Notre-Dame du Cayla path

Fauna

History and heritage

Panorama

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Take your walking stick and go for a stroll along the national forest of La Calm to reach a small Romanesque chapel which overlooks the Sorgues valley from the top of its rocky promontory.

The fortified village of Versols is the starting point of this hike and offers a convenient access to a traditional pilgrimage site. From stony paths to tracks through the forest, this route leads you up to Notre-Dame du Cayla, a discreet building perched on a limestone spur. A hiking loop full of charm throughout the Sorgues valley.

3 points of interest

Village de Versols - Xavier Waerzeggers
History and heritage
Village of Versols
The village of Versols has a rich history dating back to the Middle Ages. Its fortified settlement, built on a slight ridge at the junction of two valleys, succeeded an earlier Gallo-Roman site and once overlooked the major medieval route to Lodève.

Today, the village still preserves many traces of its defensive past, including a fortified gate, a tower, sections of ramparts, and elegant mullioned windows. Its main street and postern gate reflect the medieval layout of the settlement.

Versols is also home to the Church of Saint Thomas, while nearby stand the former Priory of Our Lady of Cayla and the Château de Montalègre, built in the 13th century.
Château de Versols - Xavier Waerzeggers
History and heritage
Castle and Fortification Remains
For nearly eight centuries, from 1250 to 1810, the castle was home to the Roquefeuil family. After leaving the family’s ownership, it passed through several hands, and part of the complex was converted into a farm. The estate was eventually repurchased by the Roquefeuil family in 1962.

The castle was part of a larger medieval castrum that enclosed the former village, perched on a spur between the Sorgues and Verzolet rivers. Originally a small fortress built in the 11th century, it was expanded during the 13th and 14th centuries to strengthen the site's defenses during periods of conflict, particularly the Hundred Years’ War.
Chapelle Notre Dame du Cayla - Roquefort Tourisme
History and heritage
Chapel of Our Lady of Cayla
Visible from the trail, about 2 km from Versols, the Chapel of Cayla stands on a rocky spur overlooking the ravine. Its origins remain a mystery: was it once a fortified site, or a pre-Christian place of worship later converted to Christianity?

Mentioned as early as the 12th century, it became an important pilgrimage site for the people of the valley and the nuns of Nonenque. Abandoned in the early 19th century, it was restored from 1861 onwards thanks to the efforts of Abbé Brun, the parish priest of Versols.

Description

After the bridge, turn to the right, then after 50m take a left turn to follow the rue de la ville. Once you’ve passed through the arch walk uphill to the right, then to the left. After 100 m you reach the junction of Notre Dame du Cayla from where we will later walk back to our cars.
Carry on your way on a gently rising path and reach another fork.
Take a track to the right that turns into a rather steep and stony path. 200 m further on, on the right, leave this path that winds is way up to the Montgrand cross. Keep going until you reach the edge of the national forest. Walk along the edge of the forest to the right, then follow an alley to the left that runs up to the forester's house of La Calm.
After the forester's house, take a winding trail to the right until you reach an intersection.
Turn to the right towards Notre-Dame-du- Cayla chapel. Walk downhill to the right towards the ravine of La Calm. After three hairpin bends, cross the ravine and go to the right bank of the river where you reach an intersection.
Keep going to the right on a gently rising path. Walk through the woodland area, then walk along the edge of the fields up to Versols.

Departure : Carpark is set on the left bank of the Sorgues River, on the other side of bridge in Versols-et-Lapeyre
Arrival : Carpark is set on the left bank of the Sorgues River, on the other side of bridge in Versols-et-Lapeyre
Towns crossed : Versols-et-Lapeyre

Forecast

Altimetric profile

Recommandations

Box tree months are active from May to October. During the caterpillar phase, they feed on the leaves of box trees. They crawl down trees and move on long silken threads, although these threads are annoying when hiking they do not pose any health risk

Information desks

Avenue de Lauras, 12250 Roquefort/Soulzon

http://www.roquefort-tourisme.fr/contact@roquefort-tourisme.fr 0565585600

Situated in the Grands Causses Regional Natural Park, the cheese village of Roquefort stretches on the hillside over the famous scree of the Combalou Rock, in southern Larzac. The village is at an elevation of 630 m and has 700 inhabitants.

OPENING PERIODS:

The Tourist Office is open all year round:

In July and August, Monday to Saturday: 9.30 to 18.30, Sunday: 10.00 to 17.00.
April, May, June, September, October; Monday to Saturday: 9.30 to 12.15 & 13.00 to 17.30, closed on Sunday.
January, February, November, December; Monday to Friday: 9.30 to 12.15 & 13.00 to 17.00, closed on Saturday and Sunday.

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