Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert

Saint- Guilhem -le- Désert is a commune of 265 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2011 ) in the department of Hérault in the Languedoc- Roussillon region. It belongs to the district Lodève and Canton Aniane.

Today, the village with its monastery and the Pont du Diable ( Devil's Bridge ) in the nearby town of Saint -Jean -de- Fos is a major tourist attraction. It's like one of the plus beaux villages de France ( most beautiful villages in France ) classified ..

Geography

The medieval town lies in the valley of the Verdus, which flows very close to the Hérault river. The Hérault where it forms a narrow gorge ( canyon), which is known as the Gorges de l' Hérault. The nearest major town is Montpellier, located about 40 km southeast of the village.

History

The medieval town, which lies on the pilgrim route to Santiago de Compostela is well preserved. William of Aquitaine to have founded repentance from around the year 804 the monastery of Gellone here. Therefore, the community was named Gellone in the Middle Ages.

The monastery

As a builder applies Duke William of Aquitaine and Toulouse ( Guilhem de Toulouse) called " short-faced ", a grandson of Charles Martel and successful military Charlemagne. Soon after his death, William was highly revered and his grave is to the present day an important stage of the pilgrims on the Via Tolosana, one of the French sections of the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. With the canonization of William in 1066 and the consequent increase in the flow of pilgrims to his grave Gellone was known by his new name " Saint- Guilhem -le- Désert ".

Since 1998, it is awarded as part of the World Heritage Site by UNESCO " Camino de Santiago in France."

A tragic story has experienced the monastery at the end of the 19th century. With funds from John D. Rockefeller II a large part of the cloister was dismantled and rebuilt later mixed in New York's Museum The Cloisters with originals of other European monastery. Therefore, the damage is particularly great. But also the Archaeological Museum in Montpellier and other private collectors had access to this heritage. Even today, the losses are clearly visible.

Missing part of the cloister

Parts of the cloister in New York

Gallery

Village and monastery

The monastery

The Verdus

The waterfall

The streets

Fountain for pilgrims

Hermitage