Saint-Christol brings together trails through vineyard-covered slopes, crosses in a variety of architectural styles and the GR653, the Via d’Arles route of the Way of St. James. Winegrowing is also part of the town’s character. This gives you a choice of different ways to spend your time here: hiking, pilgrimage, wine tourism and architectural history.

Hiking Trails and Pilgrim Route

The 8 km Les coteaux de Saint-Christol route is a family-friendly hike through Saint-Christol’s vineyard-covered slopes. The 15.6 km Parcours des Chevaliers de Malte passes through Saint-Christol and by numerous crosses in a variety of architectural styles. The routes differ both in length and in what they focus on: vineyard-covered slopes are the main feature of the family-friendly hike, while the longer route highlights the crosses and their different architectural styles. When choosing a route, you may therefore want to consider both the distance and your interest in the architectural differences.

The Bois de Lérins route offers views of the Cévennes and Pic Saint-Loup. The GR653, the Via d’Arles route of the Way of St. James, offers a different kind of trail: it has passed through Saint-Christol since 2015. It is continuous, well marked and accessible for much of the year. You can follow it in either direction to Rome and Santiago de Compostela. So, alongside shorter options that differ in length and focus, there is also a pilgrim route with long-distance destinations. Before setting out on a particular hike, it is worth checking the current route and conditions.

Winegrowing and Visits

Winegrowing in Saint-Christol has been known for its outstanding quality since the 12th century. The Cave Cooperative Les Coteaux de Saint-Christol offers individual self-guided visits as well as guided group visits. Individual visitors can therefore plan a visit without a guide, while groups can opt for a guided visit. The Cave Cooperative is about an eight-minute walk, or 733 m, from the Saint-Christol–Poste liO bus stop. If you are travelling by bus, check the current liO timetable.

Domaine Guinand offers E-bike tours for two people and groups, which can be booked by reservation. Booking is available online and must be made in advance. This means the offer differs in its arrangements from an individual self-guided visit. If you have a particular tour in mind, check the current booking details beforehand.

Wine Tourism in the Pays de Lunel

Viavino welcomes visitors to the heart of the Pays de Lunel for wine tourism. The surrounding landscape is characterised by garrigue, pine trees and vineyards. This landscape provides the setting for wine tourism in the area.

Architectural History on Place du Christ

On Place du Christ, you can see the entrance portico of the former commanders’ castle beside the former chapel. These two historic buildings offer an architectural point of interest alongside the hiking and wine themes. As you explore Saint-Christol, you can also discover traces of its earlier built environment.

Discover more destinations: Puissalicon, Jacou, Saint-Jean-De-La-Blaquière, Saint-Jean-de-Cornies, Pignan, Cazouls-D'hérault, Balaruc-Le-Vieux, Saint-Maurice-Navacelles

For the broader travel overview: Hérault.