Sommières, 1st " Small Cities of Character " of the Gard
Sommières is a crossroads city at the crossroads between the Cevennes and the Camargue. It was very early on that trade and craft industries developed and prospered. From Sommières, head towards the town centre, walk along the Vidourle quay and discover the medieval past of the town: the old ramparts, the winding streets leading to charming squares, the 1st century Roman bridge and its 7 arches still firmly anchored, the 11th century castle, its Royal Chapel and the Bermond Tower from the top of which you will contemplate 1000 years of history in this exceptional panorama. Guided tours will help you to discover the secrets of this fortress and its defensive architecture.
A preserved rural heritage
Walk through the vineyards and when you arrive in Campagne, at the entrance to the village, notice its small Protestant Temple. Continue in the direction of Aspères where you will pass the imposing building of the old cellar. As you leave the village, take the time to admire the beautiful view of the surrounding countryside from which the Château de Villevieille can be seen, and the Saint-Julien-de-Montredon chapel in its vineyard setting. The castle of Villevieille is worth a visit. More than a historical heritage, it is a residence belonging to the same family since 1529! It is a very beautiful testimony of the architecture of the 12th to 18th centuries, whose guided tour is offered by one of the members of the family (July to late September). The Saint-Julien-de-Montredon chapel is a Romanesque Languedoc style building, built between the 11th and 12th centuries, with the particularity of having two naves, and still offering very beautiful coloured stained glass. In the commune of Salinelles, don't miss passing in front of the Protestant Temple, and above all, observe the wash house of Salinelles and the "Pré de la Fontaine" noria; this hydraulic system allowed water to be collected in buckets for irrigation purposes. Another beautiful example is visible with the noria of the Castle.
The mills of the Vidourle
Between Sommières and Salinelles, the Vidourle has a series of mills of considerable heritage interest in understanding the landscape and the use of the water of the Vidourle. At the exit of Salinelles, discover an agroforestry development, a comb for logjams, which regulates the spread of water in the event of a flood of the Vidourle which can be thunderous. Continuing your journey towards Lecques, still among the woods and vineyards, linger on the beach of the Vidourle and enjoy this moment of calm at the water's edge; the remains of the old mill give the place a special charm.
Shrine of Our Lady of Prime Combe
In the direction of Fontanès, go along the massif of Notre Dame de Prime Combe, seat of a religious congregation: in the middle of the scrubland, you will see a large white cross at the top of the hill, white buildings in a green setting, then a statue of the Virgin who seems to welcome the visitor. This place of meditation has existed since 887, when a young peasant and his ox found a statue of the Virgin in the bushes. A chapel was built on the spot where the statue was found, and miraculous cures were reported, leading to numerous pilgrimages.
Perched villages
Continue through a landscape dominated by vineyards where two beautiful viewpoints on the perched villages of Montpezat on the left and Souvignargues on the right, offer themselves to your eyes. Situated on the first foothills of the Cevennes, Montpezat bears the traces of its past marked by the wars of religion. Its castle, whose origins date back to the 10th century, stands proudly in the centre of the village. Its stone buildings and its two towers look out over the horizon, where the silhouettes of the Pic Saint-Loup and the Hortus are visible. In the same vein, the circulade of Souvignargues offers walkers the charm of its narrow streets, its old stones, and its unobstructed view of the Cévennes massif and the Pic Saint-Loup. On the outskirts of the town, linger near the remains of the Saint-André church: dating from the 12th century, the church offers ruins of exceptional beauty. A timeless setting, in the middle of the garrigue. Between vineyards and olive groves, continue towards Saint-Etienne d'Escattes, a pretty hamlet that thrives around its Romanesque chapel. On leaving the village, don't miss the superb capitelle on the right. Go back down towards Aujargues, discover the temple, the church, the town hall and the castle of medieval origin. For the return journey, take the greenway which leads to Sommières along the platform of the old station.
A little extra, continue your escapades in the Gard on the other Greenways of the territory: Caveirac-Sommières (21 km), Vauvert-Gallician (7 km), Quissac-Sauve (5 km), L'Espiguette (5 km), the Via Rhôna from Gallician to the Tour Carbonnière (9 km). Leaflets available free of charge in the tourist offices of the region.
