Saint-Aunès: Walking routes, Roman heritage and nature

Saint-Aunès brings together walking routes in the town centre, traces of Roman history, historic buildings and natural areas. A viewpoint, a media library and the Saturday market also offer insights into different aspects of the town. When planning your trip, it’s worth sorting these attractions and sights according to your interests.

Walking routes between nature and history

Two urban walking routes in the centre lead to 18 points of interest that bring nature and history together. For navigation, there is a companion booklet with a map that can be accessed online or printed, a track on ViewRanger, and route markers with Flashcodes on street furniture. The paper map, digital track and markers offer different ways to find your way. Check the online route links and markers before your trip.

The combination of natural and historical points of interest makes these walking routes a good starting point if you want to explore Saint-Aunès on foot. You can take the different accompanying materials into account when preparing. This lets you consider in advance which form of navigation might suit your visit, without assuming a particular route or walking time.

Roman traces and local history

The milestone column of Saint-Aunès is a surviving remnant of the Via Domitia and has stood by the church since the 18th century. Its inscription recalls repairs to the road in AD 30. The present-day church was built using stones from an older local church dating to the 10th century. The site therefore brings together links to the Roman road and to the town’s earlier church history.

Other historical details are scattered around the village: there are five crosses or Calvaires. The fountain opposite the church is attributed to the Sieur de Barbeyrac. He also had a shell-shaped fountain and two wells built in the village; one of these wells stands in front of the presbytery. The surviving washhouse recalls an earlier way of doing laundry by the river: clothes were washed on a sloping stone or a simple board, without a roof. It is therefore a reminder of everyday life in the past, not of any current use for washing clothes.

Culture and events in the town

The A. Willaime media library is open to everyone and free to access. Its offerings include exhibitions and workshops, as well as cultural events such as performances, storytelling sessions, film screenings and reading groups. If you’d like to combine a visit with one of these activities, check the current dates and programme.

The Saturday market takes place in the centre of Saint-Aunès from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Since days and opening hours should be checked before your trip, it’s best to plan your visit to the market using the current schedule.

Riverside scenery and views

The banks of the Salaison are among the municipality’s notable natural habitats. Another striking feature in the landscape is a pair of cypress trees on Pioch Pialat above the Ecoparc. The landowner planted them in the 19th century. This brings both a natural area and a longstanding feature of the local landscape into view.

From the village’s highest viewpoint on Avenue Bassaget, visibility permitting, you can see Pic Saint-Loup, the Hortus cliffs, Castries Castle, the Étang de l’Or and the seaside resort of La Grande-Motte. Weather and atmospheric conditions affect which of these places are visible. The viewpoint therefore offers a different perspective on the named landscapes and places in the surrounding area than the walking routes in the centre.

Discover more destinations: Saint-Drézéry, La Grande Motte, Roquessels, Agonès, Pierrerue, Brenas, Puisserguier, Jacou

For the broader travel overview: Hérault.