The Plateau du Grézac combines a landscape of Jurassic limestone and dolomite with dolomitic rock edges and great ecological diversity. The plateau can be reached on foot from Lodève city centre and lies at an altitude of more than 700 metres. You may wish to rent a holiday apartment in Lodève.
Nature
Well-marked hiking and trail routes on the Plateau du Grézac invite visitors to explore the area. They offer 360-degree panoramas over Lodève and the Causse du Larzac, as well as views farther afield of Lac du Salagou and the characteristic volcanic landscapes of the Lodévois. The Randonnée du Livre du Lodévois is a 7 km circular walking route in Lodève with a duration of 2 hours and 30 minutes.
The GR®653, the Voie d’Arles, runs as a two-day hiking section between Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert and Lodève.
Culture
Saint-Fulcran Cathedral is a building in the Gothic style of Languedoc. Its features include Mauverney windows, a large organ, a cloister, chapels and a bell tower. A guided climb to the summit offers 360-degree views across the Lodévois as far as the Mediterranean. The bell tower of Cathédrale Saint-Fulcran has been protected as a historic monument since 1840; its cloister and episcopal complex have been protected since 2005.
The Musée de Lodève is housed in the former hôtel particulier of Cardinal Hercule de Fleury and has a contemporary extension dating from 2018. Its permanent exhibitions cover the history of the Earth, prehistory and the work of the sculptor Paul Dardé. On more than 1,000 m², the museum offers three permanent visitor routes.
The Halle Dardé de Lodève is located in a market hall built in 1819 on the site of the former Saint-Pierre parish church. Two monumental works by the Lodève-born sculptor Paul Dardé can be seen there; the hall is accessible only during special events.
Lodève is also home to the Manufacture Nationale de la Savonnerie, the only branch of the Manufacture nationale des Gobelins. Prestigious carpets are woven there by hand for embassies, national monuments and the Élysée Palace. Guided tours are offered throughout the year, allowing visitors to watch the weavers at work in the workshop.
The Groupe Archéologique du Lodévois offers walks, guided tours, conferences, exhibitions and publications on the archaeological and historical heritage of Lodève and the Lodévois.
Further destinations: Aniane, Saint-Nazaire-De-Pézan, Cabrerolles, Plaissan, Gigean, Laurens, Fos, Cruzy.
