Discovered in 1889 by the famous speleologist Edouard-Alfred Martel, the Grotte des Demoiselles is located in Saint-Bauzille-de-Putois, in the Hérault valley. An underground funicular leads visitors to the entrance of the Demoiselles cave. After having passed through several rooms adorned with concretions, the spectators discover, amazed, the immense and splendid "Cathedral of the Abyss", a room with a length of 120 meters, a width of 80 meters and a height of 52 meters in which stalagmites, stalactites, draperies and columns are available. It is in this same room that we can see the stalagmite of the Virgin and Child.

http://bit.ly/Grotte-Demoiselles

Some twenty kilometres or so from Montpellier, not far from the Hérault gorges and Buèges, Saint-Martin-de-Londres is a place to discover and savour. Its authentic setting in the middle of the garrigue scrubland means it combines nature and culture.

This medieval village, typical of the region, takes visitors a few centuries back in time. Between its walls, you can stroll along the narrow streets, past houses with flower-filled balconies and beneath the picturesque stone arcades. The village's Romanesque church, founded in the 11th century by the monks of Gellone Abbey in Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert, is its greatest gem. Connected to the priory, the building with Byzantine influences is an architectural jewel combining understatement and harmony.

On Place de la Fontaine, a square adorned with fountains, you will see the Clock Tower. A remnant of the old surrounding wall built during the Hundred Years War, it was used as a prison during the Revolution. It's also worth stopping by the square next to it, to admire the beautiful façades that surround it. You can also enjoy the soothing shade of the century-old plane trees that stand proudly near the fountain...

Created in 1856 by Eugène Mazel, a Cevenol resident with a passion for botany, the famous Prafrance bamboo plantation, located near Anduze, is a wonderful exotic garden that invites you to stroll. Relaxing paths lined with tall bamboos ; the Dragon Valley, a splendid Japanese Zen garden ; bambusarium with multiple bamboo species ; Mazel greenhouses sheltering plants with perfumes and exotic flowers ; the Laotian village with typical bamboo constructions ; the aquatic garden, peaceful at will with its carp koi, water lilies and lotus… So many splendors that make the reputation of this park.

• http : //bit. Ly/bambouseraie_anduze
• http : //bit. Ly/jardin_zen_anduze (the Japanese garden of Anduze bamboo plantation)

Picturesque hamlet Cevennes, located in the town of Mialet, Mas Soubeyran was a hotbed of protestant resistance in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Housed in the birthplace of the Camisard chef Pierre Laporte, nicknamed Rolland, the museum of the Desert proposes, through fifteen rooms, to discover the history of the Camisards and their fight against the persecutions suffered during the period of the "Desert", which extended from the revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685 to the Edict of Tolerance in 1787 ; as well as a memorial dedicated to the martyrs of the Desert.

To prepare your visit : http://bit.ly/Musee_desert

Every first Sunday of September, a large Protestant gathering takes place on the site of the Desert Museum.

Trabuc cave is tucked away in the commune of Mialet, not far from Le Mas Soubeyran. With its 1,200 metres of galleries, it's the biggest network of underground passages in the Cévennes. Take a guided tour (lasting around an hour) and discover splendid coloured minerals, draperies, waterfalls, lakes, and most excitingly, a mysterious group of 100,000 small stalagmites that bear a strange resemblance to an army of soldiers, the origin of which remains unexplained to this day!

At the heart of the Hérault Gorges, in the municipality of Saint-Jean-de-Fos, three kilometres from the medieval village of Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert, the Clamouse Cave contains a magical world. Discovered by potholers in 1945, it is now a listed Scientific Site.

On the guided tour, you can admire stunning concretions adorning the ground, ceilings and walls of the large chambers. This is the most diverse range of crystalline formations seen in France. Incredible-looking stalactites, stalagmites, discs and other shapes grace the walls, forming irregular lines. Bathed in magnificent crystalline glows or immaculate colours, they look dazzling thanks to the ingenious LED lamp lighting, the first of its kind in France. In the white corridor and the eccentric room, a truly extraordinary sight awaits you: incredible, winding lines of extreme whiteness seem to move in the rock. The draperies of stalactites and snowflake-like aragonite crystals are also among the treasures in this famous cave, a favourite among underground explorers.

