Les Matelles - Grand Pic Saint-Loup tourist office

Les Matelles offers the chance to immerse yourself in the heart of a pleasantly restored medieval village, between the Mediterranean and the Cévennes, in the middle of the Pic Saint-Loup scrubland.

The historic centre of Les Matelles, with its medieval streets, is seductive because of its authenticity, while the Maison des Consuls houses some beautiful pieces from the surrounding prehistoric sites. Activities punctuate the life of the village, in particular its creative market and its potters' market.

Former capital of the Val de Montferrand - a territory that benefited from special privileges from its owners, the bishops of Maguelone - the old village is built on the left bank of the Lirou, sheltered by ramparts erected in the 15th century. Behind the walls, the narrow streets, which are sometimes connected by covered passages, provide a definite change of scenery; the façades are adorned with beautiful exterior staircases and interesting architectural details.

The parish church, integrated into the outer ramparts, was rebuilt in the 18th century. In one of these houses is the Maison des Consuls (classified as a French museum). Focusing on prehistory, it preserves local archaeological material dating from the Palaeolithic to the Iron Age.

Its visit perfectly complements that of the dolmens, tumuli, menhirs and villages (Cambous, Rocher du Causse) that dot the surrounding garrigues.

Several personalities are attached to Les Matelles: let's mention the indomitable novelist Albertine Sarrazin (1935-1967) and the sculptor Pierre Granier (1635-1715) whose statue you can adopt in the gardens of the Château de Versailles.