Liven up your holidays!

Lunel

Tourism, holidays & weekends guide in the Hérault

Lunel - Tourism, holidays & weekends guide in the Hérault
8.8
12

Lunel is a town of Herault, Occitanie region, 20 km north-east of Montpellier, on the border of the Gard department.

The territory of the commune is vast of 23 km², and runs along the right bank of the course of the Vidourle. It is bordered on the north by hills composed of scrubland and a plain to the east and south announcing the Little Camargue.

This zone, now cultivated and urbanized, was still very marshy during Antiquity. After dewatering works in the 9th century, the city of Lunel became a barony with 12 villages. Attached to the kingdom of France in 1295, the city grew thanks to its Jewish community and the scientific home that settled there (medical researchers, in particular). Although fortified, the locality is besieged during the Wars of Religion and its ramparts are dismantled in 1632.

The establishment of religious Templars and Franciscans then dope its reconstruction and growth. In the twentieth century, a commercial city but still largely agricultural, Lunel experienced a rapid demographic growth from the 1960s. Its population is now close to 26 000 inhabitants. Its heritage, the charm of its old center, its cultural vitality and its attachment to bullfighting traditions make the city a stage of interest halfway between Montpellier, Nîmes and the Camargue coast.

Geographical information

MunicipalityLunel
Postcode34400
Tourism label
Latitude43.6744500 (N 43° 40’ 28”)
Longitude4.1353660 (E 4° 8’ 7”)
AltitudeFrom 2m to 53m
Surface area23.90 km²
Population26626 inhabitants
Density1114 inhabitants/km²
PrefectureMontpellier (29 km, 35 min)
Insee code34145
IntercommunalityCC du Pays de Lunel
DepartmentHérault
TerritoryLanguedoc-Roussillon
RegionOccitanie

Nearest cities & towns

Saint-Just3 km (8 min)
Lunel-Viel4.3 km (8 min)
Saint-Nazaire-de-Pézan4.8 km (10 min)
Marsillargues5.1 km (11 min)
Saturargues6.8 km (11 min)
Gallargues-le-Montueux7.2 km (12 min)
Lansargues7.2 km (12 min)
Valergues7.4 km (13 min)
Villetelle7.7 km (12 min)
Saint-Brès8.8 km (12 min)
Aimargues8.9 km (13 min)
Saint-Geniès-des-Mourgues8.9 km (14 min)
Saint-Laurent-d'Aigouze9 km (14 min)
Saint-Sériès9.2 km (13 min)
Entre-Vignes9.5 km (13 min)

Things to see and do

Free or guided, a visit of the historic center of the city can discover many sites or buildings of great heritage wealth.

This is the case of the halls inaugurated in 1911. The style evokes the halls Parisian architect Victor Baltard, combining metal frames and bricks. The building combining aesthetics and utilitarian vocation has been restored and still welcomes markets as well as cultural events.

The former fish hall dating from 1821, building with semicircular arches, now houses the Tourist Office.

In the same area, the Prisons tower is of medieval origin and was erected on the site of an old manor house. Initially intended to monitor the access of the city, the tower became a prison from the wars of Religion and kept this function until the First War. Since 2014, it hosts a museum. The visit allows you to discover the old dungeons and graffiti engraved on the walls by the prisoners and the mysteries of a building that had first had a military vocation. Open every day. Free access (be careful, bring good shoes). Information on +33 4 67 71 01 37.

Another testimony of the medieval past of Lunel, the Notre-Dame gate, remains of the fortified enclosure which included five doors in total and protected ten hectares constituting the historic heart. The building was restored in 2007.

A stage is also to be expected at the Notre-Dame du Lac church, rebuilt in the 17th century after having suffered major damage during the Wars of Religion. However, the medieval base of the imposing bell tower high 32 m, with defensive elements, has been preserved. It was renovated in 2007 at the same time a lighting highlighting the building was laid. Note also the facade of the church, "Jesuit style". Inside, a Cavaillé-Coll organ from 1856 is protected as historical monuments.

The magnificent Philippe le Bel hotel (XIV), also called "Gothic house", with its sculpted decorations, and the place Jean-Jaurès, also called Place des Caladons, with its vaulted passage, and in the center of which sits the statue of the captain Ménard (1861-1892), represented in battle, a weapon in the fist, killed in Africa, and from a famous family in the city, also mark the course.

It also includes the old Hotel Paulet (XVIII), where were established the town hall and the library and now houses the Musée Médard (1768-1841), dedicated to exceptional collections (5000 books) of this passionate bibliophile. We take the opportunity to admire the renovated interior of this exceptional place. Open from Wednesday to Saturday. Free admission. Information on +33 4 67 87 83 95.

To include still in this discovery of the city, the chapel of the Penitents (XIIIe, remade), of style partly Gothic, and, in a different kind the contemporary sculpture of the Pescalune (2006), in reference to the local legend of the Fishermen of Moon.

