Lodging
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
Creacuir
For the pilgrim, the sight on the old city of Saint-Côme remains intact. Being also a pilgrim, I was amazed when I discovered this village. I decided to settle down here as a leather craftman continuing a tradition which goes back to the Middle Ages.
Contact and address :
3 Place Porte Neuve, 12500 Saint-Côme-d'Olt
Tel. : 05.65.48.10.12
, 06.74.08.53.61
e-mail : stalin.jp@free.fr
www.aveyron-creacuir.com
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
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A hike in the region Midi-Pyrénées
In the Lot valley, the medieval town of Saint-Côme-d'Olt is famous for its church with a twisted bell tower. The houses and the narrow alleys in the centre of the village present a circular arangement in which the central area is occupied by the church and an ancient castle used as City Hall. This major stage on the road of Santiago de Compostela is in the list of the Most Beautiful Villages of France. In this hike, you will enjoy panoramas, particularly a beautiful sight on the convent of Malet.
1- From the City Hall, walk past the church and take the street "rue du Four" on the left. Pass the porch and continue straight ahead in the street of Terral. Go up to the crossroads.
2- Turn to the left in the narrow road which rises up to the cemetery (Chemin de Costefolles). Turn to the right and continue on this road about 300m.
3- Take the track on your left, which is tarred in its beginning. At the crossing, take the left track and continue up to the hamlet of Rigaldie.
4- Turn to the right and cross the hamlet. Take the first track to the right.
5- Continue quite straight ahead. At the crossing, take the left track and go up to the hamlet of Martillergues.
6- Turn to the right, cross the hamlet and take the first track on your left.
7- In a straight line, leave the main track for a rising path on your right-hand side. Near the hamlet of Cinqpeyres, turn to the right in a bend in hairpin. In the next crossing, take the left track and continue up to the road.
8- Go straight ahead. Go past the road to Grèzes hamlet on your right, and continue up to reach the road D987 from above (the other crossing with the road D987, situated below, is more dangerous as it is in the middle of a bend). Once on the road D987, turn to the left. Just before the bend, take the right road toward Coutarie. Continue on the hillside of the valley of Malet. Leave the road of Coutarie and continue toward Cassagnettes up to reach a track on your left.
9- Take the track and go down toward Saint-Côme.
10- Take the road in front of you. Walk along the stadium and go straight ahead up to the oratory. Turn to the left in the street of Bouisse. At the chapel, turn to the right and continue up to reach the road D987. Cross the road D987 and continue in the street in front of you. Take the second street on your right-hand side (street of Poterne) to get back to the starting point.
Information
General points
- Geographic situation. District : Saint-Côme-d'Olt
(department Aveyron, canton Espalion)
Road map with
 - Starting point : Place of the City Hall, in Saint-Côme-d'Olt.
- The length of the stroll is estimated at 8,7 Km and the walk duration is about 2 h 30 mn.
- The stroll is marked out all along
- Stroll form : loop
- Stroll relief : hilly (alt. mini = 360 m ; alt. maxi = 530 m)
- Maintenance : frequent (brushwood clearing at least annual)
- Exposure : open (a sun protection might be foreseen)
Events and information
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Call for your attention.
In the 8th section, be careful when crossing the road D987 which connects Saint-Côme-d'Olt with Aubrac.
Noteworthy places
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Eglise de Saint-Côme-d'Olt. The current church, with its Gothic style, was built in 1522 on the place of a XIIth century church. It is very typical with its twisted bell tower. About sixty churches showing such a bell tower exist in France.
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Saint-Côme-d'Olt. The historic part of the village is bounded by the former ramparts that correspond to the external walls of the peripheral houses surronded by a small circular boulevard. The city hall is situated in a massive and rectangular castle which goes back to the XVth century.
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L'Ouradou. The word "ouradou" means oratory in Occitan language. The oratory of Saint-Côme-d'Olt dates from 1586. In such a place, pilgrims to Santiago de Compostela stopped and prayed.
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Chapelle Saint-Pierre-de-la-Bouisse. The chapel dates from the XIth century. It was the meeting premises of White Penitents for a long time. It is now a showroom.
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Malet. Because of the southeastern aspect and calcareous clayey soils, terrace vineyards were the traditional culture on the hillside of Malet. A young farmer who lives in Saint-Côme, fascinated by viticulture, recently took up the challenge to come back to this tradition, but with new vines. The name "Coteaux de Malet" was obviously given to the "gouleyant" wine he produces. Nuns of an Ursuline community live in the convent of Malet situated below.
Maps
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Carto Exploreur 12 Nord, IGN 2438 E.
Bibliography
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Les plus beaux villages de l'Aveyron à pied. (2006 - Fédération Française de la Randonnée Pédestre) : 64 p. Réf. ISBN : 2751401139
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