Le Pont du Diable: discovering a legend

Are you going to visit the Hérault? Don’t miss visiting the Devil Bridge, the must-see of Occitania!

Visiting the Pont du Diable is a must in southern France. The monument overlooks the Hérault River, the towns of Aniane and Saint-Jean-de-Fos, in Herault. A thousand years old (IXth century), it attracts thousands of swimmers in summer. It is also a must-see site during an escapade in the Hérault Gorges.

Do you want to see this famous medieval bridge of your own eyes? In this article, you will see that this monument reveals many surprises to its guests. Here is our mini-guide to visit the Pont du Diable: history, our visiting tips and practical information, which is essential to know before going there!

History of the Devil Bridge

The Pont du Diable is a work of art and history that crosses the river at the end of the Gorges de l’Hérault. He was said to have been built in the year 873 following an agreement between the Abbé d’Aniane and the Abbé de Gellone ( abbaye de Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert ). The bridge is named after a feudal legend. In fact, it recounts that the Devil liked the night to destroy what men built during the day. To do this, Satan would have disguised himself in a black goat suit to mask his identity. Saint-Guilhem, the monk of Gellone, would have surprised the Devil by destroying the first stones of the bridge.

Instead of fighting in duel with Saint-Guilhem, Satan would have proposed to build the strongest bridge in three days. In return, he had to take the first man's life to walk on the bridge. After the construction of the work, no man would have wanted to sacrifice his life. The legend tells us that Guilhem would have thrown a bone on the other side of the bridge to make his dog run. In anger of being duped, the Devil would have wanted to destroy the bridge. Since the work was as solid as possible, the operation was futile. Satan would then have thrown himself into the water by digging the black gulf. This is how the building received the name Pont du Diable.

Our tips to discover the Pont du Diable

The Devil Bridge has been listed as Historical Monument since 1935. In 1998, he was also ranked on the UNESCO list of heritage monuments of humanity.

When to visit the Devil Bridge?

The Devil Bridge is visiting all year round. However, it is recommended to check the weather before you go. Summer is logically the best time to visit the Devil Bridge. Come on. June and early September the maximum average temperature ranges from 26 °C to 29 °C. Summer is therefore conducive to swimming. In spring and autumn, temperatures range from 20 °C to 25 °C. Winter is mild or even fresh, with 11 °C at 15 °C between November and March. The low season is therefore rather suitable for hiking! Are you coming to visit the Devil Bridge by car? Learn about the parking arrangements!

Free shuttle hours

In the season, free shuttles are flowing from the village of Aniane. Two routes are available:

• Maison du Grand Site, Clamouse, Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert (route 1),
• Maison du Grande Site, Sain-Jean-de-Fos, Argileum (direction 2).

Each route offers a stop at the Pont du Diable. The shuttle buses travel daily in July and August, weekends, holidays and during school holidays the rest of the year. The traffic follows four times:

• 11h - 19hevery 30 minutes: spring holiday (zone C), weekends and holidays from May, June and September,
• 10h - 20h45every 15 minutes, and from 20:45 to 22:45 every 30 minutes: July and August,
• 11h - 17h15every 30 minutes: Toussaint holiday (zone C),
• 10h - 19hevery 30 minutes: July and August (route 2).

The interest of the shuttles is that they prevent the Devil Bridge from overloading cars. There is indeed no parking space along the roads of the Hérault Gorges.

The parking spaces of the Pont du Diable

Parkings were created on the town of Aniane. Parking is free of charge outside the time and day of shuttle traffic. It is nevertheless paid when free shuttles circulate. The price is 5 € per vehicle in low season. From 1 July to 1 September, the price is 6 € per vehicle (car, van, car, camper).

What to see and what to do at the Devil Bridge?

Are you wondering what you're gonna be able to do by visiting the Devil Bridge? Know that there is a whole range of activities to be done around the bridge.

The swimming

By guaranteeing yourself at the Aniane car park, you can reach the bridge on foot. At the bottom, a pebble beach allows you to swim in the Hérault. The river seems to flow from the bottom of the deep and clutched gorges. It seems to be quiet and peaceful in the summer, but the Hérault can become a real torrent during the cevenol episodes.

Canoeing or canyoning

In the summer, between June and September, you can also rent a canoe or kayak to explore the Devil Bridge from the river. Several renters offer different routes, including the passage under the Devil Bridge. To descend the river into canoe-kayak allows to explore several things at a time: the gorges of the Hérault, the “masts of giants” and the cliffs that seem to plunge straight into the water. Canoes are available every day without reservation, on the beach of the Devil Bridge. On the canoe site of the Pont du Diable, it is however possible to book a boat by telephone at a specific time. The price is 18 € per hour.

For more sensations, you can opt for a canyoning or climbing session. A beautiful way to discover the Devil Bridge in a playful way with jumps, slides and narrow parades! Whatever your level, you can opt for this activity that will delight small and large in adrenaline.

What to do nearby?

The Pont du Diable is located close to sites that are also essential.

The cave of Clamouse

Site ranked by the Ministry of Ecology, Clamouse allows to discover the underground environment of the Hérault Gorges. The visit is accessible by free shuttles from Aniane or Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert.

Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert

Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert is a beautiful medieval village, ranked second on the list of most beautiful villages in France. The village is at the starting point of many hikes. To be seen on site, the St. Lawrence Church, the prison tower, the Place de la Liberté and the Antan Museum.

Argileum

Argileum, on the commune of Saint-Jean-de-Fos, is a space dedicated to pottery. It is a 19th-century workshop, reconstructed to commemorate the long past of this potter village. If you want to discover the world of artisanal pottery, don’t miss this place!

The circus of Mourèze and Lake Salagou

What to do after visiting the Devil Bridge? Just 30 kilometers west, there is an absolutely must-have site of the Hérault: the circus of Mourèze. A bird from Salagou Lake, it is an incredible natural site where to go hiking. The circus offers beautiful rock formations, as carved by erosion. Separated from the circus by Mount Liausson, Lake Salagou is a reservoir of the homonymous dam: it offers an ideal setting to swim, rest and practice water sports.

How do I go to the Devil Bridge?

Several solutions are possible to visit the Devil Bridge.

• By car from Montpellier : take the A750 direction Millau, go out to Gignac and take the D32 to Aniane.
• From Millau : take the A75 to Saint-Félix-de-Lodez and then borrow the A750 to Gignac, continue on the D32 to Aniane.
• From Béziers : take the A75 to Saint-Félix-de-Lodez.
• By bus : Line 668 (Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert) allows to go to Aniane.

Parking (free out of season) allows to park in Aniane for 5 € to 6 € per day.

Where to stay near the Devil Bridge?

Would you like to visit the Pont du Diable and sleep nearby? There is a fairly large offer of accommodation in the neighbouring municipalities of the Devil Bridge. These include Saint-Jean-de-Fos, Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert and Aniane, Puéchabon. Around these villages, there are guest rooms, five hotels and five campsites.