For sportier visitors, a speleopark trail provides a chance to explore the cave in a more acrobatic manner while receiving an introduction to potholing. A fun and immersive itinerary!

A certified "Museum of France" since 2002, the Fabre Museum in Montpellier opened in 1828 in response to a suggestion by the local painter François-Xavier Fabre. It is one of France's most important museums.

Between history and modernity, the visitor is taken on a journey into the art world through the centuries, discovering the great Flemish, Dutch, Spanish, Italian and French masters.

When visiting, you have three options:

• The main trails, arranged across a number of rooms: the early art trail, with Flemish and Dutch paintings from the 17th century, European paintings on canvas and sculptures from the 14th to 18th centuries, as well as neoclassical paintings; the modern art trail, with works by Delacroix, Ingres, Courbet, Bazille, Richier and Soulages; the decorative arts trail, located in the Cabrières-Sabatier d'Espeyran Mansion; and the dedicated graphic arts trail.
• Themed trails: paintings of interiors, nudes, fruit, cloth and fabrics, children, angels, heroes, flowers, etc.
• A trail that can be customised individually online, by selecting the works of your choice.

There are game booklets for families, to help them explore the permanent collections. The museum also has temporary exhibitions of great heritage value, and a varied programme of activities, to meet demand from the public, be they tourists or Montpellier residents. For example, at lunch time on the last Friday of every month, you can take the "Curator's tour", which will guide you around the exhibits. This first-class museum also offers workshops for children and adults, as well as conferences, including classes from the Louvre School. Don't miss this attraction if you're visiting Hérault's capital.

In the Occitanie region, just ten kilometres or so from the Mediterranean, lies Montpellier, the capital of Languedoc. Its rich heritage earned it the Town and Land of Art and History label in 2019.

To start exploring the city, head to Montpellier's highest point on the famous Promenade du Peyrou, a haven of peace cherished by the locals. Terraced gardens, an ideal place for a leisurely stroll, were created there at the end of the 17th century, offering visitors incredible views. From the upper terrace, which features a very fine water tower and an equestrian statue of Louis XIV, you will have a stunning view over the city rooftops, the garrigue scrubland all around, the Pic Saint-Loup, the Cévennes and even the Pyrenees on a clear day!

Next, head to L'Écusson, Montpellier's historic centre, thus named due to its outline shaped like an old French écu coin. Keep your eyes peeled to admire the traces of medieval Montpellier. One of the most striking examples is the Gayon mansion, built in the 13th and 15th centuries. In one of its former bedrooms is a magnificent medieval fresco depicting the life of St. Eustace, patron saint of drapers. Continue your exploration of past times with a visit to Place de la Comédie, created in the 18th century. This is one of Europe's biggest pedestrianised areas, at 230 metres long and 50 metres wide! It is a very pleasant place for a stroll between the attractive Haussmannian buildings, the magnificent Montpellier Opera House with its carved stone façade, and the sunny café terraces, not forgetting the elegant Three Graces fountain. The latter is an architectural marvel: admire the cluster of rocks resting on a circular platform, from which the group of the Three Graces emerges. They stand back to back, and seem to be watching the passers-by...

A 5-minute walk from the square, you can visit one of Montpellier's most renowned cultural attractions: the prestigious Fabre Museum. Its collections of old, modern and contemporary paintings make it one of Europe's most important museums. Stay awhile in the Columns Gallery, undoubtedly one of the most majestic rooms housing the exhibition of older art, offering a remarkable overview of 18th-century historical painting through its large-format works. In the modern exhibition, don't miss the Soulages collection, comprising some twenty paintings by the famous contemporary artist.

