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. mill.
• Basalt organ pipes.
• Abbey church (14th c.) and remains of the abbey.
• Old bridge (16th c.).

Activities:

• Marty distillery and Perfume company. 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.
• Visit: signposted from edge of village.
• PédaloRail: discover the Hérault river cycling on a former railway in an unusual transportation means. Booking: 06 01 71 20 49.