The Valley of Serre
Saint-Saturnin-de-Lenne

The Valley of Serre

History and heritage
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A path in the valley, from St Saturnin de Lenne, in a Causse countryside.

The valley of Serre was always a place to be. The "villae" (Gallo-Roman domains) existed before the villages along the river.


4 points of interest

  • History and heritage

    Church of St Saturnin de Lenne

    The first church of St Saturnin de Lenne, which dominates the Serre valley, was built during the 11th century. It had been reconstructed during the 12th century, then enlarged during the 13th.

    During the 11th century, Bégon de Calmont gave the churches of St Saturnin and La Roque to the abbey of Conques. Around 1100, monks started to reconstruct the church. But works stopped.
    During the 13th century, the tower was completed by the building of a bell room lighted by 4 bays and covered by a dome with shale tiles.
    The 19th century brought numerous transformations : bays were opened in the east end, 2 bays were added between 1852 and 1856. Finally, an architech of Mende proposed to elevate the bell tower and to add a roof light of 8 small columns, of the Neo-Byzantine style.

    Outside, sculptures represent historiated scenes (birds, horsemen, ...) from the end of the 11th century, in particular on the modillions of the east end and the transept.

  • Archeology

    Gallo-Roman villa of Campfaros

    In 1988, during the creation of a subdivison, a part of ruins of a important Gallo-Roman villa in activity during the second part of the 1st and the 5th century, was discovered.

    The remains are the western side of the urban part. 

    The thermal baths, for the owner and his family, are situated in succession, for the coldest to the hotest, as required.

    People passed by the cold water pool to places heated by the floor.


    Text from Philippe Gruat, coming from "Al Canton-Campagnac"

  • History and heritage

    Mansion of Grun

    Mansion from the 17th century and its pigeon house.
    Its corners have turrets allowing a defence of the fronts.

    In 1755, it was one of the most important domain of the region: 4 pairs of oxes, 31 animals with horns, 4 mares, 408 animals which produced wool. The domain produced wheat, rye, barley, oats.

  • Architecture

    The fortified farm of Le Vialaret

    This fortified farm depended from the monastic barn of Galinières, next to Pierrefiche d'Olt.

    Its buildings close an indoor court, which the vaulted unique entrance is protected by a gatehouse (small rectangular room situated above the door, with pierced holes in the floor for shots).


Description

1. Take the littel street, just in front of the church until the bridge. When you reach the road D2, turn left.

2. At the cemetery, turn right and walk on the road D582.

3. 300 m further on, at the cross, turn right, in direction of "Trescanous". At the mill, go straight on, until the hamlet "Orbis" (public bread oven).

4. After the hamlet, turn right in direction of "Lenne". Go through the hamlet. The large building was an orphanage. It is now a holiday center.

5. At the church, turn right, cross the road D45 and go straight along the path just opposite.  You join the village "St Martin de Lenne".

6. Before entering the village, turn right. Go straight on for 3 km.

7. 3 km further on, at the cross paths, marked by a cross, turn left in direction of "Grun", an old mansion of the XIVth century. Pass through the hamlet and along the beautiful building. Continue until the road D2 and continue back to the village of St Saturnin de Lenne.

  • Departure : Village hall, St Saturnin de Lenne
  • Arrival : Village hall, St Saturnin de Lenne
  • Towns crossed : Saint-Saturnin-de-Lenne, Saint-Martin-de-Lenne, and Saint-Geniez-d'Olt-et-d'Aubrac

Altimetric profile


Information desks

Le Cloître, 12130 St-Geniez-d'Olt et d'Aubrac

http://www.causses-aubrac-tourisme.comstgeniezdolt@causses-aubrac-tourisme.com0565704342

Transport

Line 10 TER Languedoc-Roussillon (http://www.ter-sncf.com/Regions/Languedoc_Roussillon/Fr/Default.aspx) to the station of Campagnac.


Access and parking

Highway A75, then roads D37 et D202.

National road N88 : follow the direction of Laissac, then St Geniez d'Olt

Parking :

next to the grocery, St Saturnin de Lenne

More information


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