Discover Villeneuvette

Villeneuvette combines the history of a former woollen cloth manufactory with a distinctive town layout and hiking opportunities. The Manufacture royale was founded in 1674 as a woollen cloth manufactory and shortly afterwards declared a royal manufactory by Colbert. This provides a clear focus for planning a trip: history and architecture can be combined with trails along the Dourbie and other local discoveries.

Historic centre and Place Louis XIV

The layout of the former manufactory town is arranged on an orthogonal plan around the rectangular Place Louis XIV. Here, orthogonal describes a right-angled layout around the square. At its centre, beneath centuries-old plane trees, stands an 18th-century fountain. The rectangular layout and central fountain bring different aspects of the townscape to life: the planned layout of the former town and a structure from a later period.

On 13 January 2014, the former manufactory town and its hydraulic network were jointly listed as historic monuments by decree. The founding, the layout of the square and the heritage protection thus belong to different stages in the town’s history; the hydraulic network is part of the protected ensemble.

Hiking trails for different amounts of time

The “Randonnée de Villeneuvette” circular walk is three kilometres long, takes one hour and is rated very easy. It passes the remains of the hydraulic heritage and is designated as a family trail. From the “VILLENEUVETTE – Rd 908” bus stop, the circuit can be reached in less than a ten-minute walk. At the end of the Grand-rue, the easy PR 52 hiking trail follows the Dourbie through the valley and up to Montagne de Bruyère for about 1.5 hours. If the time available is the deciding factor, the difference is clear: one hour for the circular walk versus about an hour and a half for the PR 52. Check local trail conditions before setting out on the PR 52.

Guided tours, audio walks and local discoveries

Guided tours of the former Manufacture royale de Villeneuvette showcase the impressive entrance, cobbled lanes, manor house, Place Louis XIV and the water basin. Dates may vary; check your preferred visit in advance. A one-hour audio-guided walk explores Villeneuvette’s more recent history through the voices and memories of local residents. It uses the free Izi.Travel app; check that the app is available before setting out.

For children aged four to twelve, “Enquête dans l'ancienne Manufacture royale!” by Randoland is a fun puzzle trail. At the end of the village, Sigrid’s small gallery displays enamel jewellery and shares its premises with other local creatives and artists. Access to the studio may vary; check before visiting. Also related to the river is “La Dourbie – Exploration sensible d'une rivière”: the river journal contains 16 audio capsules to listen to.

Market on Place Louis XIV

The weekly “Mardis Bio” market on Place Louis XIV was scheduled to start on 23 June 2026. Products on offer include vegetables, honey, olive oil and plants from producers. If you are planning a visit after 2026, check the dates again in advance.

Discover more destinations: Montaud, Le Bousquet-d'Orb, Vendargues, Riols, Argelliers, Saint-Just, Florensac, Montels.

For the regional travel overview: Hérault.