What to do when it's hot?

Want some freshness in Hérault?

Between waterfalls, rivers, swimming, shaded walks, authentic
villages and cool activities, our destination from Minervois to Caroux is full of ideas to fully enjoy the summer. Discover our selection of best cool spots and must-sees to explore during the hottest days.

Looking for freshness? Go higher!

It’s always better with a few degrees less!
Sometimes, all you need to do is gain a little height to find a cooler breeze… and the pleasure begins as soon as you’re on the road!

The little roads that wind through our destination from Minervois to Caroux already offer a true moment of softness, between forests, wild landscapes, and stunning panoramas...

• Head to the Roc Suzadou in Ferrals-les-montagnes, located in the heart of nature at 700m altitude. Enjoy the forests and the landscapes covered in heather, admire the breathtaking views of the Corbières, the Pyrenees...
  A stunning 180°, proof in image. 
• We also recommend a walk on the plateau of Caroux or at the Vesoles site by the lake, covered with heather in summer, these landscapes offer us exceptional views! Enjoy nature and shade in the beech forests.
  Our little tip: take a detour by the Col du Cabarétou (at 906 m altitude). The panorama of the mountains is incredible!

Where to swim from Minervois to Caroux?

• Take a splash at the Inter-municipal Pool in Saint Pons de Thomières ( open July and August) or at the Lac de Jouarres, enjoy the beach in Olonzac. A true oasis in Minervois, it’s nice to be in the shade under the trees or to cool off in the turquoise water. 
  
  
• The Lac de Vesoles also invites swimming in the authorized areas.
  
  
• You can also dip in the river or in the natural pools of the Gorges d'Héric and Colombières sur Orb. 
  
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Shaded walks and cool hikes

Many hiking trails are bordered by forests and offer beautiful shaded sections, ideal for walking while staying sheltered from the sun. Also prefer walks close to water to enjoy a bit of coolness: rivers, waterfalls...

Among the routes to discover: the PR of Ayrolle in Ceps, of Lake Jouarres, of Vesoles, or the waterfall trail in Mauroul… so many walks where nature, coolness, and wild landscapes meet.

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What activities to cool off?

• Enjoy a wide range of activities in the water: canoeing, canyoning, paddle, inflatable buoy, horseback riding along the river
  ... refreshment guaranteed!

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• Take a break at the Olonzac park: watch the swans, read a book, or relax in the shade of the trees.
• If you seek a bit more action, the tree climbing park in Saint-Martin de l'Arçon, set in nature, is the ideal place to have fun while staying in the shade.
  
  
• Try one of the escape games in the area
  
  
• At the end of the day, experience unforgettable moments with the Cebenna center in the Caroux mountain range. Go for a meeting with mouflons, the symbols of the mountain, observe the starry sky during astronomy evenings.

• Need a real refresh? Go underground! With its 12 °C year-round, the cave of the Glass Spinner in Courniou is an ideal refuge when the thermometer goes crazy.  And for young explorers (4 to 12 years), a treasure hunt awaits in the heart of the cave. Also explore the underground world during a guided spelunking outing. 
  
  

• Enjoy air-conditioned museums like the Maison du Cambrien in Berlou.
  Some are also lucky enough to benefit from a natural coolness like the Prehistory Museum in Saint Pons de Thomières and the Museum of Arts and Popular Traditions located in the Escaliers de la Commanderie in Olargues.
  
  
• Meet artists, craftsmen, and local producers who keep the territory alive daily. Through their workshops, exhibitions, their fields, or their sales points, discover authentic know-how and unique creations! It’s also a chance to directly exchange with them, understand their passionate professions, and leave with a local souvenir.
  
  
• Treat yourself to a moment of relaxation (massage, spa...)
  
  
• Immerse yourself in the friendly atmosphere of the morning or evening markets 
  
  
• Enjoy the mild summer evenings, dine on the terrace or by the water's edge...
  
  
• Discover our guided tours and our morning or evening events! Between heritage, history, and emotions, go meet emblematic places like the Cathar city of Minerve, the Rose Granny's Garden in Riols, or the Square Tower in Colombières sur Orb. And let yourself be surprised by our novelties: a sunset at the Mediterranean Garden of Roquebrun or an eclipse evening at Lake Jouarres, to experience unique moments!
  
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 Our favorite spots to escape the heat

• Take a break in the shade under the Natural Bridges of Minerve. 
  
  
• Cross the old tunnels of the Greenway "Passa País", true refuges of coolness.
  
  
• Visit the Cathedral of St Pons de Thomières, a peaceful place where calm and a pleasant natural coolness reign. Enjoy musical visits in summer! Other churches, chapels are also open or on request (Priory of St Julien, Chapel of Voulte, Church of St Vincent... )
  
  
• Watch a film 3D at the Cebenna Center in Olargues (by reservation).
  
  
• Stroll through the streets of our villages, let yourself be charmed by the old stones and enjoy the shaded corners. At dusk, when the heat recedes, the villages unveil another ambiance, bathed in beautiful lights. 
  For the most indulgent, savor a good artisan ice cream like here in Roquebrun, on the beach, feet in the water...

• And if you took the time to slow down? Settle into a library for a moment of calm, lazily on a rock or in the shade of a tree, and let yourself be lulled by the singing of cicadas…

And to extend the softness of the day, it’s time for friendliness! The time for an aperitif is ideal to cool off with our local beers*, fruit juices, chestnut syrups, and other drinks available in our shops! (Excessive drinking is dangerous for health, consume in moderation)