Further east, heading towards the banks of the Lez, you will reach a modern neighbourhood characterised by its Neo-Classical style: the Antigone district, designed by the Catalan architect Ricardo Bofill. Seen from the sky, the shape of this unusual, 900 metre-long complex resembles that of a key. Explore its futuristic world and discover its finest city squares, like Place du Nombre d'Or with its water jets, Place de Thessalie with its magnificent fountain inspired by ancient Greece, or Place de l'Europe with its arc of buildings and inviting lawns for a spot of relaxation.

Enclose in the impressive limestone cliffs of the Infernet circus, it is considered one of the most beautiful villages in France. It is inscribed on unesco's World Heritage list as the Way of Saint Jacques de Compostela, of which there is always one of the main stages. A jewel of Romanesque art, the monastery of Gellone is one of the most important spiritual and cultural centers of Languedoc-Roussillon.

• Do not miss the museum Village d'Antan (on the right of the street that goes down through the village) : Jacques Prouget is a passionate santons who works wonders. He has reconstructed in the maze of its floors and cellars scenes of life from 2 or 3 centuries ago with life-size characters.
• You can also visit Jacques Gouraud, who runs the world to bring back the stones and jewels he sells at unbeatable prices in his shop Sauta Roc (on the church square).

• the tea room of the Village d'Antan museum. On the lowest floor, Madame Prouget serves food, either indoors in a vaulted cellar that offers a unique setting, or on a very small terrace overlooking the Verdus (the river that crosses Saint Guilhem to jump into the Hérault). She serves a dozen cutlery, simple, fresh, no card but a dish simmered as for her and her husband, pies to die, for a very reasonable price.
• The Small Garden (see the section "where to eat")

climb to the ruined castle (indicated from the village square) and continue to the hermitage of Notre Dame de Belle Grace. 2 hours, no children under 7 years old. Return by the same path or loop (see map ign) longer, but the landscape and vegetation are quite different.

• http://bit.ly/Saint-Guilhem-Arte
• http://bit.ly/Saint_guilhem

As a City of Art and History, Nîmes is renowned for its ancient heritage and its especially festive southern atmosphere. The Roman amphitheatre is remarkably well-preserved and dates from the late 1st century and early 2nd century. It is 133 metres long and 101 metres wide and can hold up to 24,000 spectators! These vast arenas are open to visitors and shows are regularly held there, most notably the famous bullfights and Camargue bull runs.

Another flagship monument of the city of Nîmes is the Maison Carrée, a superb Roman temple from the late 1st century, with its columns topped with Corinthian capitals. Opposite the Maison Carrée stands the Carré d'Art, a modern building housing a Contemporary Art Museum. The city of Nîmes also has a Fine Arts Museum displaying French and foreign paintings from the 14th to the 19th century.

As well as these many attractions, don't miss the Jardin de la Fontaine, a marvellous romantic park listed as a Remarkable Garden, developed in the 18th century around the Nemausus spring and the ancient ruins of the Temple of Diana and Magne Tower. Enjoy a most restful stroll through the grounds and discover a French-style garden in the lower section, and a series of Mediterranean plants, pines and cedars in the upper section. From the Magne Tower at the top of Mount Cavalier, the view of the rooftops of the city is superb!

Before leaving Gard's capital, be sure to take a walk in the picturesque alleyways of the old city and enjoy a drink on one of its pretty town squares, such as the Place du Marché, Place aux Herbes or Place de l'Horloge squares.

As for events, the Pentecost Feria in May is a big five-day celebration where the bull is king. Apart from its bullfights, the Nîmes Feria is also a chance to celebrate with music to the rhythm of the bandas in the streets of the city centre.

Uzès, the first duchy of France, invites walkers and architecture-lovers to discover its old town, which is full of charm and rich in ancient heritage.

A blend of Medieval, Renaissance and classical styles, the duchy of Uzès – or ducal castle – is one of the flagship sites of the city. Visit this place steeped in history and discover the gothic chapel and its superb stained glass windows, the splendid Renaissance façade of the central building, the furnished apartments, the cellar and the Bermonde Tower, an imposing 11th century keep offering a wonderful view of the rooftops of the historic centre.

