Quissac and the Vidourle valley
Between rolling hills of oak and Aleppo pine woods, scrubland and vineyards, Quissac is a picturesque village where the Vidourle is a source of wealth. The Vidourle can be as calm as it can be thundering, and has always been a source of inspiration for the towns and villages in the valley. Also, while travelling along its banks, you will discover charming towns built near their Romanesque church, old oil or grain mills, norias, tanneries and old silkworm factories. If the Vidourle has structured the economy of yesteryear, it has also shaped the landscape. As a troglodyte river, it is an extraordinary source of biodiversity, which is why it has been classified as a Natura 2000 area.
Take the time to stroll along the banks of the river which will lead you, via the rue de Vièle, to the oldest district of the town and the church of Saint-Faustine-et-Saint-Jovite. Restored in the 17th century, it has a pyramid-shaped wrought iron bell tower which houses the old hour bell. Do not miss to pass in front of the Temple built facing the Vidourle. The façade is enlivened by a monumental fluted colonnade supporting a triangular pediment. Neoclassical style, it is one of the most beautiful temples rebuilt in the nineteenth century. Quissac also has a magnificent lake which, on more than 30 ha, is a paradise for fishermen.
Continue on the greenway towards Sauve. Following the Vidourle valley, you can admire the meandering of the river through the hills.
The arrival in Sauve will not fail to seduce you: on the hillside and watered by the river, Sauve reveals its facades of houses and their picturesque interweaving."Villages of Character
Cross the bridge and discover this village clinging to the rock, labeled "Villages of Character". The medieval streets with their winding lines lead from square to square. From the square in front of the town hall, enjoy the view of the agricultural plains, the Mediterranean vegetation, and the atmosphere so dear to the hearts of the Sauvains. From the alleys to the vaulted passages, explore the porches and the entrance courtyards, look up for architectural details, and enjoy the stalls of the many craftsmen installed in the city, labeled "Ville et Métiers d'Art". Dominated by the remains of the old Bermond castle, the heights of Sauve merge with the rock of the Mer des Rochers. The scenery here becomes edifying, a bit mysterious, between stone, green oaks and laurels. You will be able to make a long stop on the interpretation path of the Sea of Rocks, and to discover the history of the sculpted chimneys of Lapié de Sauve where formerly micocouliers and cherry trees bloomed through the food cultures. Your wanderings will then lead you to the "Cazernes": built in the 17th century to house the King's Dragons, they now house the "Fanabrègue" Fork Conservatory and its hackberry wood factory. Unique in France, this local craft, specific to Sauve, is an 800 year old know-how. The hackberry trees are here specifically cultivated for the manufacture of forks with 3 branches. Exhibition rooms with video show the work on the tree and then on the fork, as well as the tools used. The environment is also highlighted by interactive screens.
From Sauve to Saint-Hippolyte, the Vidourle is underground. However, your journey on the greenway follows more or less the curves of the troglodyte river.Sericulture
A small town in the Gard region located on the southern slopes at the foot of the Cévennes, Saint-Hippolyte-du-Fort bears witness to its economic past, which is closely linked to the Vidourle. The town was indeed very prosperous from the 18th century thanks to the silk industry. Sericulture was established in the Cévennes as early as the 13th century with large mulberry plantations. The golden age of the culture lasts from 1715 to 1855, when the pebrine decimates the caterpillars of silkworms.
Saint-Hippolyte-du-Fort was once the headquarters of the Cévennes silk inspectors. The Silk Museum, housed in the old barracks built under Louis XIV, traces the silk industry past of the Cévennes, and highlights the economic heritage that created the Cévennes identity. The museum, a real living silkworm factory, reveals the stages of silk transformation, from the worm to the fabric, emphasizing the artisanal nature of the production. To complete your knowledge on the subject, you are invited to walk on the paths of the Carré de Soie. Four paths in four communes retrace the history of silk in the Cévennes. In Saint-Hippolyte-du-Fort, it is the trail of "Vestiges of the Silk Industry". This Cigalois trail, starting from the Silk Museum, will lead you through the streets of the town near the many remains and buildings related to silk. With a revival of activity after 1750, the silk mills flourished, as did the hosiery factories, stocking factories and spinning mills. Upstream of the Vidourle, from the bridge, you can see the old industrial district with, in particular, the Puech-Rocher spinning mill, the Bourget silkworm factory and the Maison Pasteur, where the scientist came to carry out research on the pebrine.Small cigalois heritage
Saint-Hippolyte is also known as the town of thirteen fountains. You can discover them by walking through the town, and you should go below the road to Cros to observe the catchment area of these fountains on the Vidourle; a circular structure topped by a dome is the starting point of these fountains built to improve the daily life of the inhabitants. Another anecdote concerning the city of Cigal: its incredible number of sundials. No less than fifty sundials adorn the facades and gardens of the city! Only 22 sundials are visible, so keep your eyes open!
