Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert is one of the Plus Beaux Villages de France (“The most beautiful villages of France”), and the Abbey of Gellone, along with the nearby Pont du Diable were designated UNESCO World Heritages sites in 1999.
Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert is a commune in the Hérault department in the Occitanie region in southern France. Situated in the narrow valley of the Gellone river where it meets the steep-sided gorge of the Hérault River, Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert is essentially a medieval village located on the Chemin de St-Jacques (Way of St. James) pilgrim route to Santiago de Compostella.
Hiking and outdoor activities
Numerous paths, DFCI tracks and paths cross this physical complex which departs from the Hérault gorges (classified as “Grand site de France”) to reach the Séranne mountain. This karst area shelters for numerous caves and potholes. The way of Saint-Jacques crosses the mounts of Saint-Guilhem by the GR653. The entire massif is “Natura 2000” classified.
Coordinates: 43° 44′ 05″ N, 3° 33′ 02″ E