Discover Uzès peacefully, wandering through its alleyways, squares and monuments, including private mansions and the remarkable Romanesque Fenestrelle Tower, a relic of the old cathedral, which is notable for being the only example of a round bell tower in France!

Above all, don't miss the Place aux Herbes square and its beautiful arcade houses. Full of activity with its café terraces and restaurants, every Saturday a Provençal market takes place in this pleasant square, full of colours and flavours.

The medieval garden at the foot of the King's Tower is also worth a look, with a fine range of ancient vegetable varieties and medicinal plants.

Les Nuits Musicales d'Uzès, a well-known music festival, takes place in July, with venues including the ducal palace, Saint Théodorit cathedral and the bishop's palace courtyard.

The second largest circus in France (after that of Gavarnie). The view from the Causse de Blandas is impressive. At the bottom, the screw that dug this circus offers lovely bathing sites (cool, swimming, water rarely exceeds 16 °)

A very nice walk of about 45 minutes and even accessible to young children : the foux de la Vis (the most important resurgence of France), with its medieval mills recently restored. At the bottom of the descent into the circus, and just after crossing a ford, the path starts on the right. Return by the same way.

At the heart of the circus, the picturesque village of Navacelles, with its waterfall and its grandiose environment, forms a particularly photogenic complex. Superb !

http://bit.ly/navacelles-drone

http://bit.ly/Navacelles-Michelin

Mount Aigoual in the Cévennes National Park is the second highest peak in the Cévennes, standing 1,567 metres high. Its peak is exposed to extreme weather conditions and has a weather observatory, which is remarkable for being the only weather station in Europe to still be inhabited.

Walkers can enjoy a magnificent view of the Cévennes and the Causses, and on a clear day the Alps, the Pyrenees and the Mediterranean, from the observatory's orientation table. As well as this vast panoramic view, they can also discover an exhibition about meteorology and Mount Aigoual.

Lake Salagou is an artificial lake. The blue of the lake, which reflects that of the sky, the green of the vegetation and the dark red of the ruffles of its banks create a bewitching contrast. A paradise for geologists, budding or more scientific. It is bordered by places of beaches where you will be mostly alone on the red sand.

Three curiosities near the lake that are worth seeing :

• the Slab of the Placede and its many footprints left by the pre-Mamalian reptiles present more than 260 million years ago.
• the dike (volcanic chimney, visible from far surmounted by his cross) where your compass will be reversed in memory of the period when the magnetic pole terrestrial was located at the South Pole (inversion which occurred 300 times during the last 200 millions of years !)
• the moving village of Celles, which was abandoned during the construction of the dam because it had to be flooded.

• http://bit.ly/Salagou
• http://bit.ly/Salagou_4K

In the same day, enjoy the trip to visit the royal manufactory of Villeneuvette and the circus of Mourèze (see Tourism)

Founded in the thirteenth century by Saint Louis in order to develop trade with Italy and the East, Aigues-Mortes, first port on the Mediterranean of the kingdom of France, today unveils a particularly well preserved architectural ensemble. Located in the heart of the Gard Camargue, the city of Aigues-Mortes has a real look of medieval fortress, with its 1634 meters of ramparts, its fortified gates, its twenty towers and its walkway.

• The highest tower of Aigues-Mortes, the tower of Constance, former prison for women, a height of 30 meters, offers from the top of the terrace a beautiful view of the vast expanses of Camargue.
• In the interior of the ramparts, one will not miss to visit the place Saint-Louis, with its fountain surmounted by a statue of saint Louis, its terraces of restaurants and its shops.
• Always in the enclosure of the city, the discovery of the Gothic church Notre-Dame-des-Sablons and the two baroque buildings, which are the chapel of the White Penitents and the chapel of the Penitents Gris, completes the visit.

• http://bit.ly/Salin-Aigues-Mortes (French, English, discover saline)

The Camargue, especially the Scamander reserve.