Mons – History, Landscapes and Donkey Walks

Mons is shaped by its preserved rural surroundings and hilly terrain, which is partly forested and partly used for agriculture. The area’s history includes the feudal Château de Mons, the Gallo-Roman oppidum of Viu Ciutat and the Romanesque Eglise Saint Pierre de Mons. Sabots de Mons also offers donkey walks and hikes. Trip planning can therefore bring together different interests: architectural history, early settlement, landscapes and an activity that can last anywhere from an hour to several days.

Cultural history across different periods

Visitors to Mons can explore the remains of the feudal Château de Mons. The château’s fortress was rebuilt between 1630 and 1660. A French garden was created there during this rebuilding. The fortress and garden thus belong to the same chapter of the area’s history: the garden was laid out while the fortress was also being renovated.

The oppidum of Viu Ciutat tells a much older story of settlement. It was inhabited from the Neolithic period—at least 5,000 years BC—and was later used by Celts, Gauls and Romans until the 2nd century AD. The Romanesque Eglise Saint Pierre de Mons offers another, later historical reference; it was probably built in the 12th century. The date given for the church is an estimate, while Viu Ciutat’s long settlement history encompasses several phases of use.

Le Temple de Mons also has its own building history. In 1821, a pharmacist from Alès had the temple built after buying the Château de Mons and its 150-hectare estate. The building was fully restored in 2005. The work covered the exterior and interior, stained-glass windows, paintings and roof structure. The scope of the restoration shows that the work was not limited to the façade, but included various parts of the building.

Rural surroundings and landscape history

The hilly terrain, wooded areas and farmland define Mons as a rural place. The landscape is therefore shaped by neither woodland nor agriculture alone: both are part of its character. The tree known as the “Chêne du père Rocher” is also part of the local history of these surroundings. It is one of the surviving descendants of Mons’s historic white oak landscape, linking a specific tree name with the area’s landscape history.

The historical themes also span different periods: Viu Ciutat represents settlement from the Neolithic period and later phases of use; the church represents Romanesque architecture; the château, its 17th-century rebuilding; and Le Temple, a building commissioned in 1821 and subsequently restored. If you choose Mons primarily for its cultural history, you will find several distinct historical points of interest rather than just a single building.

Planning donkey walks

Sabots de Mons offers walks and hikes with donkeys. They range from one hour to several days. This difference matters when planning: a one-hour activity and a multi-day hike require very different amounts of time. Booking is required for this activity.

The donkey walks are accessible to children aged two and over, as well as to strollers and adapted wheelchairs. Independent wheelchair use is also possible. For children with motor disabilities, an adapted pack saddle provided by Handiane makes it possible to ride a donkey on nature trails. If you would like to use any of these options, confirm the specific arrangements before booking.

During social activities, Sabots de Mons introduces visitors to local producers and their know-how. The specific activities on offer may vary. This complements the donkey walks and hikes with an insight into the people and expertise behind local production, without presuming any particular product or fixed activity.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Rodilhan, Malons-et-Elze, Courry, Saint-Jean-du-Pin, Saint-Julien-de-Cassagnas, Issirac, Brouzet-Lès-Alès, Laudun-L'ardoise.

Go to the broader travel overview: Gard.