The Église Saint-Laurent dates from the 12th century and was fortified in the 14th century. Saint-Laurent-Des-Arbres’s designation as a “remarkable heritage site” also puts its cultural heritage in the spotlight. For visitors, this offers a tangible way to explore the town’s history, from the church to the towers of the fortified complex.
Church and fortified complex
The Tour Jacques Deuze, or keep, is the centrepiece of the fortified complex and stands 25 metres high. The Tour Ribas offers a different architectural landmark: it is entirely Romanesque in origin. It also houses a model showing what the town may have looked like in the Middle Ages. While the keep stands out for its role in the complex and its height, the Tour Ribas combines Romanesque architectural history with a possible depiction of the town in the Middle Ages.
The church and the two towers give the heritage different dimensions: a fortified church, a central keep and a Romanesque tower with a possible depiction of the medieval townscape. Anyone particularly interested in architectural history will find tangible points of reference for exploring the town’s past, without reducing its buildings to a single period.
Walks, long-distance trail and stage
The GR®42 passes through Saint-Laurent-Des-Arbres. The 452-kilometre route runs from the Pilat via Saint-Étienne to the Mediterranean at Grau du Roi–Port Camargue. The town is therefore on a route that extends far beyond the commune; its stated endpoints give an idea of the route’s full extent.
For walks, the RLESI map guide offers a different planning scale: it suggests routes in each of the participating communes. The RLESI network covers nearly 270 kilometres of designated trails; 90 percent of them are accessible on horseback and by mountain bike. The map guide states that the network aims to ensure access to the garrigue and enable visitors to discover the heritage. This lets you distinguish between the long-distance trail that passes through the town, a suggested walk in a participating commune and the wider network of trails.
One specific stage is described by the À travers vignes et garrigues micro-adventure: on the first day, the 20-kilometre route runs from Sauveterre to Saint-Laurent-Des-Arbres, with 300 metres of elevation gain. Check the stage details again before setting out. Distance and elevation gain provide two separate points of reference for planning this first day’s stage.
Lirac and a taste of local wine
The AOC Lirac covers 750 hectares and four communes: Lirac, Saint-Geniès-de-Comolas, Saint-Laurent-Des-Arbres and Roquemaure. The connection with wine therefore extends beyond the town itself and encompasses several communes. A specific place to visit in Saint-Laurent-Des-Arbres is the Les Vignerons De Tavel & Lirac tasting shop on Avenue Baron Leroy, where the winemakers’ products are available. If you plan to purchase specific products, check their current availability before your visit.
Tailor your stay to your interests
The differences between these themes can help you tailor your stay to your interests: the towers offer tangible architecture, the GR®42 and RLESI represent different scales of travel, and the AOC Lirac connects you with regional wine, with a place to buy it in town.
Discover more destinations: Bordezac, Saint-Bauzély, Fontanès, Arphy, La Roque-Sur-Cèze, Carnas, Saint-Hyppolyte-Du-Fort, La Calmette.
For the wider travel overview: Gard.
