St. Guilhem Le Désert is situated a few miles north of Gignac, and some 30 km northwest of Montpellier and a little to the east of the new A75 motorway. Set in the picturesque Cevennes and surrounded by a ring of low mountains, and perched above the Hérault River, it is a pretty mediaeval stone town with a famous Abbey.

Guilhem was a first cousin of Charlemagne and a knight noted for his skill at arms. For thirteen years he fought for Charlemagne, defending and increasing his empire, and later for Charlemagne's son, Louis, defeating the Saracens in 803 and capturing Orange, south of the Rhone. In 804 he decided to retreat from fighting and from his court life to pursue his religious beliefs. He founded the original Abbey of Gellone in 804, and remained there until his death in 812.

Before his death, Charlemagne gave Guilhem a cross which was said to contain remnants of the original cross, and Guilhem brought this with him to the Abbey, where it remains to this day. In the 10th century Guilhem was canonized and became Saint Guilhem. Because of his fame and canonization, as well as the cross he brought to Gellone, the Abbey became one of the stopping places on the pilrimage route from Arles to Santiago de Compostella. In the 11th century it was rebuilt in its present romanesque style.

From the 14th century onwards the Abbey at St. Guilhem fell into decline, and it was not until 1840 that it became a recognized historic monument. Restoration of the abbey began in 1960, and it was recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site on 5th December 1998.

The town of St Guilhem is attractive in itself, with its yellow stone houses and the old castle ruins on the hills behind the town. The mountains surrounding St Guilhem offer protection from the elements. The mountain setting is peaceful and the environment clean and fresh. It makes an ideal day out for the tourist, the artist, the historian or the person in search of spiritual calm.

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