Walking the ramparts
The partial rampart walk offers views over the Larzac plateau and the surrounding causses. From the towers, you sense the vastness of the plateau, so different from the Languedoc landscapes of Lake Salagou.
35 km from the gîtes · One of the Most Beautiful Villages of France · Larzac
La Couvertoirade, a medieval Templar village in the heart of the Larzac
La Couvertoirade is one of the best-preserved medieval villages in France. A Templar and later Hospitaller commandery, its 15th-century ramparts enclose an authentic village of cobbled lanes. Listed among the Most Beautiful Villages of France, it is 35 km from La Bergerie du Mas Delon.
35 km from the gîtes
Intact medieval ramparts
Most Beautiful Villages of France
Larzac plateau
35 kmfrom La Bergerie du Mas Delon
15th c.ramparts built by the Hospitallers
Templarsformer Templar commandery of the Larzac
Listedamong the Most Beautiful Villages of France
La Couvertoirade, a medieval commandery on the Larzac
On the windswept limestone plateau of the Larzac, La Couvertoirade is one of the most intact medieval treasures of the Languedoc-Roussillon. The commandery first belonged to the Templars (12th century), then passed to the Knights Hospitaller after the dissolution of the Templar order in 1312. It is to them that we owe the current ramparts, built in the 15th century.
Today, behind those ramparts, the village has kept its medieval character: cobbled lanes, stone-built causse houses, a fountain, a castle and a church. You can visit at your own pace, with an information point at the entrance to the village.
15th-century ramparts rampart walk partly accessible
Templar castle round tower and medieval living quarters
Romanesque church 15th century, with a plain, moving interior
Medieval lanes a fully preserved, car-free village
📷 Christian Appino — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
What to see in La Couvertoirade and on the Larzac?
La Couvertoirade combines beautifully with other sites on the Larzac and in the hinterland.
The castle and the church
The medieval castle and the 15th-century church are the village's main monuments. The church is plain and moving. The castle has kept its round tower, characteristic of Templar-Hospitaller commanderies.
The village artisans
Several artisans (potters, weavers, makers) have set up in the village houses. Their little shops are part of the charm of La Couvertoirade, well worth exploring after visiting the monuments.
The Millau Viaduct
About 40 km from La Couvertoirade (and 75 km from the gîtes), the Millau Viaduct can be seen from several points on the Larzac plateau. Combine the two sites for a memorable Larzac day out.
La Cavalerie and the Larzac
The Larzac plateau, with its Hospitalet farm and causse landscapes, is best explored from La Couvertoirade. La Cavalerie (15 km) is another Templar site on the Larzac, less well known but just as interesting.
Roquefort-sur-Soulzon
About 30 km from La Couvertoirade, Roquefort-sur-Soulzon and its cheese cellars offer a tasting of the famous blue cheese matured in the natural caves of the Combalou. An unusual visit to combine with La Couvertoirade.
Frequently asked questions about La Couvertoirade
What is La Couvertoirade?
La Couvertoirade is a fortified medieval village on the Larzac plateau, listed among the Most Beautiful Villages of France. A former Templar and later Hospitaller commandery, its 15th-century ramparts enclose an authentic village of fully preserved cobbled lanes.
How far is La Couvertoirade from La Bergerie du Mas Delon?
La Couvertoirade is about 35 km from La Bergerie du Mas Delon, around 45 minutes by car along the D9 towards the Larzac.
Is La Couvertoirade suitable for families?
Yes, La Couvertoirade is very family-friendly. The whole village can be explored on foot in 1 to 2 hours. Part of the ramparts can be walked and offers views over the Larzac plateau. A great complement to a day at Lake Salagou.
Explore the Larzac and the Hérault from our gîtes
La Couvertoirade, the Millau Viaduct, the Cirque de Navacelles: La Bergerie du Mas Delon sits at the heart of an exceptional area between the Hérault and the Larzac.