Abbey of Saint-Hilaire, Saint-Hilaire

This beautiful church adjoins the ruins of the Abbey of Alet. Its area dominates the adjoining cemetery and the main street of the village. It is of southern Gothic style. The interior is remarkable, notably with its beautiful frescoes from the 14th century, in the north side chapel, known as Saint Benoit chapel. The building was built by order of the first Bishop of Alet, in the 14th century. A restoration took place in the 17th century, and an extension in the 18th century.

The cathedral is built on a former Carolingian church, itself on a Gallo-Roman temple. The present building has some elements dating back to the 11th and 12th centuries, but most of the building dates from the 17th period when Louis XIV created the Diocese of Alès to fight the Huguenots.

The church, formerly a cathedral, was consecrated in 1096 by Urbain II, although it was not completed. The nave dates from this Romanesque period. The construction of the transepts was completed in the 13th century, when the choir was also built, and its roundabout was added in the 14th century. The Romanesque portal was completely rebuilt in the 19th century during the restoration of Viollet-le-Duc.