Cascade de la Vis: a paradise just a stone's throw from Montpellier

After leaving Montpellier on the road to Ganges, it took us an hour to reach Saint-Laurent-le-Minier, home of the Vis waterfall. As you enter the village, you cross a stone bridge, while below, the waterfall appears like a mirage. Yet the image is very real. Here we are faced with a natural treasure we never knew existed. The water of the Vis river gushes from the cascade, crystal clear and turquoise. In the heat of the day, you'll be happy to swim in it, despite the 17°C water temperature. South of the Cévennes, this is a beautiful site, but part of it is privately owned, particularly the northern part, which includes the palm grove and the 17th-century château.

The Vis river is 58 km long and flows through the Cévennes, Gard and Hérault. You can find it on a hike in the Cirque de Navacelles, but you can also follow it directly from the Cascade de la Vis. There are several routes of varying difficulty. For example, there's a 9.5km trail leading to the Grotte d'Anjeau. It's a loop through chestnut and rosehip forests, where, depending on the season, you can sample wild strawberries and cherries. The gradient is quite steep at the start of the walk, but the scenery is well worth the effort.

⭐ Villa Mamamia

Villa Mamamia is a holiday home with 3 spacious and comfortable bedrooms. Appreciated for its facilities, this accommodation is a great place to stay in summer as it has a swimming pool, barbecue and terrace to share a meal outside with family or friends. It is a 10-minute drive from the Vis waterfall.

📍 Location: the Cascade de la Vis** is in the commune of Saint-Laurent-le-Minier.

🚌 Getting there: from Montpellier, allow 1 hour by car. There are two car parks, one free at the entrance to the town and the other with a charge of €8.

👉 In summer, in order to protect this natural site, the municipality has decided to reduce the capacity by closing the first car park, so be careful, as parking is prohibited along the road, and motorists who park incorrectly are systematically fined.