Mourèze is a commune in the Hérault department, in the Occitanie region, 22 km south of Lodève, by road.
Its territory of 13 km² ranges from 160 to 537 m in altitude, crossed below the village by the course of the Dourbie, and several streams on its "northern" part.
Covered with forests (60% of its area) and natural environments with little or no vegetation (25%), the locality is famous for the vast dolomitic circus which gave it its name, and which, over the millennia, due to erosion, has composed a landscape dotted with "ruins" and spectacular rock sculptures ("pinnacles" as they say in geology). This set evokes a form of chaos and the landscapes of westerns shot in rugged deserts…
Nowadays, this site attracts many tourists. But during prehistory, men found refuge there, before, in the Middle Ages and then during the Old Regime, the village was formed and pastoralism and the exploitation of forests developed.
As for the cirque of Mourèze, excavated in the 19th century, it only became an economic and tourist asset in the 20th century, especially since it is located just a few km from Lake Salagou, to the north.
If the town has only nearly 200 inhabitants, it has become essential during a stay in the region!
In terms of historical and built heritage, the parish church of Sainte-Marie attracts attention in the small town. Protected as historical monuments, it dates from the Romanesque period (gateway and part of the walls from the 12th century) then was remodeled in a Gothic style in the 14th century (enlargement of the nave and the choir). Built in sandstone and cut stone, the church has an imposing bell tower, three levels high, reminiscent of a dungeon: in fact, it was integrated into the defensive system of the village in feudal times. Later, the church was also affected during the Wars of Religion.
To see again during a marked walk (departure from the car park) and dedicated to heritage, the remains of the medieval castle, a fountain in Morello cherry marble, the old communal oven, but also near the town hall an astonishing table marble altar from the 7th century having been integrated into the facade of a house in the 19th century... Finally, a stopover is essential at the war memorial of the Bir-Hakeim maquis, formed in the Cévennes and which was fixed at Mourèze and in its surroundings in 1944. The resistants of this maquis participated in the liberation of Montpellier at the end of August 1944 and 105 of its men in total sacrificed their lives.
Then head north of the locality and the Mourèze circus, which extends over some 300 hectares. Its western decor and its amazingly shaped rocks (which have been baptized: the monkey, the lion, the damsel, the sphynx, Cyrano, etc.) constitute both a lunar labyrinth and a life-size geology lesson.
The unique site in France can be discovered via marked trails that can be followed by a family audience (children will be particularly delighted). It can also be observed from a natural belvedere, the Parc des Courtinals, which is in a way a gateway to the circus: an orientation table has been installed there.
The circus and the park are accessible on foot from the village where paid parking (3 euros) is available.
Other marked hiking trails have been laid out (but nevertheless require some experience) leading to Mont Liausson, to the northeast of the village and the circus, at an altitude of 523 m. You can enjoy a panoramic view of Lake Salagou.
Other loops, of varying distances, follow the course of the Dourbie or reach Clermont-l'Hérault.
For the trails dedicated to the discovery of heritage, the Mourèze circus and the Courtinals park like other larger hikes, maps and information on +33 4 67 96 23 86.
At the end of July, over four days, festival in the natural setting of the Courtinals park with concerts, plays, exhibitions.
"Habiter le Monde / la Nature"
- On 17 may 2024
- Alain, a naturalist in charge of monitoring the Bonelli's eagle, a protected species, gives us another look at the narrow streets and rocks of Mourèze. At the end of the stroll, the Délit de façade company, in residence at Théâtre Le Sillon, shares with us a working stage of their creation Habiter le monde, due to see the light of day in spring 2025. During their residency in Mourèze, the company will be looking at how we inhabit nature and the cosmos.