Guided city tours are offered by the Tourist Office. Information on +33 4 67 71 01 37.

Between culture, tradition and sport, the Francis San Juan bullring, recently renovated, hosts bullfighting events (Camargue free running), sporting events and shows. Information on +33 4 67 87 84 78.

For walks "nature", go to the arboretum (path of Terro d'Oc), arranged on two hectares divided into different spaces, which presents 130 species or 17 000 plants, mostly varieties of Mediterranean trees and shrubs, including fruit trees. Information on +33 4 67 71 01 37.

The Jean-Hugo municipal park (former garden of the Capuchin convent) and the picturesque and green banks (or mountain bikers are also welcome) of the Lunel channel, with its preserved ecosystem, are also pleasant places to walk..

In terms of sports and recreation "nature", again, we will mention the health trail of the Little Pines, north of the city, which includes two courses dotted with apparatus, and the stadium Delfieu, chemin de Sainte-Catherine, which has a multi-purpose field and a park skate park accessible to visitors and vacationers.

We will also appreciate the Aqualuna pool, especially in summer, to cool off. Information on +33 4 67 87 83 30.

For hikes including the city as its close surroundings, the banks of the canal, and incursions in the garrigues or the Little Camargue, maps and documentation at +33 4 67 71 01 37.

On the cultural level, finally, the Georges-Brassens room programs throughout the year quality shows complementarily possibly with the Arena): contact at +33 4 99 51 97 23. The space Feuillade for its part has different rooms dedicated to hosting exhibitions, conferences or concerts. Information on +33 4 67 87 84 19.

Places of interest

Information points
Leisure centres
Monuments
Transport

Events and festivities

Exposition Marjorie Martin-Sisteron
Liberte d Informer: Regards Croises
Theatre Petit Enfer
La Bise a Madame Chante Brassens
Concert Solidaire Prevention Cancer
Exposition Goro Chez Goro
Ateliers Musee Medard
Carnaval Lunel
Concert Resonances
Course Camarguaise

Photos

The city
The city
See photo
Caladons
Caladons
See photo
Arboretum
Arboretum
See photo
Guided tour of the Médard museum
Guided tour of the Médard museum
See photo
The town hall
The town hall
See photo
Arboretum
Arboretum
See photo
Medard Fund
Medard Fund
See photo
Medieval house
Medieval house
See photo
Medard Museum
Medard Museum
See photo
Statue of Liberty
Statue of Liberty
See photo
Camarguaise race
Camarguaise race
See photo
Abrivado
Abrivado
See photo
Bird room
Bird room
See photo
Memorial
Memorial
See photo
The city
The city
See photo
The city
The city
See photo
The city
The city
See photo
The city
The city
See photo
The city
The city
See photo
The hall
The hall
See photo
The Notre-Dame church
The Notre-Dame church
See photo
The Notre-Dame church
The Notre-Dame church
See photo
The interior of Notre-Dame church
The interior of Notre-Dame church
See photo
The interior of Notre-Dame church
The interior of Notre-Dame church
See photo

Weather

Tuesday 19 march
Min. 10°C - Max. 21°C
Day
Night
Wednesday 20 march
Min. 11°C - Max. 17°C
Day
Night
Thursday 21 march
Min. 9°C - Max. 19°C
Day
Night

Visits, leisure and activities nearby

Leisure activities

Last nameActivity typeRateCity
4x4 safari in the wild Camargue
Nature and the great outdoors29 € to 75 € Aigues-Mortes (12.1 km)
E-Ticket – Towers and Ramparts of Aigues-Mortes
Culture and education9 € Aigues-Mortes (12.6 km)
Sea and Camargue cruise
Entertainment8 € to 15 € La Grande-Motte (13.6 km)
Eco-tour of the Camargue in a hydrogen 4x4
Entertainment30 € to 299 € Le Grau-du-Roi (16 km)
Two-day horse ride
Nature and the great outdoors230 € Saint-Côme-et-Maruéjols (17.1 km)

Outings

Last nameOuting typeDifficultyDurationDeparture municipality
The Boucanet pine forest
HikeEasy2:00Le Grau-du-Roi (13.7 km)
Sea of Rocks
HikeEasy1:00Sauve (33 km)
Vineyard trail
HikeEasy1:15Brissac (41 km)
The Hermitage
HikeEasy3:00Collias (42 km)
The Roc de la Jarre
HikeEasy7:55Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert (48 km)

Restaurants

Bed & breakfasts

Vacation rentals

Campsites

Hotels

Your holidays
A hotel
A vacation rental
A bed & breakfast
A campsite
A leisure activity
A restaurant
A rental car
A plane ticket
By continuing to browse our site, you are agreeing to the use of cookies to improve your experience and make targeted offers.
Find out more and make settings
Your account