Culture and History
The history of Fontanès includes several religious buildings. The Église Saint-Martin de Fontanès is a Romanesque-Gothic building that the architect Henri Antoine Revoil rebuilt in the mid-19th century. The Protestant Temple de Fontanès is a simple neoclassical building from the first half of the 19th century and is known as a “Bible ouverte”.
The origins of Fontanès date back to the Chalcolithic period; La Clotte céramique was a prehistoric site there. The Notre-Dame-de-Prime-Combe church was built in the 9th century and restored several times. Notre-Dame de Prime-Combe has been a renowned pilgrimage site since the Middle Ages. Notre-Dame de Prime-Combe is distinguished by its peaceful surroundings.
La Glacière is located in the forest. The path to it begins to the right of the Pont de la Rascasse; then follow the trail to the ice chamber. La Roue du puits is located at the entrance to Pondres, on the Place du Puits.
Those who choose Fontanès as a travel destination may wish to rent a holiday apartment.
Paths and Hikes
The Les Mas route starts at the parking area du foyer on the Chemin du foyer in Fontanès. It is a 7.4 km circular hike from Fontanès with 94 m of elevation gain and a stated duration of 2 hours 10 minutes. The route is signposted with yellow markings and leads to the discovery of Fontanès’ large typical country estates, which are considered evidence of the local rural heritage.
The La Clotte hike follows the Vidourle past mills, fords and wells, which testify to the important connection between water and former human activities.
Nature and Landscape
The municipality of Fontanès has three ZNIEFF areas, meaning natural areas of ecological, faunal and floristic interest.
Cycling and Walking Paths
The Voie verte Sommières-Fontanès is a path for pedestrians, cyclists, roller skaters and people with reduced mobility; motor vehicles are prohibited. The Voie Verte de la Vaunage is intended for non-motorised travel – bicycles, pedestrians, roller skaters and, in part, horse riders – and runs along a former railway line.
