Discover Saint-Hyppolyte-Du-Fort

Saint-Hyppolyte-Du-Fort lies in the foothills of the Cévennes, at the confluence of the Vidourle and its tributary, the Argentesse. A fertile plain and the cultivation of grapes and grain shaped the town’s development. Its history is also reflected in the silk industry, Protestant buildings and fortifications. You can explore a range of themes, from the Musée de la Soie to trails through the countryside.

Silk: the museum and traces throughout the town

The Musée de la Soie is housed in the former barracks next to the tourist office. From April to October, it showcases silkworm farming at every stage of the life cycle in a reconstructed silkworm farm. Sophisticated machinery and the craftsmanship involved in silk-making provide further insight into silk production.

The museum offers guided tours, an archival film about silkworm farming, a discovery area for children, and seasonal textile exhibitions featuring work by local artisans. The programme may vary by season. For school groups, the museum offers 1.5-hour guided tours and workshops led by an educator. Activities include reeling silk from a cocoon, making a thread and weaving; advance arrangements may be required.

The Sentier des Vestiges de l’Industrie de la Soie is a town trail that complements a visit to the museum and leads to numerous remains and buildings associated with the silk industry. The museum and trail offer two different perspectives: silkworm farming and production in the museum, and the industry’s architectural traces around the town.

Fortifications and historic buildings

The Fort of Saint-Hippolyte-du-Fort was built in 1688 by François Ferry to monitor Protestants in the Cévennes. The Tour Saint-Jean is a former defensive structure at the Porte de Cros and was a strategic point in the 17th-century fortifications facing the Cévennes.

The Protestant temple of the Église protestante unie de France was built between 1820 and 1822 in the neoclassical style. It covers more than 600 m² and has a monumental colonnade, two bell towers and a large organ dating from 1853. The temple’s construction period and the organ’s date provide two specific points of reference for its architecture and furnishings.

Other buildings and monuments add to the town’s historic character. The Château des Graves is listed as a historic monument. The carved fireplaces and decorations dating from the 17th century in the Dugas building are protected as historic monuments. The Monument aux morts de la guerre de 1914-1918 stands on Place du 8 mai and is listed as a historic monument. It was listed by decree on 18 October 2018.

The plain and countryside routes

Saint-Hyppolyte-Du-Fort lies in a fertile plain at the foot of the Massifs de la Fage, de Banelle and du Pié de Mar. The cultivation of grapes and grain shaped the town’s development. The plain provides a landscape landmark, while L’Échappée Cévenole takes you through a succession of different landscapes.

The route passes through garrigue, vineyards and chestnut groves, as well as landscapes shaped by human activity, and offers beautiful viewpoints. The agricultural plain and the changing scenery along the route thus offer different perspectives on the surrounding area.

Discover more destinations: Le Cailar, Issirac, Moussac, Lédignan, La Rouvière, Saint-Laurent-La-Vernède, Mialet, Potelières

For the broader travel overview: Gard.