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Les Matelles

Visit Les Matelles (Languedoc-Roussillon, France)

Les Matelles is a picturesque village in the Herault department, not far from Montpellier, in the south of France.

Exploring Les Matelles

Les Matelles is an attractive, small medieval village situated at the foot of Pic Saint-Loup. It is surrounded by vines and olive groves and is a pleasant 15km drive from Montpellier to the south.

The village developped around its church from the 12th to the 15th centuries and was fortified in the 15th century by ramparts surrounding the village. Unfortunately these did not withstand a Protestant assault in the early 17th century when the church was partially destroyed.

When the troops left the catholics once again gained control and repaired the church and ramparts and added the clock and bell tower to the church above the gateway.

Since those times little has changed in Les Matelles and wandering through its ancient streets is like a trip back in time.

Les Matelles is entered through one of its stone gateways and the village winds gently upwards to the Place de la Chateau - though there is nothing here resembling a chateau! The streets are narrow and paved and lined with attractive stone houses.

Of interest in Les Matelles are its church and a small museum of pre-history which is housed in the Maison des Consuls.

Outside of the medieval walls is a dry riverbed with a small stream running in it. This only has much water in it after heavy rains.

Les Matelles was the adopted home of the Algerian authoress Albertine Sarrazin who wrote L'Astragale. It was also the birthplace of Pierre Granier who sculpted some of the statues for the Chateau de Versailles.

Attractions nearby

The surrounding countryside is very pretty and good for walking.

The beautiful city of Montpellier is about 15km south of Les Matelles.

The attractive village of St Martin de Londres is to the north.

Photos of Les Matelles

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Address: Matelles, Montpellier, Herault, Languedoc-Roussillon, 34270 || GPS: latitude 43.7314, longitude 3.8094

Map of Les Matelles & places nearby



 

Highlights close by

More suggestions: Maguelone 25km; La Grande-Motte 29km; Balaruc-le-Vieux 32km; Clermont-l'Herault 32km; Le Vigan 33km; Bouzigues 34km; Le Grau-du-Roi 34km; Loupian 35km; Villeneuvette 36km; Aigues-Mortes 36km; Le Lac-du-Salagou 37km;

See lots more places to visit nearby and a more detailed map at places near Les Matelles.
See Languedoc-Roussillon and Herault (the region and department for Les Matelles) for more travel ideas...

Suggested tourist attractions to visit near Les Matelles, France

• Parc zoologique de Lunaret - zoo or wildlife park (11km)
• Montpellier - secteur sauvegarde (14km)
• Parc et jardins du château de Flaugergues - remarkable garden (16km)
• Mare Nostrum - aquarium (17km)
• Grotte des Demoiselles - site of natural beauty (20km)
• Saint Jean de Fos pont du diable (monuments on French pilgrim routes) - heritage site (20km)
• Saint-Guilhem-le-Desert / Gorges de l'Herault - grand site of france (21km)
• St Guilhem le Desert ancienne abbaye (monuments on French pilgrim routes) - heritage site (21km)
• Grotte de la Clamouse - site of natural beauty (21km)
• Saint-Guilhem-le-Desert - most beautiful village (21km)

The French version of this page is at Les Matelles (Francais)