Celles is one of the most emblematic and most moving places on Lake Salagou. When the lake was created in the 1960s and 1970s, part of the village was submerged. At low water, the drowned church re-emerges, creating a unique sight that photographers and curious visitors come to admire from the shore.
Lake Salagou is an artificial lake, created by a dam on the River Salagou. The decision to build the dam, taken in the 1950s, was intended to encourage agricultural diversification in the region and to regulate flooding. The lake began filling gradually from the end of the 1960s.
As the lake filled, it submerged parts of the villages of Celles, Octon and Clermont-l'Hérault. In Celles, the inhabitants were gradually rehoused, and the buildings of the old village were surrendered to the rising water. Today, at low water, the remains emerge and the Romanesque church is sometimes visible, creating one of the most powerful images associated with the Salagou.
The dates tell the story well: the inhabitants were expropriated a few years before the lake filled, and the village was abandoned in 1969. It was not until 1990 that the departmental council undertook work to secure the site. In 2017, the decision was taken to repopulate Celles — and the first new residents moved in in 2019, exactly fifty years after it was abandoned.
Celles is an ideal starting point for exploring the shores of the Salagou, hiking through the ruffes and discovering the lake's unique landscapes.
The most eagerly awaited sight in Celles. At low water (often late summer or autumn, depending on the lake level), the Romanesque church partially re-emerges, visible from the shore. Check the lake level before your visit to maximise your chances of seeing it.
The paths around Celles follow the lakeshore through the red ruffes. Accessible to everyone, these walks offer views over the lake, the colourful shores and the surrounding hillsides. Ideal for families or couples.
Celles is one of the most famous photo spots on the Salagou. The contrast between the red ruffes, the blue water and the village ruins makes for unique compositions. Dawn and sunset are the best times.
Several waymarked trails lead from Celles up to the heights overlooking the lake, with panoramas over the ruffes and the expanse of the Salagou. The climb towards Octon or Mont Liausson starts nearby.
A few kilometres from Celles, the village of Octon is perched on the heights overlooking Lake Salagou. Its panorama over the red ruffes and the expanse of the lake is one of the most spectacular in the region.
The beaches at Les Vailhés and Clermont-l'Hérault are easy to reach from Celles. Swimming, paddleboarding and water sports round off a day by the lake.
Staying at La Bergerie du Mas Delon means being less than 10 minutes by car from Celles and Lake Salagou. After a morning of walking or photography in Celles, you come back to a peaceful 176-hectare estate, with a heated pool, air-conditioned gîtes and fully equipped kitchens.
The estate is 4 km from Lake Salagou, 17 km from the Cirque de Mourèze and 7 km from Lodève. An ideal location for exploring the whole of the Grand Site Salagou - Mourèze from a comfortable base.
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Everything you need to know before visiting Celles and the area around Lake Salagou.
Celles is a village in the Hérault on the shores of Lake Salagou. When the lake was created in the 1960s and 1970s, part of the village was submerged by the rising water. It remains a place steeped in history, with its ruins along the lakeshore and its Romanesque church sometimes visible at low water.
At low water (often late summer or autumn), the submerged church of the village of Celles is sometimes visible from the shore. The lake level varies from year to year and season to season. Check the current level before your visit.
Lake Salagou is artificial, created by a dam on the River Salagou. As the lake gradually filled in the 1960s and 1970s, parts of the villages of Celles, Octon and Clermont-l'Hérault were submerged. The inhabitants were gradually rehoused.
The village of Celles is about 5-6 km from La Bergerie du Mas Delon, roughly a 10-minute drive. It combines very easily with a swim in the lake or a visit to the Cirque de Mourèze.
Yes, the walk around Celles is very easy. Children love the views over the lake, the red ruffes and the mysterious feel of the partially drowned village. The paths around Celles are easy going and shaded in the morning.
5 km from Celles and 4 km from the lake, La Bergerie du Mas Delon is the ideal base for discovering the whole of the Grand Site Salagou - Mourèze.
