La Tour de Masse

Walk : quite easy MB : quite easy Riding : slightly difficult Ski : impossible Handicapped : slightly difficult

Earth : panorama Patrimony : Middle Ages Patrimony : Renaissance

	La Tour de Masse
Office de tourisme Espalion - http://www.ot-espalion.fr, contact : ot-espalion@wanadoo.fr

Lodging

Communal Lodging of Espalion

In the heart of the historic centre, near Vieux Palais. Any services, leisure activities and shops. Opened all year long. 28 beds on both shelters. Handicapped accesses.

Contact and address :
21, rue Arthur Canel ou 5, rue Saint-Joseph, 12500 Espalion
Tel. : 05.65.51.10.30 , 06.77.58.53.08

VALVVF Le Rouergue

"Villages Vacances Familles" offer cheap family accomodation in France. VVF Le Rouergue has been associated with the theme "Birds discovery" by LPO, the French association for birds preservation.

Contact and address :
66, route de Saint-Pierre, 12500 Espalion
Tel. : 05.65.44.02.15 ; Fax : 05.65.48.06.47
e-mail : pnegrier@valvvf.fr
Village de Vacances Espalion.

Centre d'accueil Les Boraldes

At the edge of Espalion, the lodging center Les Boraldes is furnished with 64 beds. Accommodating only from 10 persons on.

Contact and address :
Route de Saint-Pierre , 12500 Espalion
Tel. : 05.65.48.04.08 , 06.07.27.68.67 ; Fax : 05.65.51.61.14
e-mail : lesboraldes@wanadoo.fr
Hébergement Espalion.

La Halte saint-Jacques

Close to Pont Vieux (Old Bridge) in Espalion, in the recently renovated district of tanneries, 100 meters far from all services (post office, pharmacy, shops, etc.), the Bed and Breakfast La Halte Saint-Jacques welcomes you all year long.

Contact and address :
8, rue du docteur Trémolière, 12500 Espalion
Tel. : 05.65.66.35.61
e-mail : info@halte-saintjacques.com
Gîte d'étape Espalion.

Restoration

Brasserie du Marché

Open daily for lunch and diner in tourist season. The chef cooks mixed salads, gourmet tartines, grills on the slate... Meals for groups and buffets on request. Outside terrace.

Contact and address :
1 Place du marché, 12500 Espalion
Tel. : 05.65.44.07.50
e-mail : info@brasserie-espalion.com
Brasserie Espalion.

Shop

Joaquim Durao

Sale and Rent Bicycles and mountain bike.

Contact and address :
3 Place Frontin, 12500 Espalion
Tel. : 05.65.48.02.36

Association

Comité Départemental de la Randonnée Pédestre de l'Aveyron

17, rue Aristide Briand, 12000 Rodez
Tel. : 05.65.75.54.61 ; Fax : 05.65.75.55.71
e-mail : crdp12@wanadoo.fr
www.aveyronsport.com/cdrp12

A hike in the region Midi-Pyrénées

A stroll from Renaissance style Flaujac fort to the Tour de Masse, attic of bishopric of Aubrac, finished by a visit through the typical village of Flaujac and its Romanesque church. An excursion on the hills around Flaujac, which offers a beautiful panorama of the Lot valley.

1- Come trought the fort by the main door (West door), cross the interior courtyard, go out by the East door and follow the little road on your left side up to the cross.
2- Pass the cross on the left side, follow the track wich gets round the farm. Continue to the ascent in the wood and follow the track edging by the higth wall. Reach the plateau, continue on the farme road up to the road of Plô de Masse.
3- Take the road on your right up to the cross ( you will see a cross on your right-hand side).
4- Take the track edging by the box tree on the left of the crucifix. Go down the valley, far as the crossing. Follow the road on your left side during 10m. Take straight on a large track.
5- At the first crossing track, go down on the hillside through the ancient terrace wich overlooks Flaujac. Come through the two houses.
6- Take the tarred track, continue up to the cross. Take on the left toward the little road. Keep close the cemetery, cross through Flaujac, typical village with narrow streets. Pass in front of the Romanesque church and continue straight as far the door of Flaujac fort.

Information

General points

Geographic situation. District : Espalion (department Aveyron)
Road map with
Starting point : Fort of Flaujac.
The length of the stroll is estimated at 6 Km and the walk duration is about 1 h 45 mn.
The stroll is not marked out or only partially
Stroll form : loop
Stroll relief : hilly (alt. mini = 350 m ; alt. maxi = 550 m)
Maintenance : regular (right brushwood clearing)
Exposure : varied (both covered and uncovered areas)

Special conditions

Access limitation for riders. At the begining of the 2 section, trees with lower branches, will force you to dismount.

Noteworthy places

Fort de Flaujac. The Fort of Flaujac is a peculiar building by its trapezoidal form measuring 71 m in its length. Very high, built out of installed stones, it is entirely crowned on all its faces by a belt of machicolation. Two doors, one in the West, the other in the East, make it possible to penetrate there. Only the door of the Western entry has preserved its loophole and the grooves of its harrow. This strengthened building sheltered the village by girdling it of a wall built in 1442. A ditch was dug there in 1595.

Tour de Masse. Attic-tower, built by the monks of Aubrac to the XV century. The terraces all arround were formerly exploited (vines, fruit trees). This private property is not allowed to be visited.

Maps

Carto Exploreur 12 Nord .

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La Tour de Masse
(code number : ESPAL0100E)