Discover - Saint-Thibéry

At the confluence of the Thongue and the Hérault, the Gallo-Roman settlement of Cessero, now Saint Thibéry, preserves the traces of a Benedictine monastery founded in Carolingian times by Attilio, disciple and friend of St Benoît d'Aniane. Its Gothic abbey church, started in the late 13th c., was never finished due to lack of funds and the wars of religion. The old centre has 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th c. houses. The monastery was rebuilt by the monks of St Maur in the 18th c. (see its high altar, stalls and woodwork). In the heart of the village, a flow of lava from the Ramus hills produced strange basalt organ pipes, overlooked by the Neolithic citadel of Cessero. The village economy is based on the vine and the basalt and pozzolan quarries.

www.stthibery.cahm.net

Sights:

■ "Roman" bridge and 13th c. grain mill.
■ Basalt organ pipes.
■ Abbey church (14th c.) and remains of the abbey.
■ Old bridge (16th c.).

Activities:

■ Visit to the Marty distillery and perfume company, Museum of the history of perfume and distillery industries: free entrance for individuals - 3 € entrance fee per person for groups over 20 persons. Open from June to September from 9 am to 12 noon and 2 pm to 6.30 pm.; the rest of the year, open from 9 am to 12 noon and from 2 to 6 pm (Route de Montblanc, tel: 04 67 77 75 94).
■ View from the Cessero citadel: volcanic hill (the Fort) 10-15m high with vertical side of basalt organ pipes.
■ Free guided tours every Wednesday in July and August from 5 to 7 pm. Departure from the church.
■ Visit: signposted from edge of village.