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Sainte Enimie (one of the 'most beautiful villages of France') is 20 kilometres south-west of Mende in the Massif Central.

Set in the dramatic scenery of the Gorges du Tarn, Sainte-Enimie is in a lovely position surrounded by the cliffs that the river has carved over 1000's of years.

Explore Sainte-Enimie

France This Way review: Sainte-Enimie is a lovely village to explore, and more extensive than you would guess from the river below, with the belvedere above the town giving a good view across the whole village and valley.

With its origins dating as far back as the 6th century, the village of Sainte-Enimie we see today falls neatly into two parts: the cafes and shops along the street next to the river, facing across to a ridge on the opposite river bank; and the old town that sprawls up the hill behind.

Bridge in centre of Sainte-Enimie

Visit Saint-Enimie tourist office as your first port of call for details of the guided trail around the town (the individual buildings also have very interesting and informative notices, but these are in French only - and you will need the map to find them in the first place...).

To start exploring, walk onto the stone bridge across the Tarn river. From the bridge you have nice views across the village and along the river. Although the bridge appears very old, and various bridges have stood in this location for the last several hundred years, the current bridge was built at the end of the 19th century after the collapse of the previous bridge.

You can follow the same road (the Route de Meyrueis) a short distance through the southern part of the village, and find viewpoints across the river to the main village. As well as being attractive, the viewpoints also give you an idea about the layout of the village.

 
 

Between the two parts of Sainte-Enimie (behind the cafes at the bottom of the hill) there is a street called La Rue Basse. This was originally the main road between the village and Florac, and originally the buildings were used for stables and storage. With the arrival of tourism in the Gorge du Tarn, several of these have now been converted to gift shops and other small businesses.

From La Rue Basse there are two ancient vaulted passages that give you access to the medieval village.

Within the old town the houses are carved from the local sandstone, and narrow cobbled streets lead you from one fascinating ancient building to the next. Often the paths seem to be part of the rock itself as you climb steps literally hacked into the mountain.

The church in Sainte-Enimie is thought to have been built at the end of the 13th century, although little is known of its early history. In any case, the facade of the church is very plain, in the roman style with an arch for the entrance and a small stained glass window as the only decorative elements. Step inside the church to see the unusual wall decorations.

The highlights in the old town (among others) include the houses on the Place au Beurre and the nearby Halle au Blé (wheat hall). Both are overlooked by charming medieval houses in colombage.

As their historic names suggest, they were named after their function - so the Place au Beurre was where butter made from goats milk was traded, and the Place au Blé was where cereal products were traded - it is interesting to note that only men were allowed into the Place au Blé!

As you explore the centre of Sainte-Enimie you will also notice mention of "échoppes". These are typically small arched entrances that were originally used as shops, that traditionally had a shutter that opened upwards, to provide shelter for the products displayed in the entranceto the shop, and each had a metal sign indicating which trade they offered.

You will also see the ramparts and the Sainte-Madeleine chapel at the top of the village. There was once a Benedictine monastery in the village - the part that now remains is the Chapel of Sainte Madeleine, and is in the roman style typical of the 13th century.

On the slopes beyond Sainte-Enimie you can see the terraces that industrious workers have built on the slopes behind the old village in order to grow produce in the inhospitable environment.

Square in historic village

Attractions nearby

In the surrounding countryside, both in the Gorges du Tarn and the surrounding verdant landscapes and bleak mountains, you will find plenty of peaceful walks where you can enjoy the peace of the countryside, and several other villages that are very beautiful such as Castelbouc and Saint-Chely-du-Tarn.

The small town of Florac is not far east of Sainte-Enimie and a visit is recommended, and along the road between Sainte-Enimie and Florac you should visit the pretty little villages of Quezac and Ispagnac.

Explore elsewhere in the Massif Central. You can find more travel ideas in the Lozere guide and the Languedoc-Roussillon guide.

To make travel arrangements to visit Sainte-Enimie see HERE

Find Sainte-Enimie Hotels and Holiday Rentals

Reserve excursions near Sainte-Enimie

Photos of Sainte-Enimie

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Map of Sainte-Enimie and places nearby

 
 

Places to visit near Sainte-Enimie

Gorges du Tarn

Gorges du Tarn

The cliffs and deep wooded slopes of the Gorges du Tarn make it one of the most lovely places in France to explore

Gorges du Tarn guide
Saint-Chely-du-Tarn

Saint-Chely-du-Tarn

Saint-Chely-du-Tarn is in an idyllic spot within the western part of the Gorges du Tarn

Saint-Chely-du-Tarn guide
Castelbouc

Castelbouc

The tiny village of Castelbouc, in the Gorges du Tarn, is very lovely and in an exceptional riverside location

Castelbouc guide
Montbrun

Montbrun

The small but very pretty village of Montbrun is at the eastern end of the Gorges du Tarn

Montbrun guide
Quezac

Quezac

Quezac is a small village in Lozere with a remarkable medieval bridge

Quezac guide
Ispagnac

Ispagnac

Ispagnac is a pretty village with medieval origins and a roman style church

Ispagnac guide
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Tourist classifications for Sainte-Enimie

Sainte-Enimie is classified as a one of the most beautiful village in France (plus beau villages)

Address: Sainte-Enimie, Florac, Languedoc-Roussillon, 48210, France || GPS coordinates: latitude 44.366, longitude 3.4104

Plan your visit to Sainte-Enimie, Lozere

Sightseeing & tourist attractions to visit nearby

  • Gorges du Tarn: grand site of france
  • Aven Armand (grotte): site of natural beauty (17 km)
  • La Canourgue: village d'etape (17 km)
  • Parc à loups du Gévaudan (wolves): zoo or wildlife park (19 km)
  • Chaos de Nimes-le-Vieux: site of natural beauty (20 km)
  • Maison des vautours (vultures): zoo or wildlife park (23 km)
  • Marvejols: recommended detour (23 km)
  • Mont Lozère: site of natural beauty (27 km)
  • Abîme de Bramabiau: site of natural beauty (28 km)
  • Mont Aigoual: site of natural beauty (30 km)
  • Chaos de Montpellier-le-Vieux: site of natural beauty (31 km)
  • Sainte-Eulalie-d'Olt: most beautiful village (39 km)

Market days in Sainte-Enimie, France

Regular market(s) are held in Sainte-Enimie each Wednesday & Saturday. (Markets are held in the morning unless stated.)

The French version of this page is at Sainte-Enimie (Francais)

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