Randonnée autour de Belcastel

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

Earth : panorama Patrimony : Middle Ages

	Randonnée autour de Belcastel
Office de Tourisme de Belcastel - http://www.mairie-belcastel.fr, contact: belcastel@mairie-belcastel.fr

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

This hike, situated on the hillside of the Aveyron valley, will make you discover the very beautiful medieval village of Belcastel. This village is included in the list of the More Beautiful Villages in France (Plus Beaux Villages de France).

1- From the Tourist Office, pass the ancien bridge on your right. Continue on the road up to the church Sainte-Madeleine.
2- Take the right track behind the church. Continue up to the next crossing. Take the left track, and at the next crossing continue on the right track up to the road.
3- Once at the road, turn to the right and go up to the bridge. After the bridge, turn to right. Continue on the road, and about 100 m farther, you will find a track on your left.
4- Take the track, and go up to the farm of Magabies. Continue straight ahead. At the next crossing, take the right track, and go up to the farm of Mas-Bas.
5- Continue on the road and at the beginning of a hairpin bend, turn to the right to get back to the road D285. At the crossroads, continue straight ahead to come back to the Tourist Office.

Information

General points

Geographic situation. District : Belcastel (department Aveyron, canton Rignac)
Road map with
Starting point : Tourist Office of Belcastel.
The length of the stroll is estimated at 5,6 Km and the walk duration is about 2 h .
The stroll is marked out all along
Stroll form : loop
Stroll relief : hilly (alt. mini = 400 m ; alt. maxi = 505 m)
Maintenance : regular (right brushwood clearing)
Exposure : varied (both covered and uncovered areas)

Noteworthy places

Vieux pont. The Old Bridge over the river Aveyron was built in the XVth century by Alzias de Saunhac. A cross stands in the middle.

Eglise Sainte-Madeleine. The church Sainte-Madeleine dates back to the first half of the XVth century. It shelters Alzias de Saunhac's grave, baron of Belcastel and seneschal of Beaucaire, who ordered the construction of the bridge and the church of Belcastel.

Roc d'Anglars. This is a cliff dominating the valley of Aveyron, on which was erected a fort in the Xth century that was used as a fortified outpost protecting Belcastel's castle. During the Revolution, this fort would have been a refuge for local non-juring priests. It is in ruins nowaday. The site of the Virgin of Lourdou, with its stations of the Cross, is situated below.

Château de Belcastel. The castle was built in the XIth century, the keep and the chapel dating from the XIVth. From 1974 till 1982, the architect Fernand Pouillon has restored it completely.

Maps

Carto Exploreur 12 Nord, IGN 3990 O.

Bibliography

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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Randonnée autour de Belcastel
(code number : RIGBEL101A)