![200 Einwohner leben in Mourèze, auf einer natürlichen Festung / © Foto: Georg Berg](https://tellerrandstories.de/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/ek_3945-lodeve-france-because-eyeturner-georg-berg-1024x683.jpg)
As early as the 10th century, from the Roc Castel (castle rock), one could not only monitor the border between the neighboring towns of Lodève and Beziers, but also the former road that connected the Hérault river basin with the heights of the Orb.
![Ausgangspunkt zum Cirque de Mourèze ist der gleichnamige Ort / © Foto: Georg Berg](https://tellerrandstories.de/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/ek_3921_2x22_1221-eyeturner-georg-berg-pano-moureze-2jgfrtd-eyeturner-georg-berg-1024x416.jpg)
Cirque de Mourèze
The dolomitic basin has been formed by natural forces and is characterized by a labyrinth of more than 70 idiosyncratically shaped rock statues. The softer parts of the rock have been washed out by erosion and only the harder dolomite segments remain. When looking at these natural sculptures, however, the suspicion creeps in that previous generations may have had a bit of a hand in them. The imaginative names of the stone columns such as Skull, Sphinx or Quasimodo also suggest this.
![Der Wanderweg führt an Kalksteinsäulen vorbei, die mit ihren Formen die Phantasie auf Reisen schicken / © Foto: Georg Berg](https://tellerrandstories.de/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/ek_3935-moureze-2jgfrxj-eyeturner-georg-berg-1024x683.jpg)
In the village: expressive sculptures from nature
In Mourèze, artist Emmanuel Cometto has his studio, which he calls Atmosterre. Several works made of driftwood stand in various places in the village. Particularly expressive is the cross in front of the church of Sainte Marie. Cometto says of himself that he contemplates the shapes of weathered wood until they find their purpose. Since he does not process the driftwood further, but leaves it in its form, which has been sanded down by nature, it is hard and very durable.
![Vor der Kirche von Mourèze steht ein Kreuz, das der Künstler Emmanuel Cometto aus unbearbeitetem Holz geschaffen hat / © Foto: Georg Berg](https://tellerrandstories.de/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/ek_3914-moureze-2jgfrtm-eyeturner-georg-berg-1024x683.jpg)
![Das Innere der Kirche Mariä Himmelfahrt in Mourèze wirkt trotz seiner geringen Größe recht imposant. Der siebenteilige Chor mit einer fünfeckigen Apsis stammt aus dem 14. Jahrhundert / © Foto: Georg Berg](https://tellerrandstories.de/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/ek_3917-moureze-2jgfrt8-eyeturner-georg-berg-1024x683.jpg)
![Der Glockenturm hat die Ausmaße eines Bergfrieds und war Teil der umfangreichen Befestigungsanlagen des Dorfes / © Foto: Georg Berg](https://tellerrandstories.de/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/ek_3913-moureze-2jgfrrx-eyeturner-georg-berg-1024x683.jpg)
![Südlich von Mourèze in der Mitte eines bekannten Weinbaugebietes erhebt sich der Pic de Vissou / © Foto: Georg Berg](https://tellerrandstories.de/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/ek_3975-moureze-2jgfrxm-eyeturner-georg-berg-1024x683.jpg)
![Nördlich von Mourèze wurde in den 1960er Jahren der Stausee von Salagou angelegt / © Foto: Georg Berg](https://tellerrandstories.de/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/ek_3976-moureze-2jgft0d-eyeturner-georg-berg-1024x683.jpg)