Mons combines a long local history with a well-preserved rural setting. There are several interests to consider when planning your trip: traces of historic settlement and architecture, the hilly landscape, and donkey walks and hikes with Sabots de Mons. You can first decide whether cultural history, time on nature trails or a combination of both should be the focus of your stay.

Rural Landscape and Local History

The area around Mons is hilly, partly wooded and partly used for agriculture. Its well-preserved rural surroundings are therefore an aspect of the town’s character in their own right. The “Chêne du père Rocher” is one of the surviving descendants of Mons’s historic holm oak landscape. It connects the landscape with a locally named natural and historical feature.

Heritage from Different Eras

The fortifications of the Château de Mons were rebuilt between 1630 and 1660. A French garden was laid out there during the 17th-century rebuilding of the Château de Mons fortifications. You can also discover the remains of the Château de Mons feudal castle.

The Eglise Saint Pierre de Mons is a Romanesque church, probably built in the 12th century. The date is uncertain, while the building style is described as Romanesque.

Le Temple de Mons was commissioned in 1821 by a pharmacist from Alès, after he bought the Château de Mons and its 150-hectare estate. The building was completely restored in 2005. The work covered the building’s exterior and interior, stained-glass windows, paintings and roof structure.

The Gallo-Roman oppidum of Viu Ciutat offers a different perspective on time. It was inhabited from the Neolithic period, at least 5,000 years BC. Later, Celts, Gauls and Romans used the site until the 2nd century AD. The history of Mons thus ranges from a long sequence of settlement to specific construction and restoration dates.

Donkey Walks and Social Activities

Sabots de Mons offers donkey walks and hikes lasting from one hour to several days. Booking is required. This makes a practical difference when planning: a one-hour outing calls for different arrangements from a hike lasting several days.

The donkey-walking offer is accessible to children aged two and over, as well as to pushchairs and adapted wheelchairs; independent use with a wheelchair is also possible. An adapted pack saddle provided by Handiane enables children with motor disabilities to ride a donkey on nature trails. If these accessibility features are important to your plans, confirm the specific arrangements before booking.

As part of its social activities, Sabots de Mons introduces visitors to local producers and their expertise. The specific producer-related activities may vary.

Discover more destinations: Cornillon, Saumane, Martignargues, Aujac, Conqueyrac, Arphy, Soustelle, Montignargues.

For the broader travel overview: Gard.