Discover Le Crès

Le Crès offers several distinct themes to consider when planning your trip: the Salaison river, Lac du Crès, the history of Saint-Martin Church and cultural activities. You can decide whether you would like to shape your stay around waterside paths, local history or a cultural programme. If you are looking for a hotel in Le Crès, these destinations provide a concrete theme to guide your choice.

The Salaison and Lac du Crès

The Salaison runs diagonally through Le Crès for almost four kilometres and flows into the Étang de l’Or at Les Cabanes du Salaison. Small paths along the banks are accessible to families. The route to Les Cabanes du Salaison is also suitable for experienced hikers. This gives you two different options: paths along the banks and a hiking route to this destination.

On the right bank, you can also explore a route on foot or by bicycle that continues from a path onto a trail and runs through the entire commune. It starts at the large Serre Rond roundabout. This distinction is useful for planning: the route information describes both the continuation from path to trail and the two possible ways of getting around.

Lac du Crès “Jean-Marie Rouché” is 15 metres deep and covers 6 hectares. It lies within a 27-hectare recreation area that is open to everyone year-round, 365 days a year. Footpaths lead to the lake. Take bus 30 to the Combe Chaude stop, 700 metres away; tram line 2 goes to Via Domitia, 2 kilometres from the lake. Le Crès also has 10 kilometres of cycle paths. Check the bus and tram information before travelling, as services may change.

Saint-Martin Church and its history

The first building of Saint-Martin Church is documented from 1096. The church was destroyed in 1570 during the Wars of Religion, and reconstruction began from 1700 onwards. Three construction phases can be distinguished on the façade: the oldest central section, the 19th-century choir and the new 20th-century nave. Inside, among other works, is the painting of the Vierge du Rosaire, which was restored in 2019. These dates and architectural elements reflect different periods in the church’s history, from its earliest mention to more recent additions.

Musée Saharien, Agora and market

The architecture of the Musée Saharien is modelled on an authentic Saharan bordj. It is considered the only museum in Europe dedicated to the history and peoples of the Sahara. The two-storey exhibition covers the exploration of the Sahara during the French presence and the lives of nomads; the objects on display include everyday items and jewellery. The museum also exhibits personal belongings of the researcher T. Monod and a reconstruction of a horse-drawn cart used by the Garamantes, a people from southern Libya. A visit to the museum therefore covers everyday life and the history of exploration, as well as specific objects on display.

The Agora’s cultural programme includes theatre, music, visual art and object theatre. As the programme changes with the seasons, check the current dates for your chosen travel period. Another useful point of reference is the Le Crès market: it takes place every Sunday from 7 am to 1 pm in the Arènes car park on Rue des Pointes. Check the market hours before your visit.

Winemakers’ houses in the village

There are two types of winemakers’ houses in the village of Le Crès. Older houses have a courtyard at the back and a former chai, or wine-making room. The newer, more modest houses are laid out differently: their courtyard opens onto the street, the living quarters are upstairs, and a chai or wine cellar is on the ground floor. You can also spot dates above doorways as you walk around. By looking at the façades and how the houses are laid out, you can see two distinct forms of local winemakers’ architecture.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Galargues, Mauguio, Montpeyroux, Saint-Jean-De-Cuculles, Roqueredonde, Sussargues, Paulhan, Lunel-Viel.

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