Du Dolmen de Changefège à la chapelle de San Chaousou

A hike in the region Languedoc-Roussillon

A hike on Causse de Changefège (limestone plateau) to discover its prehistoric past with many panoramas on Haute Vallée du Lot and on the city of Mende.

Information

General points

• Geographic situation. District : Balsièges (department Lozère, canton Mende)
                                     Road map with
• Starting point : Hamlet of Changefège (take the first road to the right, large car park at 100 m).
• The length of the stroll is estimated at 8,7 Km and the walk duration is about 3 h .
• The stroll is marked out all along
• Stroll form : loop
• Stroll relief : hilly (alt. mini = 890 m ; alt. maxi = 980 m)
• Maintenance : regular (right brushwood clearing)
• Exposure : varied (both covered and uncovered areas)

Special conditions

Access limitation for riders. Attention, a tree lying across the track on the section n°3.

Access limitation for bikers. Attention, a lying across the track on the section n°3.

Access limitation for handicapped. The persons with reduced mobility can go up to the dolmen of Changefège and return to the hamlet (small road then small path with not too much difficulties).

Noteworthy places

La Chapelle San Chaousou. Cave transformed into chapel. This habitat dates from 2500 years B.C., It is ideally situated below the limestone plateau, shielded from the wind and above the Lot. Presence of a receptacle to keep rainy water. It is said that the water collected in this receptacle cured people affected by deafness and by blindness. Perhaps the hermitage situated at the near side served as watchtower for bishops of Mende. It was destroyed during the Revolution.

Le Dolmen de Changefège. The dolmen of Changefège, also called "La Tuile", dates from the Iron Age (between 3500 and 2000 B.C.). Dolmens were used as graves by Ferrérien people who came from Bas-Languedoc. It belongs to a set of 12 dolmens. The last excavations would have been made by a certain Jules Mazaudier in 1907 (two card photos). It is registered on the list of the Classified Sites.

Le Lion de Balsièges. Massive rock dominating the village of Balsièges, in the National Forest of Mende. It is registered on the list of the Classified Sites.

Maps

2638 Est, Carto Explorer 48 Nord.

Bibliography

Mende et ses environs à pied entre Margeride et Causses. (Coll. Les Départements de France à pied. Fédération Française de la Randonnée Pédestre).