Aumelas: Culture, Landscape and Wine

Aumelas brings together several distinct themes to consider when planning your trip: medieval architecture, protected landscape and wine. Other highlights include visits to Château Bas, a mountain bike loop associated with the Castellas, and a public on-demand transport service.

Medieval Architecture

The Château d’Aumelas is a feudal fortress in Aumelas, first documented before 1034. The fortified complex, with its keep and chapel, was listed as a historic monument on June 19, 1986. The Chapelle Saint-Martin-du-Cardonnet offers a different perspective on the area’s architectural history: it is a Romanesque chapel in the commune of Aumelas, built in the 12th century on the remains of the baths of a Gallo-Roman villa. The chapel has been classified as a historic monument since June 12, 1989. The two buildings have different defining features: the château is notable for its fortress character and early documentary mention, while the chapel stands out for its Romanesque style and the remains of the Gallo-Roman villa’s baths.

Landscape and Mountain Biking

The landscape is also part of the area’s character. Within the commune of Aumelas, 4,048.3 hectares of the SIC Montagne de la Moure et causse d’Aumelas are located; this represents 43.3 percent of its area. For mountain bike planning, the Circuit Le Castellas d’Aumelas is an easy, 19.5-kilometer loop. It starts in Vendémian. The circuit leads to the Ensemble médiéval du Castellas Aumelas, a heritage site located 5 kilometers from the starting point. This distance refers to the site’s distance from the start, not the length of the entire loop. The site can be visited at any time on a self-guided visit; check local access conditions in advance. You should also check the route details again before setting out.

Wine and Visits

Wine production and visits are the focus at Château Bas d’Aumelas. It produces wines from organically farmed grapes grown in an exceptional high-altitude terroir in the AOC Languedoc – Grès de Montpellier. Visits include the château, French gardens, organically farmed vineyards and wine cellar. Wine tastings are offered as part of visits; vineyard walks and a gourmet hamper are also available. The wine tasting is therefore tied to a visit, while vineyard walks and the gourmet hamper are additional activities. Confirm the visit arrangements and availability of offers before your trip. You should also check the product and production details again.

Getting Around

Aumelas is served by Tadam’, the Hérault Valley’s public on-demand transport service. The service connects the area’s communes with Gignac and Saint-André-de-Sangonis. Check operating days, reservations and fares before travelling. This will help you take these conditions into account when planning your journey, without assuming that the on-demand service is a fixed scheduled connection.

Discover more destinations: Beaulieu, Lagamas, Cruzy, Mireval, Lieuran-lès-Béziers, Assas, Laroque, Cazouls-D'hérault

Return to the main travel overview: Hérault.