Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert

The Gellone Abbey, a jewel of the first Languedoc Roman art:

• The Abbey Church (XIth century), the pre-Romanesque crypt
• The historic organ: built in 1782 by the famous organ builder J.P. Cavaillé
• The reliquaries of Saint Guilhem and the True Cross
• The Guilhem altar (12th century) currently under restoration
• The cloister, a large collection of which can be found in the “Cloisters” museum in New York.
• The Abbey Museum, which represents the history of the cloister.

Visiting hours of Gellone Abbey:

-All year round from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
-Cloister closed: from 12 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. Sundays and public holidays from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

July / August: daily from 8 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. (possibility of closing the cloister between 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. in summer).

Free entry.

Times of prayer services with the sisters of Carmel St Joseph in the abbey, open to all.

Mass at 11am every Sunday.

In low season: Lauds 7:30 am - Noon 12:15 pm (week except Thursday) - Vespers 6 pm

In high season: Lauds 7:30 am - Noon 12:15 pm (week except Thursday) - Vespers 6:45 pm

For any further information: 04 67 57 75 80

The village of St-Guilhem-le-Désert:

Developed on the left bank of the Verdus stream, the medieval village stretches along the valley of Gellone.
It is the starting point for many hikes.

It currently has 270 inhabitants called the "Sauta-Roc".

To discover:

• The Saint-Laurent church (end of the 11th century, beginning of the 12th century)
• The prison tower (12th century)
• The Giant's castle (access prohibited)
• On the Place de la Liberté: plane tree planted in 1855
• The Museum of Yesteryear which tells about the life and trades of the past

Museums

Abbey Museum
Cloister of the Abbey of Gellone - 34150 SAINT GUILHEM LE DESERT
Phone. 06 98 04 74 72

Screening of a panoramic film on "the journey of the cloister stones" and visit of the exhibition of anastyloses and pieces from the old abbey which covers 12 centuries of sculpture.

Open from April 1 to All Saints' school holidays included: from 1:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Museum of Yesteryear
15, rue chapelle des Pénitents - 34150 SAINT GUILHEM LE DESERT
Phone. 04 67 57 77 07

To better understand and appreciate the village of St-Guilhem-le-Désert, a museum has been created in a beautiful medieval residence. It tells about life and trades in the past. Wood turner, washerwoman, clog maker… are staged around life-size santons.

Open all year round, in high season from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and in low season from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed between 12 p.m. and 2 p.m.
Annual closing in January.

Hikes from the village

Notre Dame du Lieu Plaisant circuit
Course: 10 kms
Duration: 3h30
Level: difficult
Departure: Place de la Liberté
Topo: randofiche available at reception (Price: 1 €)

Les Fenestrettes circuit
Course: 10 kms
Duration: 3h00
Average level
Departure: Place de la Liberté
Topo: randofiche available at reception (Price: 1 €)

End of the World Circuit
Itinerary: take the rue du Bout du Monde from Place de la Liberté. This continues on a flat path that takes you to the heart of the Cirque de l'Infernet. This stony path bordered by olive trees ends at the foot of the cliffs of the cirque, which is also called the "End of the World".
The return is made by the same route.
Duration: about 1 hour round trip
Difficulty: easy walk, to do with the family
Markup: none

Recommendation: the owners of the plots cordially allow you access to the circuit, asking you to respect the fences and the plantations