Saint-Martial combines a marked hiking trail with evidence of stone monuments and architectural history. A recumbent granite menhir beside a hiking trail and a 12th-century Romanesque church show how varied these themes can be. There is also a panorama of the CĂ©vennes and a regional connection to the Oignon Doux des CĂ©vennes.
Hiking and Trails
The Balade à Saint Martial en Cévennes starts and ends in Saint-Martial and is marked with yellow trail markers and signposts. The official Le col de Bès route goes from Ganges via the D4 and D11, then along the D20 to Saint-Martial. For planning purposes, these are two distinct points of reference: the Balade is a hike that starts and ends in the village, while Le col de Bès is the road route from Ganges. When looking for accommodation, you can consider whether the hike or the route connection is the deciding factor for your stay.
Menhirs, Church and Bridge
The Menhir du Devinayre is a recumbent granite menhir beside a hiking trail. The Menhir du Col du Bès is a re-erected granite menhir and measures 2 m. Peyrea Jacent is at the Col de l'Astric, is 3 m long and is also known as Caisse du Diable. The three monuments therefore differ in their location, whether they are upright and what they are called. The measurements also highlight different details: 2 m is given for the Col du Bès, while Peyrea Jacent is specifically described as 3 m long.
Architecture and bridge-building add further examples of cultural heritage to the stone monuments. The Eglise Romane de Saint Martial is a Romanesque church dating from the 12th century. The Pont du Passadou is a sheep bridge over the Rieutord. The church and bridge offer different historical points of reference from the menhirs: here, the focus is on a clearly specified architectural period and a particular type of bridge.
Panorama and Landscape
From the Menhir du Col du Bès, you can enjoy a panorama of the valleys and the chestnut-covered mountains of the Cévennes. This view adds a landscape perspective to the individual architectural and stone monuments: rather than measurements or construction dates, the focus here is on the valleys and the chestnut-covered mountains. Those interested in both can consider the monuments and the landscape as distinct themes of their stay.
Oignon Doux des CĂ©vennes
Saint-Martial is one of the 32 municipalities in the Gard that lie within the AOP production area for Oignon Doux des CĂ©vennes. Oignon Doux des CĂ©vennes is grown on steep slopes, where terraces supported by dry-stone walls shape the landscape. This adds an agricultural dimension to the culture and views: the product is associated with an AOP area, and its cultivation with terraced slopes. For travellers who want to get to know a place through its produce and landscape as well, this offers a distinct focus alongside hiking and monuments.
If you are looking for a hotel in Saint-Martial, you can use your interests to guide your search: the marked Balade, architectural and stone monuments, or views of the landscape and agriculture. That way, you can first decide what you want your stay to revolve around.
Discover more destinations: Saint-Étienne-des-Sorts, Lasalle, Générargues, Saint-Hippolyte-De-Caton, Tornac, Villevieille, Poulx, Corbès.
For the broader travel overview: Gard.
