Aulas: Village History and the Tour d’Aulas in the Coudoulous Valley

Aulas lies on the Coudoulous River. The village is built around St Martin’s Church; in the Mas Rouger district, the Poterne survives as a gate in the former fortifications. The village’s history also includes its textile past, as well as mills and cloth factories along the riverbanks. The Tour d’Aulas adds a named circular hiking route to these historical themes.

Village Layout and Preserved Gate

Aulas is built around St Martin’s Church. Of the former fortifications, the Poterne survives as a gate in the Mas Rouger district. Walking through the streets and passageways brings the village’s history to life. The church and the Poterne represent different aspects: the village’s layout around St Martin and a surviving element of its former defences.

Fortifications and the Village’s Textile History

Aulas was fortified in the 14th century and was a cloth-making town in the time of the Grande Encyclopédie. These are two distinct historical themes: the fortifications and textile work. Mills and cloth factories belonging to Aulas stood on the banks of the Coudoulous. The river is thus connected both to the village’s location and to its former production history.

The restored former spinning mill in Aulas houses an oil mill. The building brings together its former textile use and its current use as an oil mill. If you would like to visit the spinning mill, check access locally in advance.

Planning the Tour d’Aulas

The Tour d’Aulas hiking route is a 6.4 km circular trail and takes about two hours. The distance and duration answer different planning questions: the route is described as a loop, while the time is an approximate guide to the hike. This lets you estimate how much time to allow without treating the approximate duration as a fixed requirement.

The circular hike is marked in yellow or with GR7 markings. As trail markings can change or require maintenance, check the route’s markings and condition locally before setting out. This practical check is part of planning the hike, along with its distance and approximate duration.

Considering Aulas as a Destination

If you are looking for a hotel for a trip to Aulas, you can base your decision on the different highlights: the village layout built around St Martin, the Poterne and the textile past, or the circular hike. The historical features and the route appeal to different interests and can be considered separately when planning your trip. Think about which highlight you would like to shape your stay; for the hike, keep the approximate duration in mind and check the trail’s condition and markings before setting out.

Discover more destinations: Le Cailar, Dourbies, Pompignan, Codognan, Saint-Privat-Des-Vieux, Génolhac, Langlade, Marguerittes

Go to the regional travel overview: Gard.