserved.

There is also the Constance tower, which was completed under Louis IX, in 1248. It is the only remaining part of his castle. That tower  seems to be a part of the enclosure, but it was built well before. The constance tower has six-meter-thick walls and a spiral staircase that leads to its diffrent levels.

There is a Tourist Office in Aigues Mortes, you can find out more on the website bellow

What is “Fougasse of Aigues Mortes”?

Fougasse d’Aigues Mortes is a light, flat brioche flavoured with a tiny bit of orange flower extract. I tasted it and I can tell you that I have never eaten such a delicious brioche.

The recipe is a local bakery family’s secret. Everybody knows that bakery, but none dares ask how to prepare it!

How to get to Aigues Mortes from Montpellier?

You can get to Aigues Mortes, either by bus or by car. Bus N°=106 of  “Hérault Transport” network, operates between Montpellier and Aigues Mortes, passing by Carnon, La Grande Motte and Le Grau du Roi. You can check the timetable on the website I gave you previously (Hérault Transport).

By car, you should follow Montpellier Airport road, then take direction La grande Motte and Le Grau du Roi. So there you are!

I am sure that next time you will not miss Aigues Mortes!

If you have any question, you can ask me. I will be pleased to check the answer for you.

I have chosen a short video for you, to give you an idea of Aigues Mortes

DO YOU KNOW SAINT GUILHEM LE DESERT?

In the heart of the Hérault Gorges, in the Val de Gellone, the medieval village of Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert is in a green setting along the meandering Verdus stream.

The word “desert” in the village’s name does not reffer to a dry sandy land, but it is just a synonym of an ampty place with no population. Charlemagne cousin Guillaume built the first building ever in that place, after he came back from crusade in the holly he decided to put down his arms and concecrate the rest of his life worshiping god. So he built an Abbey in he Gorges of Hérault that we know today as Abbey of Gellone. A few yeras later A village was built around this famous Abbey. Guillaume became a “Saint” a few months after he died.

The village has kept its impressive medieval imprint and constitute a rare, harmonious site in Languedoc.

This Classified Site, is one of the most beautiful villages in France and today its abbey is registered as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in conjuncton with the french section of St James’ Way to Santiago de Compostela in western Spain.

Saint Guilhem-le Désert is 45 kilometer from Montpellier, the best way to go is by car, here is the link of the itinerary, from Montpellier:

http://maps.google.fr/maps?hl=fr&tab=wl

You can also go by bus, you shouled take Bus N°308 of “Hérault Transport” bus network, from Line 1 tramway station “Mosson”

here the H”rault Transport Website: http://www.herault-transport.fr/index.php

THE BAMBOO FOREST

The bambouseraie of Frafrance (Anduze), is the first bamboo forest in Europe. It was created in 1855, at 72 kms from Montpellier. This unique site in Europe welcome you with singing birds on bamboo trees, surrounded by plants in the most unexpected forms.

You can hear gentle running water, while you are having an enjoyable tour that could take up to 1 and a half hour.

Here is the link to the itinerary from Montpellier to the Bambouseraie, followed by the bambouseraie website

http://maps.google.fr/maps?hl=fr&tab=wl

http://www.bambouseraie.com/?SwitchLanguage=Anglais

ROQUEFORT VILLAGE

The village of Roquefort is about 1 hour from Montpellier, by road. It is located in the department of Lozère, in the région of Languedoc Roussilon. This village is famous for the blue cheese that has the same name. The geological caracteristics of the zone where this villages is located, contribute in making Roquefort cheese, the king of cheese. Watch the video bellow to know why!

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DpnGtbJF0c