Clermont l'Herault is a small town in the foothills north of the Mediterranean, a short drive from the city of Montpellier and only 40 kilometres from the sea. A popular day trip destination for those holidaying on the French Riviera, the town is well known for its historic buildings, particularly the now ruined castle, along with the Lac du Salagou on the outskirts, ideal for water sports or just relaxing in the warm summer temperatures.
While the town is surrounded by the foothills of the Massif Central, Clermont l'Herault itself is built on the slopes of a hill called Pioch Castel, topped by ancient castle and the oldest streets in the village. Not only does the castle still offer a great vantage point over the surrounding area but many parts of the building, known as the Chateau des Guilhem, are still standing today. The most complete are two huge vaulted halls, the Guilhem Tower and parts of the fortifications themselves. The Gothic Chapel of the Penitents was in a similar ruined state, until its recent restoration made it one of the most visited buildings in Clermont l'Herault. While much of the architecture has been authentically restored, the interior has been made to look more modern and is now used for cultural events throughout the year. The town's church, St Paul's, is a typical medieval chapel, built in the 12th century.
A few kilometres outside Clermont l'Herualt is the man-made Lac du Salagou, a popular summer destination for locals and tourists alike. Created in the 1960s when the Salagou dam was built to create a hydro-electric power plant, the lake is ideal for water sports and swimming, with the “beaches” on its shores packed on summer weekends. The three most popular places for a swim are the former village of Celles, where the remaining empty houses provide an interesting backdrop to your day on the beach, while on the north shore there is a large stony beach near to the main campsites and water sports centre. If you don't mind walking on the trail around the shore to a smaller cove about 15 minutes away, then you can avoid the worst of the crowds. Clermont l'Herault is on the south side of the lake, where there are a few small beaches if you're just looking to pop along to Salagou for a couple of hours.
Looking for self catering holiday accommodation in Clermont-l'Herault? Then below is a selection of gites in Clermont-l'Herault and villas in Clermont-l'Herault that can be rented direct from their owners. You can either click on each listing for further details or you can use our search engine on the left if you are looking for something in particular.
