Pic St-Loup

The wine produced on the low slopes of Pic St-Loup is some of the most highly-regarded terroirs in the Languedoc-Roussillon region. Come to the mountain for wine-tastings or to hike along the well-maintained trails, enjoying unobstructed panoramas stretching to the Mediterranean Sea to the south and to the Cevennes Mountains in the north. At 215 feet (658-meters), the summit is within reach.

Travelers may discover Pic St-Loup as part of a half-day or full-day tour that may include walking or hiking explorations of the mountain as well as a bird’s eye view of the both Pic St-Loup, Montpellier,xa0 and Camargue nature reserve—where pink flamingos, wild white horses, and black Camargue bulls live—from the comfort of a small plane. Other tours visit some of the local AOC wineries for tastings.

• Suitable for nature, bird, and wine lovers.
• Bring comfortable hiking shoes and binoculars.
• Remember water for hydration and sun protection.
• Hiking trails are gravelly, not packed earth.
• Tours by plane are not wheelchair accessible and may be cancelled due to poor weather.
• Tours may include round trip hotel transport, lunch and wine-tastings. Check specific tours for details.

Pic St-Loup is about 22 miles (35 kilometers) north of Montpellier, and is accessible by car via D986 and D113. Expect about a 45-minute drive, and for there to be parking in the commune of Cazevieille. A hike to the summit is manageable and should take between 1 and 2 hours.

Pic St-Loup is open year-round, as the climate is temperate year-round. The best time to visit the area is May or September when the rates are lower, crowds are fewer, and the birds arrive on migration. The flamingo flocks are especially extravagant in summer and winter. Come in June for the Festival of Live Architecture when Montpellier’s historic city center is taken over by ephemeral contemporary architecture.

Inside Western Europe’s largest river delta, the 49,421-acre (20,000-hectare) Camargue Natural Park is a spectacular reserve with unique landscapes and wildlife. Known as the “Wild West of France,” French cowboys raise black bulls amidst the marshlands, swamps, and rice paddies. Travelers may ride the indigenous white horses along the beach.