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St Guilhem le Desert
St Guilhem le Desert is situated just North of Gignac, and considered to be one
of the best preserved and beautiful villages of the Herault Department.
Born sometime in the late 8th century, Guilhem was the grandson of Charles
Martel, the Duke of Aquitane, and one of the Emperor Charlemagne's chosen
knights. St Guilhem was noted for his skill at arms, and his religious beliefs.
While Guilhem was away at the wars, Charlemagne died. Louis, son of Charlemagne,
who was fond of Guilhem, offered him various lands, in thanks for his services,
all of which, he refused.
Louis suggested that Guilhem raise an army and capture the Saracen lands of
Orange , across the Rhône. This Guilhem did, and whilst there, married the
beautiful Lady of Orange.
In later life, Guilhem, turned to religion instead of battle. Seeking a spot
far from the distractions of his Court, he formed a monastery on the river
Herault, where he later died and was buried, later on he was Canonised.
In the 10th century, the monastery of Saint-Guilhem-le-Desert became a stage on
one of the four major routes leading to Santiago de Compostela. By the middle of
the 11th century this influx of pilgrims to the Gellone valley enabled the monks
to rebuild their monastery on a larger scale. The present abbey church dates
from that period.
The Abbey Church at St Guilhem le Desert is very well preserved, although when
it fell into ruin in the last century, part of the Romanesque cloister was sold
to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York .
Before his death in 812 AD, Charlemagne had given the young Knight pieces of the
True Cross. Guilhem left this to his Abbey, where it remains to this day. The
jewelled reliquary cross is carried in procession through the village once a
year on St Guilhem's feast day, the 3rd May.
Above the village, lies the ruins of a castle. St Guilhem le Desert is a well
preserved village with picturesque stone built houses. The place de la Liberté,
surrounded by houses and arcades with traces of Romanesque and Renaissance
domestic styles in some of the windows, is a large square, with a fountain and a
huge plain tree, offering shady respite from the hot summer sun.
St Guilhem is classified as one of the Most Beautiful Villages in France, and its
abbey has been listed as a World Heritage monument by UNESCO as part of the
Pilgrimage Route of Santiago de Compostela.
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