Hidden in the garrigue outside of Sauve, France the Mer des Rochers (Sea of Rock) is a sprawling geological wonderland nearly alien to the rest of the country.

Looking like a harsh lunar landscape if it had more vegetation, the Mer des Rochers is laced with a maze of tight little trails criss-crossing through tall stacks of stark boulders. Yet even though the landscape looks a bit inhospitable, there was once a great deal of human activity in the area, the remnants of which can still be found along the trails. Thanks to the “terra rossa” (“red soil”), a typical south red clay soil excellent for farming, terraces and houses were built, grapes and celtis were planted, and the area became a prosperous medieval community. With the modernization of agriculture, the people moved away from the rocky area, but the remains of a crude castle can still be found nearby.

Today the Mer des Rochers is open to hikers looking for otherworldly landscapes mixed with a bit of medieval ruin. However visitors should be forewarned that the hike to the site is a bit tough and there are a number of cavities among the crags, so special care should be taken.