Baie des Vailhès 

With the second stage of our geological exploration of the AOP Terrasses du Larzac, our sound route takes us to the Bay of Vailhès on the shores of Lac du Salagou (a national heritage site).

Now a tourist site, but also protected under its Natura 2000 status, Lac du Salagou is in fact an artificial reservoir originally created to promote agricultural irrigation downstream of the lake.

Its construction in the late 1960s profoundly altered the landscape. 

Again, Shona guides you in discovering new rocks and formations that can be seen around the lake. Take a moment to close your eyes and imagine this landscape with its contrasting colours

(you will find many photos on the internet or on the tourist office website : https://www.destination-salagou.fr/ ).  

Jean-Claude Bousquet, a renowned geologist who has deciphered the Hérault’s wine-growing landscapes for many years, sheds light on the geological formations that enmesh the landscape around the lake. The diversity of these landscapes makes it possible to travel

geologically through time in an exceptional way - tropical seas, the volcanic era, the erosion of limestones, dolomites - a real trip back in time!

These geological upheavalsare found locally in the vineyards and are reflected in the wine produced, where differences can be observed even when parcels of land are very close

to each other. Winegrowers therefore take into account their soils and subsoils when composing their wines, as testified by Pierre Natoli.

Credits, in order of appearance

Shona Gravat-Hodan, Project Officer for the Geopark Terres d'Hérault project (Département de l'Hérault, a sub-regional public body)

Jean-Claude Bousquet, Geologist. He is the author of “Terroirs viticoles. Paysages et géologie en Languedoc.” (Wine terroirs. Landscapes and geology in the Languedoc.)

Pierre Natoli, winegrower at Mas des Quernes, Montpeyroux 

This podcast was directed by Alexandre Héraud, with support from his team at Écran Sonore, in particular Vincent Decque, editor.

The podcast was produced for the series Wine Routes, and can be found on our web application "Itinérances en Terrasses du Larzac" : https://visit.terrasses-du-larzac.com/ This web app was developed in partnership with Vinoways, a Montpellier-based start-up. It was financed with the support of Occitanie Region, and European LEADER programme funds administered by Pays Cœur d'Hérault (destination Vineyards and Discoveries "Languedoc Heart of Hérault"). 

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