Saint-Paul-La-Coste combines heritage with trails through a landscape on the edge of the Cévennes. The Romanesque church, the temple and the remains of a former silk mill offer different historical points of interest; several trails and forest tracks also provide access to panoramas, vallats, mas and hamlets. Architectural history and exploring the landscape are thus two distinct ways to discover the area.
Church, temple and industrial history
The Romanesque church dates from the 12th century. Its restoration received the “Rubans du patrimoine 2020” award. The temple is also located in the heart of the village and was built around 1565. The dates alone show a significant gap: the church takes you back to the 12th century, while the temple dates to the second half of the 16th century. By placing both buildings in the history of the area, you encounter two different historical reference points.
The Chapelle de Mandajors offers another historical connection: it is linked to the Wars of Religion at the end of the reign of Louis XIV. The church, temple and chapel thus point to different periods in the area's history. For a thematic overview, it is worth distinguishing the buildings with precisely established dates from the chapel's historical connection.
At Le Martinet, industrial history takes centre stage. The former Chambon silk mill, later known as Boudon, was built in 1836 on the site of an earlier martinet. Only the aqueduct that carried water and the building ruins remain from the former complex. Here, the earlier martinet as the site's predecessor and the later silk mill can be distinguished as two successive phases.
Landscape and waterways
Saint-Paul-La-Coste lies in the foothills of the Cévennes and in the peripheral zone of the national park. The municipality is also located in an area classified by UNESCO as a biosphere reserve. The Martinet in Saint-Paul-La-Coste is designated an Espace Naturel Sensible (sensitive natural area). This brings together a broad landscape designation and the specific designation of the Martinet as two distinct points of reference for nature.
The Galeizon flows through Saint-Paul-La-Coste, is a tributary of the Gardon d’Alès and is classified as a “Rivière sauvage” (wild river). The Salandre is a tributary of the Galeizon. The waterways can therefore be understood as a sequence: the Salandre flows into the Galeizon, which in turn flows into the Gardon d’Alès. For views of the landscape, the Galeizon is the river explicitly noted as flowing through the municipality.
Trails and ways to get around
Several trails and forest tracks cross the municipality; some of the trails are paved with calades. They provide access to panoramas, vallats, mas and hamlets, and offer views of different elements of the landscape. Saint-Paul-La-Coste can be explored on foot, on horseback, by bicycle or by donkey. Alongside the historic buildings, trails and different ways of getting around are therefore central to exploring the area.
The long-distance hiking trail GR®70 has a clearly defined route: it crosses the southern part of the municipality. In 1993, it was marked and classified as GR®70 by the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre. When planning your trip, you can distinguish between the several trails and forest tracks that cross Saint-Paul-La-Coste and the long-distance trail that runs through its southern section. This distinction links practical route planning with the area's varied landscape and cultural themes.
Discover more destinations: Mejannes Les Ales, Saze, Uzès, Théziers, Crespian, Saint-Geniès-De-Comolas, Saint-Sauveur-Camprieu, Laval-Saint-Roman
For the broader travel overview: Gard.
