Autumn 2022

of them decorated with scallop shells, the
pilgrims emblem, and picturesque ancient
houses lean against each under their sunbaked
tiled roofs.
Despite the name, you won’t see a desert,
the name comes from the fact that not many
people lived there centuries ago. Today it
gets rather more crowded, especially in peak
summer months, though it barely has more
than 250 permanent residents.
Step back in time
A stone’s throw from the village you’ll find
another incredible monument – the medieval
Pont du Diable which arches high above a
steep gorge. Legend has it that yet again
Guilhem was the hero. The bridge was taking
so long to build that Guilhem did a deal
with the devil who agreed to get the job
done in return for the first soul to cross after
completion. Guilhem sent a dog across and
the devil, in a fit of pique tried to destroy the
bridge and fell into the gorge below which
became known as the Gouffre Noir (the black
abyss). To this day, pilgrims and locals crossing
the bridge throw a stone into the gorge – to
keep the devil on the bottom!
Embedded in the hills are the remains of a
Visigoth fortress and an old mule path, trod for
centuries by pilgrims and today part of a hike
that begins at the edge of the village on the
rue du Bout-du-Monde - the street of the end
of the world. And you can take a detour to visit
the ruins of the Giant’s castle, a very peaceful
spot with fabulous views.
Janine Marsh visited Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert
whilst on a CroisiEurope Rhone River tour
from Sète to Arles, which includes excursions
of the most iconic destinations en route.
Azincourt1415.com
24 Rue Charles VI
62310 Azincourt
and discover the past at
Azincourt 1415 historic centre
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