La Roque de Saint-Sériès is a 75-metre-high rock in a bend of the Vidourle. A short, rocky path leads from the riverbank through the garrigue to the summit. There, an orientation board offers a panorama reaching as far as Pic Saint-Loup and Hortus. The riverbank, garrigue and summit are thus points along a specific landscape route; the board names Pic Saint-Loup and Hortus as two landmarks for the view.
The Vidourle and trails through varied landscapes
The Vidourle forms the eastern boundary of Saint-Sériès, from the Moulin de St Christol to La Roque. The river is therefore both part of the landscape and a clearly defined boundary. La Roque lies in a bend of the river; the rocky path to the summit starts on the riverbank and leads through the garrigue.
Numerous trails and paths run alongside the Vidourle and through the garrigue, vineyards and other wooded areas. This offers a choice of different landscapes for planning a hike: you can follow the river or explore paths through the garrigue, vineyards and wooded areas. The information therefore describes more than just the climb to La Roque.
The Via Tolosana is another point of reference. In Saint-Sériès, it is marked as the GR 653 long-distance hiking trail, with red-and-white markings. It is a clearly identified long-distance route; there are also numerous trails and paths through the local landscapes. So, when considering what kind of hiking you want to make part of your stay, you can choose between the marked long-distance route and the local trail network.
La Roque and the Via Ferrata
To reach the Via Ferrata de la Roque, travel from the village along the D118 towards “Berges de la Vidourle” and continue to a car park on the riverbank. The via ferrata is considered relatively short, taking an average of less than two hours, but it is physically demanding. For planning your day, duration and difficulty answer different questions: the time estimate helps you gauge how long it takes, but does not mean that it requires little physical effort.
Halfway along, visitors can choose between two options: a difficult route with a zip line, and a very difficult route via a sloping, overhanging ladder. The options therefore differ both in difficulty and in the section of the route described. The lower exit was removed in 2016 for safety reasons due to the risk of falling rocks. Check the current route and access conditions before your visit.
Local history between the château and the church
From the 16th to the 18th century, the village of Saint-Sériès centred around the Château du seigneur de Vibrac, built around 1630. The present-day church was built in 1874, after the former priory and church were burned down during the Camisard Wars. The château and church mark different periods in the village’s history: the earlier concentration of the village around the château and the later construction of the church after the destruction of its predecessors. If you want to explore the area’s history as well as its landscapes and trails, these provide two specific points of reference in time.
Discover more destinations: Aniane, Boujan-Sur-Libron, Gigean, Rosis, Roujan, Vic-La-Gardiole, Grabels, Saint-Nazaire-De-Ladarez.
Return to the regional travel guide: Hérault.
