Pic Saint Loup, Montpellier

Pic Saint Loup, Montpellier

Pic St Loup is a majestic Jurassic limestone mountain rising in the midst of verdant vineyards and garrigue in the Occitania region, 20 kilometres inland from Montpellier.

Pic St Loup is a majestic Jurassic limestone mountain rising in the midst of verdant vineyards and garrigue in the Occitania region, 20 kilometres inland from Montpellier. It is named after the legendary Saint Thieri Loup, one of the 3 brothers who were suitors to Bertrade, and became hermits after her death. Stretching for 6 kilometers between the villages of Cazevieille and Saint-Mathieu-de-Tréviers, the 658 metre tall peak is visible all the way from Montpellier and the Mediterranean Sea. It is covered with holm oaks, Aleppo pines, arbutus, rock rose and other vegetation.

At the top is a large iron cross, an observation post, and the chapel of an ancient hermitage. The eastern edge has the ruins of the Castle of Montferrand, a 12th century fortress that belonged to the Counts of Melgueil.

The area is best known for its Pic Saint-Loup terroir wines of the Languedoc AOC. The red wines must have a minimum 90% of Syrah, Grenache and Mourvèdre to be classified as Pic Saint-Loup.

Hiking from Cazevieille, climbing from the north, and paragliding from Mas-de-Londres are other popular activities in the area.