Exploring & Activities

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Saint-Chinian, 27 km northwest of Béziers, is a lively village dating back to the founding of a monastery in 825 and located at the foot of the Cévennes.

The village prospered from the monastery, surviving the Cathar Crusade (1209 - 1229) relatively unscathed and emerging in the 18th and 19th centuries as a centre for cloth manufacturing. Since the 19th century, the village has focused on wine production, and is perhaps best known for this today.

Saint Chinian is much more than just a small town, it is in fact twenty communes and a wine region with its own appellation, producing mainly red and rosé wine. The vines are planted on hillsides facing the sea, between 100 and 200 m above sea level. During the French Revolution, the abbey of Saint-Chinian was dissolved and its buildings were put to new uses. The old abbey church is now the village hall, hosting everything from exhibitions to village dances. You can see what is left of what was once the cloister behind the hall. During the summer months, fetes are held. In Saint Chinian you will find the following amenities.

Small Spar supermarket, Pharmacy, Doctor

2 bars (food available),

4 restaurants

Bakers, Butcher

Market Thursday and Sunday

Intermarche supermarket on the outskirts.

Tourist information

Many Wine & Cellar Sellers

Saint-Chinian, 27 km northwest of Béziers, is a lively village dating back to the founding of a monastery in 825 and located at the foot of the Cévennes.

The village prospered from the monastery, surviving the Cathar Crusade (1209 - 1229) relatively unscathed and emerging in the 18th and 19th centuries as a center for cloth manufacturing. Since the 19th century, the village has focused on wine production, and is perhaps best known for this today.

Saint Chinian is much more than just a small town, it is in fact twenty communes and a wine region with its own appellation, producing mainly red and rosé wine. The vines are planted on hillsides facing the sea, between 100 and 200 m above sea level. During the French Revolution, the abbey of Saint-Chinian was dissolved and its buildings were put to new uses. The old abbey church is now the village hall, hosting everything from exhibitions to village dances. You can see what is left of what was once the cloister behind the hall. During the summer months, festivals are held. In Saint Chinian you will find the following amenities.

Small Spar supermarket, Pharmacy, Doctor

2 bars (food available),

4 restaurants

Bakers, Butchers

Market Thursday and Sunday

Intermarche supermarket on the outskirts.

Tourist information

Many Wine & Cellar Sellers

Road cycling and mountain biking are very popular in Saint-Chinian, and the Langudoc region in general is a cyclist's paradise, with several on-road and off-road trails. The Tour de France is a regular visitor every few years. There are also many other races throughout the year. Mountain biking in the National Park is very popular. Simply find one of the many local orientation tables and follow the graded trails. We have a small selection of spare inner tubes and cables in addition to bike tools and a bike stand. We can also provide information on local routes that we have experienced. Bikes including mountain bikes, road bikes and electric bikes can be hired locally.

Road cycling and mountain biking are very popular in Saint-Chinian, and the Langudoc region in general is a cyclist's paradise, with several on-road and off-road trails. If you wish to use your own bike, we have space to store it in our secure garden. The Tour de France is a regular visitor every few years. There are also many other breeds throughout the year. Mountain biking in the National Park is very popular. Simply find one of the many local orientation tables and follow the graded trails. We have a small selection of spare inner tubes and cables in addition to bike tools and a bike stand. We can also provide information on local routes that we have experienced. Bikes including mountain bikes, road bikes and electric bikes can be hired locally.

There are many places to walk in the area, some starting from the front door of Gîte Florence.

We are also on the edge of the National Park, with its many routes. The Pays Haut Languedoc et Vignobles, a federation of communes, publishes a collection of 73 marked walks, available from the Saint-Chinian tourist office.

10 minutes from us is Cessenon Sur Orb on the Orb River. Here you can go wild swimming and from Reals you can rent a canoe or in Roquebrun 20 minutes by car you can also go wild swimming and rent a canoe to go down the Orb. You can even cool off in the Vernezobre River which runs alongside the garden of the gîte.