Guilhem or Guillaume d’Orange
(750-812), Charles Martel ‘s grandson and Charlemagne’s
first cousin, he fought off during 13 years Saracens’ raids
in Septimania (present Languedoc area). In 804, at the height of
his military career, Guilhem decided to live for God, in the loneliness
of the Gellone valley. In his retreat he brought with him the precious
relic from the Holy Cross. He died as a simple monk at the Gellone
Abbey on the 28th of May 812. A century later, Guilhem will be canonized
as Saint Guilhem at the same time than the creation of Cluny monastery
by his grandson Guillaume the Pious. The village built around the
Gellone Abbey took up up the name of Saint Guilhem le Desert in
the XIIIth century in memory of this great Carolingian lord that
minstrels celebrated during the whole Middle Age.
Guilhem ‘s desert
In describing the territory as a desert,
Guilhem was referring to the absence of man rather than vegetation.
Finding here a wealth
of spiritual resources, he made this place a sanctuary of great
holiness.
This site hidden amid huge imposing rocks, is today world renowned.
In the course of the 12 centuries which followed the arrival of
Guilhem, human activity has multiplied. With patience, the inhabitants
of the
Gellone valley have domesticated the flanks of the Cirque de l'Infernet.
Rearing animals, agriculture, the gathering of wood have all reduced
the forests and given rise to the scrub land typical of Mediterranean
zones. These 'garrigues' of Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert are made
up of diverse vegetation, harboring a flora and fauna of exceptional
diversity. Today, the rich patrimony of the site, as much natural
as cultural, draws each year a host of important visitors.
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Gellone Abbey:
A jewel of Romanesque art, this sanctuary founded at the beginning
of the
9th century is one of the most important spiritual and cultural centers
of Languedoc. Today, it is inscribed as a World Heritage Site with
UNESCO under the title
of the Paths of Saint James Pilgrimage in France.
Clamouse Cave:
Clamouse is one of the most beautiful tourist-accessible caverns,
not only in France but in the world. Discovered more than 50 years
ago and regardless of the extreme fragility of its crystallizations,
Clamouse maintains an integrity and an extraordinary freshness. This
rare cave can be visited to immerse oneself in a true gallery of crystallography,
it is of an inestimable value to the French and international subterranean
world.
For more information: www.grottedeclamouse.com.
Le Pont du Diable :
According to legends, Each night, the devil
would undo all of the construction work undertaken by the two abbeys
(Gellone and Aniane).
Guilhem was forced to treat with the devil. He promised him the soul
of the first creature to cross the bridge if he would stop undermining
the work. In payment, a poor dog was sent to him whose tail was tied
to a pot. Mad with anger, the devil tried to destroy the bridge, but
in vain. Vexed, he threw himself into the river. At the entrance to
the gorges of the Hérault, the old Pont du Diable crosses the
river at its narrowest point. Hanging from the sides of the mountain,
this remarkable construction, which is said to be the oldest Romanesque
bridge in France, has for nearly 1000 years, resisted the raging Autumnal
floods, which can raise the water level by up to ten metres.
Aniane
Jutting from the Hérault Gorges,
sheltered by neighboring hills, the village of Aniane has grown in
the heart of a verdant and bountiful
plain, between sun-kissed vines and olive trees.
The foundation of a monastery in 782, by Saint-Benoit of Aniane, confers
on this agricultural market town a history of great importance.
In 814, the reform of the Benedictine rule would be his work. Throughout
the Middle ages, Aniane was one of the richest and most influential
Abbeys of Languedoc. During the 17th and 18th century, the Abbey which
had been destroyed during the Religious Wars, would be reconstructed
with a magnificent edifice in the classical style.
Take the small narrow streets of this medieval Circulade (circular
town) and uncover its hidden treasures: The Church of Saint-Sauveur
and its organs (17th and 18th century), the Chapel of the Penitents
(the old parish church of John the Baptist), the Town Hall, the Monk's
Market, the Chapel Regagnas...
Lastly, taste the fruits of this exceptional land. Aniane offers both
co-operative and independent cellars with wines of great quality which
enthusiasts will want to get to know. For more information: www.ville-aniane.com.
… and many other locations to discover on :
www.ot-herault.com
www.saint-guilhem-le-desert.com
