Road tour : roman and gothic churches

Saint Martin de Cormières

(To visit the church, ask Mrs or Mr Agrifoul for the key, in the house facing the church, with wooden stairs and ramp.)

Built as a roman church, renovated in the 15th century, it depended on Camboulas before the 10th century. It is now a gothic building almost entirely preserved. With a unique nave, the church has three bays, a choir and its general look resembles the vaulted farms of Causse.

The tower has two bells and is accessible through the back door of the church. There are four chapels and the nicest one, on the right, is dedicated to Notre Dame de la Salette. The coat of arms of France suggest a construction contemporary to François d'Estaing, bishop of Rodez from 1501 to 1529. Next to the entry door, a lime tree of Sully was planted under Henri IV.

Go back on the road D29 to Arques. (Be careful when you go left to take the D29).

Arques

To visit the church, ask Mr. Casimir for the key (Ex-petrol station).
The original church was the previous priory church of Notre Dame d'Arques, was dependent on the bishop of Rodez, and dedicated to St Michel. It was donated to the Abbey of Conques in 1079. In 1250, it was home to an hospital of the Order of St Jean de Jérusalem, which was then sold to the bishop of Rodez.
The current church was built in 1560, its bell tower in 1571, in gothic style. Inside, there is an altarpiece decorated with statues of St Roch and St Firmin dated between the 17th and 18th century. Don't miss, near the entrance, a lime tree of Sully.

Continue on road D29, to "Ségur". Before Ségur, turn left on the D95 to "St Agnan".

Saint Agnan or Saint Chine de Ségur

Great roman building of the 12th century, the choir loft was rebuilt in 1440 and the bell tower dates back to the 15th century. The gate is roman. You can find comments and explanations in the church about its many interesting assets: holy water font, sarcophagus from the 5th century, altarpiece.

Take the same road D29 to Ségur. In the village, go right to the "centre ville" and visit the village.

Ségur

Sécurus locus means « Safe place ». It was originally a castle of the Counts of Rodez, built nearby the Viaur. The church of St Pierre was the old chapel of the castle, hence its prevailing position.
Roman building transformed during the 15th century.
The village became a stronghold around 1368. In 1491, a high school hosted 300 pupils. The road Rodez-Millau increased the economic activity. Visit the church to discover a Carolingian choir's balustrade, in the last chapel on the left. It decorated a niche above the altar

In the village, take road D95 to Prades de Salars. Cross the road D911 and continue on the road D535 to Prades.

Prades de Salars

The church was the seat of a priory of the Abbey of Conques.
The village was devasted in the 15th century by the Routiers de Rodrigue de Villandrado. The church was rebuilt in the 19th century with its old bell tower, of 1542, with an arrow at the top.
Dieudonné de Prades, famous troubadour, was a canon-workman of the Cathedral of Rodez. His name is on the list of witnesses of the foundation stone ceremony, in 1277, run by the bishop of Rodez, Raymond de Calmont.

Continue on the road D535, till the road D993 where you turn left to Salles-Curan.

Salles Curan

Previous summer residence of the bishops of Rodez, in the Middle Ages it was a fortified town. Several parts of the castle were sold to the bishop Vivian de Boyer (episcopacy from 1240 to 1274) who rebuilt the castle. His successor bought the church in 1282, fortified the place, and from that time, it became his summer residence. Salles-Curan 's magnificent remains show how generous the bishops were: the castle, rebuilt in 1445; the gothic church of the 15th century; the old granary of the 15th century, with Renaissance windows.
The church style is of the Midi, and, under the episcopacy of Guillaume de la Tour d'Oliergues, the works lasted from 1452 to 1455. The church was built for the bishop, his house and his chapter.
Gothic church with a unique and large nave, with lateral chapels inside the abutments, its unique gate is preceded on the outside by a large set of granite stairs. The last step is guarded by two statues of lions, looking peaceful (1552). Above the gate is the coat of arms of François d'Estaing (1504-1529).
Visit the stables (1510), the stained glass windows of the 15th century, the Virgin of the 14th century, the procession Cross of the 15th century.
The current castle still has the gate and the coat of arms of Guillaume de la Tour.
A line of three towers used to flank the façade, but only the first one remains. Salles Curan is home of the poet and painter Eugène Viala (1859-1913), bard of Lévézou.

Go back on the road D993 to Pont-de-Salars, then turn left (after 1 km) on the touristic road of the "Vernhes" t reach the Lake of Pareloup. Back to the D993, until the D911 where you turn left to Pont-de-Salars. when you start going down to the village, turn right to La Chapelle de Salars.

The chapel of Salars, 12th century

This chapel used to be called St Martin de Salars. The first sanctuary, built to replace a pagan cult place of workship, is probably of Wisigothic and Merovingian times.
The chapel was probably the birthplace of Pont-de-Salars. It was renovated in the 15th century, and is still in use. It is a pilgrimage for the inhabitants of Pont de Salars on Pentecost.

Reach road D911, cross the bridge and the village: you're back to your starting point.

Detailed list of the main religious buildings

-the gothic basilica, the market and the oratoire of Ceignac (15th-16th century)

-the church of Saint Amans in Magrin (14th century) and its fresco, township of Calmont

-the gothic church (14th-15th century) and oratoire (1635) in Canet de Salars

-the church of Saint Sauveur de Grandfuel and its reliquary of the "Sainte Epine", township of Comps la Grand Ville

-the church of Comps and its baroc altarpiece (1660)

-the church of St Amans ( statue of the Virgin) in Salmiech

-the church of Carcenac-Salmiech in Carcenac

-the belltower and the fresco of the old church of Flavin

-the church of Saint Georges de Camboulas (14th century), township of Pont de salars

-the chapel of Salars (12th century) in Pont de Salars

-the church of Poujol in Camboulas (13th century), township of Pont de Salars

-the 15th century church in Salles Curan

-the Templar cross of the Canabières, township of Salles Curan

-the roman church of saint Agnan and its sarcophagus in Ségur

-the sanctuary of Bergounhoux (18th century), township of Ségur

-the Templars tower (13th century) in Laclau, township of Vezins

-the church of Fijaguet, township of Villefranche de Panat

-the chapel of Pasturalh in Saint Lazare. Township of Agen d'Aveyron

-the church of Notre Dame d'Aures, township of Arvieu

-the church of the 14th and 15th centuries of Cassagnes Bégonhès, with its bell in bronze, listed monument.

-the roman church of Saint Laurent du Lévézou