Around La Couvertoirade

9 points of interest

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  Architecture

  The ramparts

  La Couvertoirade preserves all its walls, built in the mid-fifteenth century. As early as 1346, robbers called "routiers" plunder the Larzac. Because of fear of the armed gangs, villagers were asking in 1439 the permission to fortify the village. The construction continued until 1445 under the direction of master mason Déodat d'Alaus.
  
  

  This wall of 420 m long and 1.30 m of thickness is pierced by arrow slits and is surmounted by a walkway.

  Sources: Information Office of La Couvertoirade.

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  Small heritage

  The oven

  This oven owes its name to the tax people had to pay for using it: this tax was called “la banalité”.

  Built in the 15th century by the Hospitallers and restored in 2000s. Today, it works and batches are regularly made by the village baker.

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  History and heritage

  The church Saint-Christophe

  The present church has replaced the old parish church of the 11th century, situated outside the village. This new building, partly carved into the rock in the 14th century will attend the final constitution of a village.

  During construction of the walls in the 15th century, the church flat chevet will be a complete portion of the wall. A defense tower will also be added to the above the choir, but will unfortunately be destroyed in the 18th century representing too much weight to the original building.

  Sources: Infirmation Office of La Couvertoirade.

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  History and heritage

  The Castle

  The Templar castle was built in the late twelfth century on the rocky outcrop of the village. Until the construction of the walls in the fifteenth century, its mission was to protect the villagers in case of attack, evidenced by its barbican, this primitive enclosure, as well as the remains of a gatehouse, located above the front door. This building has three parts : a farmyard, a main building and a dungeon.

  Sources: point Home Tourism Couvertoirade

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  Architecture

  The mill of Redounel

  The first notes about windmills appear in England and France at the end of the 12th century. They were much developed in the early 13th century and stopped turning at the end of the 19th century without any exception. In La Couvertoirade, there were two windmills, one disappeared but was mentioned in the 17th century in a place called “the Cross of wind”, the other still dominates the city at Redounel. “Le Moulin de Redounel”: altitude: 808 m, outer diameter: 5.56 m, height 6.60 m, thickness of walls: 1.08 m. It is made up of one of the only remains of windmills in South Aveyron, among the 60 windmills known in Aveyron. The windmills were used to grind wheat (flour), to press nuts (oil) or crush apples (cider).

  Sources: PNRGC_DA

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  Small heritage

  The "lavogne" (cobbled watering place)

  The lavogne and the tank have a dual function, vital to the plateau. The lavogne is a pond developed on the clay funds, impervious to water. It is often paved with stones to prevent gully erosion that cause trampling of sheep flocs came to drink it. The cistern collects rainwater and stores. It also feeds the lavogne, which, in its side receives runoff from Puech of Lavogne.
  
  

  Sources: PNRGC_DA

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  Flora

  The pubescent oak

  The pubescent oak (Quercus pubescens) is widespread in the areas of the south of France. Its leaves are hairy on their underside, which is an adaptation to drought (the hairs limit evaporation and retain moisture). Formerly, the acorns were collected for animals or eaten by the herds on site.
  
  

  Sources: PNRGC_DA

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  Agropastoralism

  The buissière.

  The slow progression inside dense hedges of boxwood trees arboreal, they were intended to protect and channeling herds.
  

  Sources: PNRGC_DA

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  History and heritage

  The Scipione House

  This house built in the end of 15th century has a superb mullion window and a turret added in the 17th century, which suggest the wealth of the owners.
  The Information Office of the village is located in this house, which owes its name from one of its owners (Sir Scipion Sabde’s widow,   nicknamed “La Scipione”. Inside, a superb vaulted room served as a sheepfold. It‘s possible to visit the floors and the spiral staircase leading to it also gives access to the walkway.