# Hérault gorges and the Cévennes

> 4-day road trip of about 211 km (131 mi) with 9 stops, from Montpellier to Anduze. About 2 h 55 min of driving in total.

Source: https://camping-spirit.com/guides/b12-herault-cevennes/

**At a glance:** 4-day road trip of about 211 km (131 mi) with 9 stops, from Montpellier to Anduze. About 2 h 55 min of driving in total. From Montpellier to the medieval gorge of Saint-Guilhem, the red shores of Salagou, the Cirque de Navacelles and Mont Aigoual in the Cévennes.

| | |
|---|---|
| Distance | 211 km (131 mi) |
| Driving | 2 h 55 min |
| Suggested days | 4 |
| Stops | 9 |
| Route | Montpellier → Anduze |
| Countries | France |
| Updated | July 3, 2026 |

## Route description

Head north-west from Montpellier on the D986 and D27 towards Aniane, 40 km. The Pont du Diable, an 11th-century bridge, spans the green Hérault gorge; people swim below it in summer. Park at the visitor centre car park, which is paid; from June to September a shuttle runs up the gorge to Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert, where cars are not allowed in the village.

Saint-Guilhem is a stone village around the abbey of Gellone, on the Way of St James; come early or late to avoid the crowds. Then drive west past Clermont-l’Hérault to Lac du Salagou, a reservoir set among red earth hills. The shore has beaches and paths, and the Cirque de Mourèze with its dolomite pillars is a few kilometres south.

Climb north onto the Larzac plateau through Lodève and on to the Cirque de Navacelles, a deep abandoned river meander. The belvederes on the rims at Blandas and La Baume Auriol are the main sight. The D130 down to the hamlet is narrow with hairpins; large motorhomes should stay on top. Continue east through Le Vigan, a market town with chestnut groves.

From Le Vigan the D48 climbs to the Col du Minier and on to the observatory on Mont Aigoual, at 1,565 m. Descend to Florac in the Tarn valley, then take the Corniche des Cévennes along the ridges to Saint-Jean-du-Gard and Anduze. The roads are narrow and winding throughout; allow plenty of time and watch for logging trucks.

## Stop-by-stop itinerary

1. **Montpellier** (France)
2. **Pont du Diable, Hérault** (Aniane, France): An 11th-century bridge over the Hérault gorge, one of the oldest Romanesque bridges in France. People swim in the green water below in summer; use the paid car park at the visitor centre.
3. **Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert** (Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert, France): A stone village squeezed into a gorge around the abbey of Gellone, a stop on the Way of St James. Cars must stay in the paid car parks below; in summer a shuttle runs from the Pont du Diable.
4. **Lac du Salagou** (Clermont-l’Hérault, France): A reservoir created in 1969 among hills of red earth and dark volcanic rock. Swim from the beaches at Les Vailhés or Clermont-l’Hérault, and walk to the abandoned village of Celles.
5. **Cirque de Navacelles** (Blandas, France): A deep, abandoned meander of the Vis with a hamlet at the bottom, seen from belvederes on both rims. The D130 hairpins down to Navacelles are narrow; large motorhomes should stay at the Blandas viewpoint.
6. **Le Vigan** (France)
7. **Mont Aigoual observatory** (Valleraugue, France): The last staffed mountain weather observatory in France, at 1,565 m, with an exhibition on weather and climate. On clear days you can see from the Alps to the Mediterranean; it is often windy and cold.
8. **Florac** (France)
9. **Anduze** (France)

## FAQs

**How long is Hérault gorges and the Cévennes?**
4-day road trip of about 211 km (131 mi) with 9 stops, from Montpellier to Anduze. About 2 h 55 min of driving in total.

**How many days do you need for Hérault gorges and the Cévennes?**
We suggest 4 days: about 2 h 55 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.

**Where does Hérault gorges and the Cévennes start and end?**
It starts in Montpellier and ends in Anduze.

**Which countries does Hérault gorges and the Cévennes pass through?**
France.