Discover Cabrerolles

Cabrerolles brings together fortified architecture, ancient traces and trails through holm oak woodland, along with an unusual wine-growing feature: the vines of Domaine du Météore grow in and around a crater. If you are considering a stay, you can choose between architecture, hiking, a mountain-bike stage and wine tasting. The routes vary in activity and stated difficulty level.

Chapels, mills and ancient traces

The fortified Chapelle Notre Dame de la Roque was built around the 10th century. It overlooks a fortified medieval complex dating from the 10th century, parts of whose keep and enclosing walls have survived. The chapel and the surviving structures give an impression of the religious and defensive aspects of this architectural history.

The Chapelle de La Liquière is dedicated to Saint Joseph and has a single-nave interior. The term refers to a church space without parallel side aisles. The terracotta-tile vault was probably added later. Among the original furnishings preserved in the chapel is a chalice made by Béziers goldsmith André Tudier at the end of the 18th century. This brings together a description of the building with a specific furnishing item whose date is known.

The mills of Lenthéric are also part of the area's architectural history. They are a rare example of a double mill combining water and wind power. It is precisely the combination of these two power sources that defines this type of mill.

The route to the Voie Romaine leads to an ancient road whose wheel ruts are still clearly visible. The road connected Béziers with Cahors; near Aigues-Vives, it was known as the Draye. The tour therefore offers a historical perspective distinct from that of the chapels and their architecture.

Hiking and cycling

The hike to the Voie Romaine runs from Cabrerolles to Aigues-Vives. It is rated difficult and covers 11.6 kilometres, takes around four hours on foot and includes 350 metres of elevation gain. The approximate duration is a guide for planning; check the latest information about the hiking route before setting out. Choosing this tour lets you take into account the distance, time, elevation gain and stated difficulty.

On the hiking trail to Pic de la Coquillade, the route passes through the hamlet of La Borie Nouvelle. Its stone houses lie in a holm oak forest. The path also runs beneath holm oaks and offers views of the Béziers plain, the Orb Valley and the Caroux plateau; the view extends as far as the sea. In contrast to the hike to the Voie Romaine, this route focuses on the scenery along the way.

Passa Meridia stage no. 20 starts at the car park by Cabrerolles town hall. Listed as a mountain-bike route between Cabrerolles and Roquebrun, it is 25 kilometres long and rated moderate. The stage has time estimates of three hours and two hours 45 minutes, with 510 metres of ascent and 730 metres of descent. Before setting off, check local parking rules and the current condition and markings of the route.

Landscape and winegrowing

The small Chapelle de Montcèze stands on a rise above the village and offers a beautiful view over the vineyards and the plain. Here, the landscape takes centre stage, unlike at Notre Dame de la Roque, where the fortified chapel and the remains of the medieval complex are the main focus.

The vines of Domaine du Météore are also connected to a distinctive landscape history. Around 10,000 years ago, a meteorite struck a hill near Cabrerolles; today, the Domaine's vines grow inside and around the resulting crater. The estate produces organic wines inspired by the slate-rich terroir of Faugères and Saint-Chinian, as well as by the history of the Domaine. The link between the crater and the vineyards gives winegrowing here a specific geological context.

Wine tastings are available Monday to Friday by reservation. Cellar tastings are listed from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; availability is subject to change. Coordinate your plans directly with the Domaine.

Discover more destinations: Montarnaud, Abeilhan, Coulobres, Le Crès, Aumelas, Lespignan, Prades-Sur-Vernazobre, Saint-Etienne-De-Gourgas

See the overview for the wider area: Hérault.