This experimental study concerns the creeping flow of a yield stress fluid around a disc perpendicular to the flow direction. Carbopol gel, a non-thixotropic yield stress fluid, accurately characterised from the rheometric and structural standpoints, was used. A very slow flow velocity was imposed so that inertial effects were negligible compared to plastic effects, and viscous effects were substantially smaller than plastic effects. The influence of the thickness-to-diameter ratio on the drag coefficient was evaluated. These measurements allowed to predict the minimum yield stress for keeping a disc in suspension in a yield stress fluid. PIV was used to visualise and to quantify the velocity fields. The shape and the size of both the static rigid and the sheared zones surrounding the disc were estimated. The experimental results were compared with the numerical results currently available. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.