Saint-Hippolyte-du-Fort combines a location on the foothills of the Cévennes with buildings and stories from several centuries. If you would like to combine culture and scenery, there are two distinct areas to explore: the town’s Protestant and industrial history, and routes through garrigue, vineyards and chestnut groves.
Between the plain and the CĂ©vennes
Saint-Hippolyte-du-Fort lies at the confluence of the Vidourle and its tributary, the Argentesse. A fertile plain at the foot of the Massifs de la Fage, de Banelle and du Pié de Mar defines the geographical setting. The cultivation of grapes and grain also contributed to the town’s development. The riverside landscape, plain and these massifs are all equally part of its character.
Fort, temple and historic buildings
The Fort of Saint-Hippolyte-du-Fort was built in 1688 by François Ferry to monitor Protestants in the Cévennes. The town’s fortification history also includes the Tour Saint-Jean: the former defensive structure at the Porte de Cros was a strategic point in the 17th-century fortifications facing the Cévennes.
The Protestant temple of the Église protestante unie de France was built between 1820 and 1822 in the neoclassical style. It covers more than 600 m² and has a monumental colonnade, two bell towers and a large organ dating from 1853. In the Dugas building, carved fireplaces and 17th-century decorations are protected as historic monuments. The Château des Graves is also classified as a historic monument.
The Monument aux morts de la guerre de 1914-1918 stands on Place du 8 mai and is listed as a historic monument. Its protected status was established by an order dated 18 October 2018. The different buildings and memorial sites reveal several historical layers of the town, whose heritage is not limited to a single building.
Silk production at the museum and around town
The Musée de la Soie is located in the former barracks next to the tourist office. From April to October, it presents silkworm rearing at every stage of the life cycle in a reconstructed silkworm farm. Sophisticated machinery and the craftsmanship of silk production provide further insight.
The visitor experience includes guided tours, an archival film about silkworm rearing and a discovery area for children. Seasonal textile exhibitions showcase the work of local craftspeople; the visitor program may vary by season. For school groups, the museum offers 1.5-hour tours and workshops led by an educator. Activities include reeling silk from a cocoon, making a thread and weaving. Arrangements in advance may be required.
As a complement to a museum visit, the town’s Sentier des Vestiges de l’Industrie de la Soie (Silk Industry Heritage Trail) takes visitors to numerous remains and buildings associated with the silk industry. This offers another way to explore the theme of silk, through the traces and structures found around town.
A focus on the landscape
L’Échappée Cévenole offers a different perspective. The route passes through garrigue, vineyards and chestnut groves, as well as landscapes shaped by human activity. There are beautiful viewpoints along the way. Unlike the silk industry trail, this route focuses on a succession of landscapes: one discovery leads to historic buildings and industrial remains, while the other passes through a variety of rural settings.
When planning your stay, Saint-Hippolyte-du-Fort therefore offers a choice between its architectural and silk-making history and a landscape experience. These themes give the town a distinct cultural focus while connecting it to its setting in the CĂ©vennes.
Discover more destinations: Moussac, Bernis, Martignargues, Tharaux, Aubais, Saint-Paulet-De-Caisson, Crespian, Aigremont.
For the regional travel overview: Gard.
