Road tour : heritage and villages of Ségala oriental

Arvieu

This village, crossed by the Céor, is rich of a Gallo-Roman past (left bank). Three castles were built in Arvieu:

- the oldest castle was built in place of the old monastery, and its chapel was replaced by the current church.

- the Castle of Montfranc built in 1787,

- the Castle of Saint Louis (19th century) is nowadays home of the town council, and possesses two turrets. 

Leave Arvieu in direction of Caplongue and Salmiech through road D 577.
When crossing the D 25 road, take the direction of Salmiech, on the right.
After the village, take left to Peyrelevade, on a small road in the woods.
After a 1 km steep road, cross Peyrelevade and take right (dirt track) (50 m).

Peyrelevade

On the township of Salmiech, a peculiar rocky ensemble, looking like a mushroom, catches the eye. Is it only a rocky chaos, or made from human hand?

Reach the road D 25 and Salmiech. At the top of the village, on the left, lies the St Amans church.

Salmiech

Village full of flowers and origin of the Road of Salt. Seat of a priory church depending of the abbey of Vabres, the abbey of St-Victor de Marseille, then of the Chartreuse of Rodez. The lords of Landorre lived in the Castle, which used to be a strong hold.

In the heart of the village, discover the base of the castle of the barons of Landorre, the meander of Céor, and the church St Firmin. This building, too small to become the parish church, was built in 1864 on the remains of the castle, and is home of the Museum of Rural Cartage since 1980. More than a thousand assets are exhibited, around three area: the nave, the mezzanine and the sacristy. (Free entry)

Saint Amans

Built in the 18th century, established as the parish church in the 19th century. Visit the Eucarist of the 11th century, the wooden Virgin of the 17th century, the carved altar piece of the 18th century and a relic of St Eutrope.

When you leave the church, turn right on the road D 641 to Comps-La-Grand-Ville. On the crossroads, turn left and take the road D 82. Continue to the abbey of Bonnecombe on a narrow and sinuous road. After 3 kms, take the hairpin bend road on the left to the Abbey.

Comps la grand ville

Seat of the Abbey of Bonnecombe, built in the 12th century by Raymond V, count of Toulouse, and Hugues, bishop of Rodez. It was very prosperous until the Revolution.

The parish church has a baroque altarpiece made in 1660 for the Abbey of Bonnecombe (listed building since 1938), which was transported by the priest Mignonac in 1806 in Comps to protect it from the thieves (the choir of the church was too small). A tabernacle coming from another altarpiece of Bonnecombe replaced it and was restored in 1965.

Abbey of Notre dame de Bonnecombe

The large entrance gate opens on the old Bonnecombe abbey and its set of restored buildings, a cloister, a church, gardens...
In the middle of the 12th century, the cenobites settled in Bonnecombe in order to detach themselves from the outside world, to lead a life of self-sacrifice. Bonnecombe, situated deep in the Gorge du Viaur, in the forest of Lafon, was the ideal place for retreat, and this cloistered order received many donations as well as the protection from the Bishop of Rodez.

The place became a cistercian monastery consecratedin 1167 by the Priest Gausbert of the Abbey of Candeil in Albigeois. The Abbey was closed in 1792 and its estate sold by the government.
The Bishop of Rodez bought the buildings back in 1876 to the Mines de Carmaux company, and gave it to the cistercian monks of Aiguebelle. These monks started the restoration of the site and the church, consecrated in 1891.

The Abbey was home to Trappist monks, then Orthodox monks in 1965 who left 3 years later. From 1968 to 1980, a rehabilitation center was installed in the Abbey. In 1980, ten members of the "communauté de l'Arche" settled there, and three years later, eighty additional members had joined them.

Nowadays, the members of the "communauté des Béatitudes" live in the Abbey, working towards its renovation.

(Guided tour available).

Take the road to Comps, road D 82, to Carcenac-Salmiech

Carcenac - Salmiech

The church has a rare Flemish bell tower, a tomb of the 16th century and a polychrome set of stones sculpted by Biron, listed in 1940. This Pietà sculpture was at first in a chapel built in 1324 nearby the cloister of the church of Cordeliers in Rodez. In 1803, it was moved by H. de Barrau to its parish of Carcenac-Salmiech.

Continue on the road D 82 to Clauzelles.

Clauzelles

Visit the small roman church rearranged in the 18th century.
Virgin of the 14th century, in painted stone, placed in the chapel's altar piece.
The child and the virgin carry a book, in the right hand.

Continue to Arvieu : you're back to your starting point.