Top 4 Castles around Mérifons

A place worth a little detour and not particularly difficult to access.

Easy hike, also suitable for cycling

Joncels dominates the Gravezon valley, and is crossed by narrow streets with picturesque houses. A stopover for pilgrims on their way to Compostela from Lodève, Joncels preserves the remains of a Benedictine Abbey whose origins date back to the 8th century and which was one of the most important in Languedoc in the Middle Ages. After crossing the cloister, the path heads towards Lunas, following the Way from Arles to Compostela. In Lunas, a pretty village nestled at the confluence of the Gravezon, Nize and Dourdou, detours are essential to enjoy the leisure centre of La Prades, and a break at the site of the Saint-Georges chapel, then it climbs steeply to reach the Dio plateau, finding the salutary shade of the Monts d'Orb national forest. We leave the route of the Grandes Traversées VTT du Massif Central and de l’Hérault to enjoy beautiful views of the Orb valley, to reach a magnificent panorama at the paragliding take-off point of Montjoux: Bédarieux, le Caroux… A pretty path, then a visual shock: you arrive at Dio! Sheltered by white limestone cliffs and emerging from the red earth characteristic of the surroundings of the Salagou lake, the village nestles under the imposing silhouette of its castle, a true legendary fortress.

Octon is a 'favorite' village, symbolic of the special atmosphere of the villages of the Grand Site. Its houses with multi-colored facades made of local stone, its wine cellars (Mas des chimères, Mas du Salagou, Trois terres, etc.) and the charming fountain on the square give a Mediterranean feel to this very lively village in the summer. The official end of the Sentier des 2 lacs is at the level of the Arcades campsite and the 'totem' of the Grande Traversée du Massif Central à VTT. A remarkable viewpoint over the Salagou lake awaits you: reed beds, Neck de la Roque, etc. It's a shame not to continue the adventure: we continue on the southern banks of the lake! We start by crossing the ford on the Salagou river, which gives its name to the lake (be careful, it gets wet after heavy rain!). Then it is an uninterrupted series of pretty red paths, vineyards and rolling hills of ruffes, with breathtaking views of the lake, the Sure hill, the Rouens peninsula and the Liausson mountain. With a few swimming spots to boot, welcome in summer: it gets hot on the ruffes… From the banks of Liausson, it is highly recommended to take a detour to Mont Liausson by taking the PR marked in yellow. A 9km route for a little less than 500m of elevation gain, with a nice climb from the Col des Portes to reach the summit. The Grand Site Salagou – Cirque de Mourèze seen from above… An exceptional panoramic view full of colours: the blue of the lake, the red ruffes, the yellow of the broom and the mosaic of vines. On the other side, the gaze stops on the ghostly shapes of the Cirque de Mourèze. If you don't have the time or the courage to make the detour to Mont Liausson, at least go up to the charming village of Liausson: magical panorama of the vineyards and the lake! On the banks of Clermont, the view of the lake at the end of the day from the pontoon is a delight for lovers of beautiful landscapes and perfect shots! You can eat there, stay there, have a drink, or simply enjoy a beautiful shaded beach. Only 6 km to go to the end of the journey: a pretty path with views of the lake, a stretch of road, a quiet track to cross a pass, and the descent towards Clermont-l'Hérault by a pretty greenway... A little gourmet stop at the Miellerie du Salagou, a few housing developments then we find a panoramic path that leads to the Guilhem castle. A tip: when the castle site is open, cross it to find the trail markings on the heights of old Clermont. You will be impressed by the magnificent views of the city and the plain from the castle grounds. All that remains is to let yourself be guided through the city and discover the imposing St Paul church: a remarkable example of southern Gothic. The interior is incredibly bright and airy… The end of the adventure will be on the terrace, on the Allées Salengro: the living heart of the city, and a wonderful Languedoc atmosphere, plane trees and wines to boot…

A charming village nestled at the confluence of the Gravezon, the Nize and the Dourdou! The history of Lunas dates back to the Roman road that linked the lower Languedoc to Rouergue. Surely succeeding a Gallo-Roman oppidium, the Lunarenses castrum is mentioned as early as 806 in a charter of the Gélone abbey (that of Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert). The town is dominated by the Redondel rock, an ancient fortified castle belonging to the baron of Faugères, Viscount of Béziers. Razed in 1627, it was rebuilt on the banks of the Gravezon in 1641 by Henry de Narbonne. A true summary of the history of Languedoc, and a very pleasant cultural, refreshing and gastronomic stopover… A small detour to enjoy the leisure center of Prades, and a break on the site of the Saint-Georges chapel are essential in Lunas

A village quite representative of Languedoc

Cute little town with train connections and beautiful climbs in all directions

This picturesque little village has been classified as a green station. We find traces of its existence until 909. Four hamlets were located below the castle which was destroyed during the wars of religion. Rebuilt in the center of the village, it is still inhabited. Lunas is located on one of the routes to Santiago de Compostela. It also has the particularity of having a railway station.