Sommières for your cultural trip

Sommières brings together the history of the château and the Pont romain with rural heritage and themed routes. If you are considering the town as a destination for a hotel stay, thinking about your cultural interests can help make your travel plans more specific: the history of the château and bridge sits alongside workshops and a route following the former railway.

Château de Sommières: from its origins to the keep

The origins of Château de Sommières date back to the 11th century. Construction of the keep, the Tour Bermond, began at the end of the 12th century. The history of the château and the start of construction on the keep therefore mark two different points in time. The Tour Bermond is 22 metres high and offers a panorama and an orientation table. At this named part of the building, medieval architectural history comes together with the overview provided by the panorama and table.

Following restoration work in 2014 and 2015, the château was opened to the public for several months each year. Opening periods vary by season. Check current visiting options before your trip.

A Roman bridge with a long history of habitation

The Pont romain de Sommières was built by the Romans in the 1st century AD. It has been continuously inhabited since the Middle Ages and is one of Europe’s rare inhabited bridges. The bridge thus brings together a Roman origin and continuous residential use—two distinct aspects of its history.

The Pont romain is said to have at least 21 arches; only seven of them are visible on the Vidourle.

Rural heritage and a protected historic district

Sommières’ rural and folk heritage includes fountains and water points, dry-stone structures, dovecotes, masets, lime or bread ovens, and ice houses. The range extends from water points through various building types to ovens and ice houses. Anyone interested in a place’s history will find not only the prominent château and bridge buildings here, but also a variety of rural landmarks.

Part of Sommières is designated as a protected historic district. An ongoing policy of preservation and restoration is in place for the cultural heritage. The designation applies to part of the town; the preservation policy focuses on its cultural heritage. These two aspects complement the view of its architectural history, combining a geographically limited protected area with an ongoing commitment to its heritage.

Routes exploring crafts and the former railway

The themed routes differ primarily in what they focus on. The Itinéraire des Savoir-Faire de Sommières passes through three workshops, where demonstrators present their professions and techniques. Visits are available on request and subject to availability, so ask in advance about the possibility.

The 12-kilometre De Voies en Voix route starts in Sommières or Calvisson and follows eight stops along the Voie verte de la Vaunage. It presents part of the history of the former railway. This makes it distinct from the workshop route: here, the focus is a route of a stated length with a specified number of stops, and railway history; the other route focuses on crafts, professions, and techniques.

The Office de Tourisme du Pays de Sommières also offers guided tours focusing on the medieval town, its history, and its traditions. Tour dates and booking arrangements may vary. Check the latest information if such a tour is important to your travel plans.

Discover more destinations: Saint-Quentin-La-Poterie, Saint-Côme-Et-Maruéjols, Saint-Victor-La-Coste, Campestre-Et-Luc, Bellegarde, Gagnieres, Carnas, Vestric-Et-Candiac.

For the broader travel overview: Gard.