Randonnée des crêtes de Lautrec

A hike in the region Midi-Pyrénées

Welcome to Cocagne country (in French, "pays de Cocagne" means "country of abundance"), for a visit of one of the Most beautiful Villages in France: Lautrec. This village as the same name as the famous painter Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. In fact, it is the cradle of this noble family. It is also the name given to a vine produced in this country: l'ail rose de Lautrec. This hike will lead you to the discovery of this typical village and its viscounty, a place which has kept the past alive in the present activities.

The route is from a paper "Lautrec - les randonnées nature" available in the tourist office of the village (in French).

Information

General points

• Geographic situation. District : Lautrec (department Tarn)
                                     Road map with
• Starting point : Roundabout near Mercadial place.
• The length of the stroll is estimated at 5,7 Km and the walk duration is about 2 h .
• The stroll is not marked out or only partially
• Stroll form : loop
• Stroll relief : hilly (alt. mini = 250 m ; alt. maxi = 360 m)
• Maintenance : frequent (brushwood clearing at least annual)
• Exposure : open (a sun protection might be foreseen)

Noteworthy places

Calvaire de la Salette. Situated over the windmill, the calvary is at 328 meters. From there, one can overview the village and the plain of Castres. You can also use an orientation table.

Moulin de la Salette. The mill of Salette is at the top of the village. It was restored in 1997 by a journeyman carpenter native of Lautrec. A mill occupied the same place as far back as 1396.

Moulin pastelier. In the neighbourhood of the mill of Salette, the pastel mill presents the history of cultivation and exploitation of pastel (Isatis Tinctoria), which produces an intense blue dye. This plant made the country wealthy.

Porte fortifiée de la Caussade. The fortified gate of Caussade was one of the eight doors of the city. The fortification around the village was built during the XIIIth century. It remains only some vestiges as the gate of Caussade.

Collégiale Saint-Rémy. Monument from the XIVth century.

Place des Halles. The market place goes back to the XIVth century. In the past, there was a stone hall with a banal oven. From this time, it only remains the central well.

Lavoir Saint-Rémy. This laundry was built on the edge of the ancient Roman way, in a location which was the site of the first inhabitants of Lautrec. The laundry has been restored several times these last years.

Maps

IGN 2243 E, Carto Exploreur 81 Ouest.