Chaos de Montpellier-le-Vieux (la Cité de Pierres)

La Roque-Sainte-Marguerite

On the causse Noir, above the Dourbie gorges, towers, arches and lanes of dolomite form what looks like a ruined city. The shepherds of the plains of Languedoc saw an abandoned city there, hence the name ‘Montpellier-le-Vieux’. For centuries, local people approached it only with fear: they saw in it, writes Martel, ‘an accursed city demolished by the devil and haunted by evil spirits’. Other tales place fairies and witches there, or giant builders whose work the devil destroyed. A local legend is said to tell that three fairies, fleeing an evil spirit named Mourghi, built a citadel here: Mourghi is said to have got lost in the labyrinth they had created. The chaos was revealed only in 1883; Martel explored it in September 1884 and called it ‘the Acropolis of the Cévennes’. He gave some fifty rocks the names of monuments, such as the Gate of Mycenae or the Arc de Triomphe. A trail today bears the name ‘Labyrinthe’ and follows fissures about a metre wide. The site also served as a setting for La Grande Vadrouille (1966).

Tourisme Occitanie — Chaos rocheux de Montpellier-le-Vieux ↗

Getting there: On the causse Noir, above the Dourbie gorges, a few kilometres from Millau (ticket office address: La Cité de Pierres, lieu-dit Le Maubert, 12100 Millau). Paid site, with five to six waymarked circuits of 30 minutes to 3 hours and a small train. A 2026 article announces opening from 4 April to 1 November, adult ticket at €14.80; an older leaflet gave €8.90. Dates, times and prices are therefore to be checked with the operator.

Opening times and access details are given as a guide only: check before you set out.

Ambient sound