Saint-Paul-La-Coste: Paths, Churches and Industrial History

Landscape and Natural Environment

Saint-Paul-la-Coste lies on the foothills of the Cévennes and in the outer zone of the national park. The commune is also located in an area designated by UNESCO as a biosphere reserve. The Martinet is designated an Espace Naturel Sensible (sensitive natural area) in Saint-Paul-la-Coste. The Galeizon flows through Saint-Paul-la-Coste and is a tributary of the Gardon d’Alès; it is also classified as a “Rivière sauvage” (wild river). The Salandre is a tributary of the Galeizon. This means that, when choosing where to visit, the natural environment and waterways offer different points of interest alongside the historic buildings.

Paths and Exploration

Several paths, some paved with calades, and forest tracks cross the commune and lead to panoramic views, vallats, mas and hamlets. If you would like to discover Saint-Paul-la-Coste by its paths, the type of route and its connection to the landscape offer two distinct points of reference: partly paved paths and forest tracks sit alongside destinations such as panoramic views, vallats, mas and hamlets. Saint-Paul-la-Coste can be explored on foot, on horseback, by bicycle or with a donkey. The GR®70 long-distance footpath crosses the southern part of the commune. The Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre marked and classified it as the GR®70 in 1993. As a long-distance footpath, it provides a point of comparison with the commune’s several other paths and forest tracks.

Churches and Historical Connections

The Romanesque church of Saint-Paul-la-Coste dates from the 12th century; its restoration received a “Rubans du patrimoine 2020” award. The Temple stands in the heart of the village and was built around 1565. Together, the two buildings represent different periods in the history of religious architecture: the church dates from the 12th century, while the Temple was built around 1565. The year 2020 refers to the restoration award and not to the construction of the church. The Chapelle de Mandajors is associated with the Wars of Religion at the end of Louis XIV’s reign. It adds a connection to a historical event to the history of the buildings. The historical contexts associated with the religious buildings are therefore also of interest.

The Former Silk Mill in Le Martinet

Another point of interest is Le Martinet. There, the former Chambon silk mill, later known as Boudon, was built in 1836 on the site of an earlier martinet. All that remains of the mill is the water-carrying aqueduct and the building’s ruins. Unlike the religious buildings, its history is linked to a silk mill and an older site. In chronological terms, the 1836 construction came well after the Romanesque church and the Temple, built around 1565. The former silk industry thus stands alongside the religious buildings as a distinct historical point of interest.

Discover more destinations: Laval-Saint-Roman, Milhaud, Tresques, Boisset-Et-Gaujac, Domessargues, Congénies, Aiguèze, Arpaillargues-Et-Aureillac

For the broader travel overview: Gard.