What are the must-see attractions in Villeveyrac?

Villeveyrac is renowned for its unmissable Sainte-Marie de Valmagne Abbey, nicknamed the ‘cathedral of the vineyards’. This former 12th-century Cistercian monastery, with its impressive Gothic vaults and magnificent cloister, is now home to a wine estate where you can taste excellent organic wines. The village itself is well worth a visit for its old town centre, its church and its traditional market. The surrounding area offers lovely walks through vineyards and scrubland, with panoramic views over the Thau basin.

When is the market in Villeveyrac?

The traditional market in Villeveyrac takes place every Wednesday morning from 8am to 1pm, featuring local produce from the Thau Archipelago. In summer, the farmers’ market takes over on Monday evenings, from mid-July to mid-August, at the Place du Marché aux Raisins, from 6pm to 10pm, with around fifteen local producers, farmhouse platters and live music to round off the day in style.

How do I get to Villeveyrac?

By train, you can reach Villeveyrac via Sète station from Paris in 3 hours 40 minutes by direct TGV, from Lyon in 2 hours 10 minutes, from Toulouse in 2 hours, or from Marseille in 2 hours 25 minutes. Once you arrive at Sète station, you can reach Villeveyrac by bus on route 23, by taxi or by hire car. By car, Villeveyrac is located approximately 29 km from Sète and approximately 36 km from Montpellier, accessible via the A9 motorway, exit 33. During the season, it is also possible to cross the Thau lagoon by ferry from Sète station to the port of Mèze, then take bus route no. 23 on the Sète Agglopôle Méditerranée bus network.

Villeveyrac | Archipel de Thau

Villeveyrac The abbey, the scrubland and the vineyards

Some thirty kilometres from Montpellier, nestled between the hills of La Moure and the shores of the Thau lagoon, Villeveyrac lies at the heart of a wine-growing region surrounded on all sides by garrigue. The village thrives in an environment perfect for walks and hikes, dotted with capitelles, shaded paths and panoramic views over the lagoon. But it is a monument that has made the village famous far beyond its borders: the Cistercian Abbey of Valmagne, nicknamed the “cathedral of the vineyards”, stands as one of Occitanie’s most iconic monuments, attracting visitors from across Europe every year.

The village boasts a bountiful and unspoilt natural environment—Lake Saint-Farriol, fragrant garrigue and ancient capitelles—which invites you to slow down, walk and breathe. Its vineyards surround the village, and its winegrowers are happy to open their doors to those wishing to extend the experience over a glass of wine. A village that knows how to take its time, and invites you to do the same.

Villeveyrac

You will most likely find yourself walking through the vineyards and market gardens of Villeveyrac as you make your way to its majestic abbey: the so-called ‘Abbey of Valmagne’, a true 12th-century gem and, worth noting, one of the best-preserved Cistercian abbeys in France. Events, concerts… There is no shortage of opportunities to showcase this remarkable heritage (see the abbey’s...

Explorer

The must-sees in Villeveyrac

Set around the Cistercian Abbey of Valmagne, one of the most beautiful monastic complexes in France, Villeveyrac blends spiritual heritage, wine-growing country and unspoilt nature. The village stretches between the scrubland of La Moure and the agricultural plain, across an area dotted with Natura 2000 sites and paths ideal for walking and cycling. Traditional events, from the Broom Festival to the Truffle Festival, punctuate the year and reflect a deep attachment to local traditions. Here are the highlights to experience the true spirit of Villeveyrac.

See all the must-sees

The history of Villeveyrac

The history of Villeveyrac dates back to well before the present-day village. The first settlement was located a little further south, around the Veyrac estate, at a place known as ‘Le Grand Cimetière’, where the remains of Visigothic tombs can still be seen. This site, which has a spring, was continuously inhabited from the Neolithic period through to Roman times, and then throughout the Middle Ages, before being gradually abandoned in favour of the present-day location. The first written record dates back to 990: in his will, William I of Béziers bequeathed to his daughter Garsinde the “Villa Vairago”, its lands and its church.

The decisive turning point came in the 12th century with the foundation, in 1138, of Valmagne Abbey, which joined the Cistercian Order of Cîteaux in 1145. The village, formerly known as Villemagne, was directly under the authority of the abbey and its abbot, who was then lord of the village. Indeed, it was these Cistercian monks who, through their influence and the management of their estate, are said to have been behind the creation of the present-day village, leaving a lasting mark on the surrounding agricultural and wine-growing landscape.

This spiritual and rural heritage lives on today in the village’s living traditions. Like several other towns in the Hérault, Villeveyrac has adopted a totemic animal, the Veydrac, which is paraded during the carnival or the village festival. This is just one way of maintaining a tangible link with a history stretching back a thousand years, blending prehistoric settlement, Cistercian heritage and Languedoc identity.

Staying in Villeveyrac

We’re here to help you plan your stay!

Need help planning your visit? Find all our practical advice, top tips and must-see attractions in our ‘My Stay’ section, or contact the Mèze visitor centre directly – our team is here to help you plan a tailor-made holiday.

What are the must-see attractions in Villeveyrac?
Villeveyrac is renowned for its unmissable Sainte-Marie de Valmagne Abbey, nicknamed the ‘cathedral of the vineyards’. This former 12th-century Cistercian monastery, with its impressive Gothic vaults and magnificent cloister, is now home to a wine estate where you can taste excellent organic wines.
The village itself is well worth a visit for its old town centre, its church and its traditional market. The surrounding area offers lovely walks through vineyards and scrubland, with panoramic views over the Thau basin.
When is the market in Villeveyrac?
How do I get to Villeveyrac?
- By train, you can reach Villeveyrac via Sète station from Paris in 3 hours 40 minutes by direct TGV, from Lyon in 2 hours 10 minutes, from Toulouse in 2 hours, or from Marseille in 2 hours 25 minutes.
- Once you arrive at Sète station, you can reach Villeveyrac by bus on route 23, by taxi or by hire car.
- By car, Villeveyrac is located approximately 29 km from Sète and approximately 36 km from Montpellier, accessible via the A9 motorway, exit 33.
- During the season, it is also possible to cross the Thau lagoon by ferry from Sète station to the port of Mèze, then take bus route no. 23 on the Sète Agglopôle Méditerranée bus network.