In Saint-Mont, a hiking route through two valleys, the history of Saint-Jean-Baptiste Abbey and a range of wine visits come together. When planning your stay, you can choose which to focus on: a hike with a clearly identified starting point, a visit to the historic vineyard or an introduction to winemaking. The annual event Saint Mont Vignoble en fête also brings together several venues and activities centered on wine.

Monastic history on the village promontory

Saint-Jean-Baptiste Abbey was founded in 1050 by the Gascon lord Bernard de Tumapaler on the remains of an earlier oppidum, and joined the Order of Cluny. Of the remains dating from the 11th century, only the Church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste survives in Saint-Mont. It can be combined with the hike: the route leads to the summit, where visitors can visit the church. Visiting arrangements may change, so check them before your visit.

Since 2002, Saint-Mont has also been home to France’s first private conservatory for ampelographic research. This adds a dedicated research focus to the town’s winemaking history.

Hiking through the Saget and Adour valleys

The OENORANDO ENTRE VIGNES ET ADOUR is a walking route in Saint-Mont. It is 8.3 kilometers long and rated easy. The route passes through the Saget Valley and the Adour Valley before returning to the village promontory. Its length, difficulty rating and route description give the hike a clear place in your day’s plans, without specifying a walking time.

The starting point is at the Vignerons de Saint-Mont sales outlet, 101 Rue Bernard Tumapaler. Visitors can park there before setting out. The starting point and parking arrangements may change, so check the details before you leave. If you’d like to combine culture and exercise, you can include the route to the summit and a possible visit to the Church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste in your plans.

Wine visits with different focuses

The Chai des Vignerons de Saint Mont is open to visitors year-round. There, you can discover appellations, grape varieties, terroirs, châteaux and wineries. For a closer introduction to winemaking, the Chai offers an introductory visit to the Atelier des Cépages. It introduces visitors to the art of winemaking and includes a tasting of four wines.

A visit to France’s only vineyard listed as a Monument historique offers a different focus. The experience includes a tasting of three distinctive cuvées made from indigenous grape varieties and lasts 1.5 hours. This gives you two specific options: an introduction to winemaking with four wines, or a scheduled visit to the listed vineyard with three cuvées. The visits described here are documented offerings; specific schedules and booking conditions may change. Check the details in advance.

The Chai’s boutique sells wines, Flocs, Armagnacs, prunes preserved in Armagnac and regional specialties. The selection may change. The boutique offers another way to discover regional products; the tastings and visits described are separate offerings from the Chai.

An event in March

Saint Mont Vignoble en fête takes place every year on the last weekend in March. The program includes visits to various wine-growing sites, cellars and wineries, as well as tastings and wine workshops. If you’d like to plan your stay around the event, check the specific event dates and that year’s program: dates and programs may vary. This lets you plan your trip around the actual festival dates, while the hike, monastic history and year-round visits offer other reasons to visit Saint-Mont.

Discover more destinations: Lias, Fleurance, Mauvezin, Gaujac, Condom, Duffort, Monties, Monclar-Sur-Losse.

For the regional travel overview: Gers.