Just 15 kilometers from Nîmes, on the way to Alès, the village of La Calmette lies in the heart of the garrigue on a hill overlooking the plain. This historic village has a rich heritage to discover.
History of La Calmette
An ancient Roman villa, La Calmette owes its name to the Latin words "collis" and "meta", meaning "hill" and "boundary". Exposed to numerous attacks due to its strategic position near Nîmes, the town began protecting itself in the 13th century with a wall, a fort and a tower. Mentioned in 1211 under the name of "Fort de la Calmette", almost nothing remains of the fortifications today, but the original structure of the village has been preserved.
In the 16th century, as the Protestant Reformation gained ground around Nîmes, Fort de la Calmette became the scene of incessant fighting between Catholics and Protestants. During the Resistance, a battle took place at the crossroads of the Sommières and Alès roads, and bullet holes are still visible on some of the village walls.
La Calmette's heritage
The Protestant Temple
Near Nîmes, on the road to the Cévennes, La Calmette converted to Protestantism in 1547. Thanks to the efforts of the Protestant community and the town council, the temple, with its remarkable roof structure, has been listed as a Monument Historique since 1991.
Saint Julien l'Hospitalier church
La Calmette's first church, built in 1020 under the direction of the CENDRARS abbey, was rebuilt in stone. Completely destroyed in the 19th century, its materials were reused to build the present church (1860-1863). The church is home to a rich heritage of paintings and glasswork, as well as a 17th-century stone altar from the former church.
Le Moulin de La Calmette
The La Calmette mill, a witness to the village's agricultural past, is an emblematic site. This traditional mill was used to grind grain to produce flour, essential to the daily life of the inhabitants. In addition to the traditional mill, the village is also home to a windmill typical of the region. Using the force of the wind to drive its millstones, this windmill is an example of human ingenuity in exploiting available natural resources.
Visit La Calmette
Stroll through the narrow streets of La Calmette, explore the historic remains and admire the village's architectural heritage. The hiking trails around the mill offer beautiful walks through the surrounding countryside, ideal for a picnic or a photo shoot.
