Olargues * All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

Olargues is a commune located in the west of the Hérault department in the Occitania region (France, foothills of the Massif Central).

It is located in the Haut-Languedoc regional natural park.

The village is a member of the “Most beautiful villages of France” association.

The city stands on the Camino de Arlés of the Camino de Santiago route to Santiago de Compostela.

Exposed to a Mediterranean climate, it is drained by the Jaur, the Mauroul stream, and the Rautely stream.

Included in the Haut-Languedoc regional natural park, the town has a remarkable natural heritage made up of three natural areas of ecological, fauna and flora interest.

Olargues was the capital of a canton (the canton of Olargues) and the seat of the community of communes Orb and Jaur.

Olargues is a rural commune which has 550 inhabitants in 2021. It is the center town of the urban unit of Olargues.

Its inhabitants are called the Olarguais or Olarguaises.

Main attractions

The rock engravings called Peiro escrito. All of the rock engravings have been classified as historical monuments since October 11, 1965;
The 15th century bell tower, a development of the old castle keep, the only vestige of the Saint-Laurent church in Olargues. The bell tower has been classified as a historic monument since December 8, 1928;

The 12th century bridge (known as the “Devil’s Bridge”). The bridge has been classified as a historic monument since August 23, 1916;
The whole of the old village made up of cobbled streets and alleys and caladas (sloping streets paved with Jaur pebbles);

Saint-Laurent church in Olargues, built in the 17th century and equipped with a listed organ. The old bell tower was registered as a historic monument in 1928;
Saint-Laurent decanal church in Olargues;