A certified City of Art and History, Lodève reveals its charms at the confluence of two rivers, the Lergue and the Soulondre. Located between Larzac and Salagou, it is considered the "capital" of the higher lands of Hérault. Its rich architecture is evidence of its past as an influential episcopal city.
Lodève owed its power to the textile industry, manufacturing cloth for the uniforms of the royal infantry troops in the 18th century. It would remain the textile capital for two centuries, until its last factory closed in 1960. The Lodève workshop, an annex of the Savonnerie national manufactory, continues to weave exceptional carpets for prestigious places such as national monuments and embassies, using a technique dating back over four centuries. You can also visit the apothecary of St. John's Hospital, which exhibits a fine collection of glass and porcelain jars, as well as the harmonious episcopal palace which now houses the town hall.
The Gothic Cathedral of St. Fulcran, built in the 12th and 14th centuries, is worth a visit to admire treasures including a remarkable polygonal apse, rose window and stained glass windows, pipe organ and impressive crystal chandelier. As for Lodève Museum, based in the former Cardinal Fleury mansion since 1987, it exhibits collections of archaeology, paintings and sculptures, including some by Paul Dardé, a famous local sculptor.
The city offers many other attractions, such as its seven bridges built at different times, or its many private mansions. It's also worth taking the time for a stroll along the two rivers that run through it.
