Having a walk in Saint-Hilaire-de-Brethmas
FR - Located a short distance from Alès and around 4 kilometres from Vézénobres, Saint-Hilaire-de-Brethmas is cooled by the river L'Avène, a thirty-kilometre-long river that flows into the nearby Gardon d'Alès. Arriving in Saint-Hilaire-de-Brethmas from Uzès, a number of houses and old mills stand as a reminder of the strong link between Saint-Hilaire and its river, following one another along the water and adding to the rural and bucolic atmosphere of the area.
Named Saint-Hilaire after the 5th century archbishop of Arles, Saint-Hilaire-de-Brethmas is made up of 7 hamlets (Saint-Hilaire, Tribies, La Gigalière, Larnac, La Jasse de Bernard, Lègue and Trouillas) and is ideally situated for those who prefer the peace and quiet of the countryside to the bustle of Alès.
The church in particular (its origins date back to the 12th century) catches our eye. Along with the temple, it is one of the town's most important buildings. Partly destroyed during the Wars of Religion (remember the Camisards and Jean Cavalier, one of their most famous leaders) that shook the country, the Romanesque church, a Historic Monument (French National Heritage) since 1963, dominates the heart of the town centre. Restored in the 17th century, its vaulted ceilings reveal their splendour in all tranquillity and protect, among other things, a polychrome statue of the Virgin Mary (18th century).
Did you know? Saint-Hilaire-de-Brethmas has a beautiful nature trail (sentier découverte) that takes you on a journey of discovery of the flora of the region. Depending on the season, you'll be able to admire a multitude of trees, plants and flowers, from olive trees, fig trees and holm oaks... to the orchids and swamp silenas so dear to our gardens, from the mallow to the viperine...
Saint-Hilaire-de-Brethmas is also the perfect place to sample the gastronomic creations of Michelin-starred chef Sébastien Rath at his 1-star Le Saint Hilaire restaurant. An ode to the produce of the Gard, and the Cévennes in particular, the menu at Le Saint Hilaire will delight your taste buds and take you through the region's excellent terroir.
The right address and sources: Saint-Hilaire-de-Brethmas, Sentier Botanique de Saint-Hilaire-de-Brethmas, 1 Chemin du Stade. Further information: contact@shb-bota.f.