Vézénobres in the Gard at sunset. Remarkable medieval village

A perched medieval village

Vézénobres, Village of character

Dive into more than 2500 years of history and discovery.

The remarkable heritage, the small streets, the local products as well as the culture of the fig are part of the inescapable elements which will rock your steps at the time of a stroll in Vézénobres. Finally, the unobstructed view of the Cevennes, the garrigues, the Gardons plain, the Mont Lozère and the Mont Bouquet will open the doors to other places to discover.

Vézénobres

A historic village, guardian of the Cevennes

We take you to discover the village of Vézénobres, a mecca of regional heritage, perched at an altitude of over 200 meters. Browse these small medieval streets that will transport you from one monument to another, from the eleventh century to the twenty-first century.

To discover in Vézénobres

Among the emblematic places of the village, you will find the street of Romanesque houses, composed of dwellings of the eleventh and twelfth centuries. Its Romanesque architecture is unique in France. Two castles dominate the place: the castle Fay-Perault, 800 years old and of which unfortunately only ruins remain perfectly evoking the sad wars of religion, and the impressive castle Girard, built during the Hundred Years War and currently hosting the House of Fig and Tourism.
In the main street, it is the clock tower that attracts the eye and rings the hours to the rhythm of the day.

Good to know

To access the village, you need good shoes and climb at least sixty steps. Be careful in summer, it gets very hot very quickly. Think well of hats, caps and especially have a water bottle.

Did you know that?

The "Villages of Character" Label

The site is labeled Villages de Caractère and its impact in the Gard landscape is unavoidable.

This tourist label is awarded by the General Council of the Gard in order to enhance the typical villages of the Gard destination. Vézénobres is distinguished by its perched location, on the steep slope of a hill where an ancient oppidum had probably risen. The medieval city developed along three parallel streets connected by several steep alleys (the “endrounes”).

The village of the fig

For nature lovers, Vézénobres is a true paradise. The fig is one of its symbols. Indeed, in the 11th century, the Saint-André fair was held, renowned throughout France for the sale, purchase and exchange of figs from all over Europe.

Since then, Vézénobres has given back its letters of nobility to this period and to this fruit (which is not really one) by creating at the beginning of the 21st century a fig conservatory orchard, grouping on 2 hectares not less than 1,000 trees for a hundred different varieties.

It is also in 2019 that the House of the Fig opened its doors. It is a scenographic space dedicated to the fig tree and open to all visitors. Between fun experiences, small films and stores containing a multitude of local products, this place is a must-see in the village.

Not to be missed in Vézénobres

The main monuments

Vézénobres La Porte De Sabran ©emmanuel Rochat

The Sabran Gate

Also called the Clock Tower, it is the only one of the 5 doors of the medieval enclosure to have been preserved. Its “bossage” pattern allows us to identify the date of its construction at the beginning of the 13th century. It was later raised by a bell tower and a clock. Once through the door, you can see the beginning of the ramparts wall and the covered way.

Vezenobres Rue Des Maisons Romanes ©emmanuel Rochat

Street of the Romanesque houses

These houses probably date from the end of the 12th century. They have diamond-shaped cords surmounted by elegant moldings. These houses were probably built by Pisan or Genoese merchants who would have established a trading post here on the Régordane road, a busy commercial route, an axis of economic exchange between the Massif Central and the Mediterranean.

Hôtel De Montfaucon Cité Basse ©emmanuel Rochat

Hotel de Montfaucon

This hotel is called the House of Adam and Eve. The construction of this Renaissance mansion was decided in 1547 by the Baroness Françoise de Montfaucon. The façade has beautiful mullioned windows and a very elegant polygonal tower topped by a terrace.

House with "calaberts

The “calaberts” are sheltered terraces, facing south, allowing the drying of figs. Several houses with calaberts are visible in the village but the figs could also be dried by being suspended from the facades on traffiches (iron bars).

The Church

Dedicated to Saint Andrew, it was rebuilt after the wars of religion, after the medieval church, located near the castle of Montanègre, was destroyed. The apse is decorated with a superb fresco of the XVIII°, recently restored.

The Castle of Fay-Perault

Also known as Montanègre, located at the top of the hill. This medieval castle, built in the 12th century, was enlarged and enhanced in the Renaissance style at the beginning of the 15th century and was destroyed in June 1628. Nowadays it is in ruins. The only remnant of the castle is a thirty-meter high wall.

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Experience – 1 day in Vézénobres