Nestled at the foot of the hills north of Montpellier, Mas-de-Londres is a charming rural commune steeped in Occitan culture, spread over hamlets dispersed in a landscape of scrubland, vineyards, and wetlands.
The village tells its story…
Mas-de-Londres, formerly known as Château-de-Londres, has been mentioned since the 12th century.
The village is structured around a fortified Castrum, and its church Saint-Géraud, dating from the 12th century, bears witness to its religious past. From the medieval castle, today there remains a section of ramparts pierced with loopholes; in the 16th century, a lordly house was built by the Roquefeuil family on the basis of the ancient fortification, but the building fell into ruin and its stones were reused in the 19th century.
Not to be missed!
The church of Saint-Géraud : Romanesque building from the 12th century, it has an apse and a Roman tympanum. The building was classified as a historical monument in 1981.
The medieval castle : Although few remains exist, the site of the castle offers a panoramic view of the surrounding plain.
The hamlets : The village consists of 12 hamlets scattered across the territory, such as Castellas, Mas d'Alègre, Baralles, Liquière, Borie, Mas de Garonne, Fraicinède, Jasse, Fesq, Gabriac, and Gardiol.
The Lake of Jasse : It is a peaceful hillside basin, suitable for walks and fishing (very muddy bottom).
A living terroir
The territory of Mas-de-Londres is typical of southern garrigue, between dry areas, wet meadows, and former drained marshlands. Agriculture remains present, particularly viticulture in the Pic Saint-Loup designation
Furthermore, the village is included in protected natural areas: it is concerned by two Natura 2000 sites (the « Pic Saint-Loup » and the « high garrigues of Montpelliérais ») as well as five ZNIEFF (natural zones of ecological, faunistic, and floristic interest).
Did you know?
The name Mas-de-Londres combines « mas », which designates a farm or rural exploitation, and the word « Londres » might derive from ancient terms like Lundras / Lundrias, meaning « stagnant waters » or « mud », in connection with an formerly wet valley.
The people here
The inhabitants of the commune of Mas-de-Londres are called Masois and Masoises.
