The black wood N°10 VTT

3 points of interest

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  History and heritage

  Village of Saint-Izaire

  Saint-Izaire is a fortified village whose history is closely linked to its episcopal castle, the former summer residence of the bishops of Vabres. Mentioned as early as 862, the village gradually surrounded itself with ramparts during the 12th century to protect its inhabitants from feudal conflicts.

  After the Wars of Religion, the fortifications lost their defensive role: openings were made in the walls, and some fortified gates were altered to allow carts to pass and houses to expand. Despite these changes, the layout of the streets, alleys, and houses has remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages. The 15th- and 16th-century façades and windows still give the village its historic charm today.

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  History and heritage

  Chapel of Our Lady of Grace

  Overlooking the southern bank of the Dourdou River, the Chapel of Our Lady of Grace is an emblematic site of Saint-Izaire. Mentioned as early as 1461 under the name “Notre-Dame de l’Ouradou,” it was restored in 1730 before being sold as national property during the French Revolution and later converted into a sheepfold. Restored again in the 19th century, it now incorporates architectural elements from the former castle and old village church.

  For many years, the chapel housed a relic believed to have protective and healing powers, especially against skin diseases and respiratory illnesses, and for the protection of pregnant women and newborns. These beliefs left a strong mark on local memory, making the chapel a symbol of protection for the village.

  This tradition continues today through annual pilgrimages, particularly on August 15th.

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  History and heritage

  Abbot Hermet’s House

  Born in Calmels in 1856, Abbot Frédéric Hermet developed a passion for menhir statues from a young age. At the age of ten, he made his first archaeological discoveries, but it was in 1888, when he stumbled upon the “Dame de Saint-Sernin,” that he truly embarked on a quest for other carved slabs. He studied these monuments and brought them to the attention of the scientific community between 1892 and 1926. In 1898, he coined the term “menhir statues” for these mysterious sculptures. Alongside his work on these prehistoric monuments, Abbot Hermet became a pioneer of archaeological excavations at Graufesenque, near Millau, where he explored Gallo-Roman remains starting in 1901.