Trail N°29 Versols - Hermilix

5 points of interest

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  Dolmen

  Hermilix dolmen

  Built nearly 5,000 years ago, dolmens are prehistoric funerary monuments erected by Neolithic communities. Originally covered by a mound of stones and earth, these burial chambers were used for successive interments over generations. They are particularly numerous on the Causses, where large limestone slabs were readily available for their construction.

  This simple dolmen stands on a mound about 8 metres in diameter. Lacking a back slab, it still preserves its impressive capstone, which now leans slightly due to the gradual settling of one of its supporting stones over time.

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  Agropastoralism

  Hermilix Lavogne

  Typical of the Causses region, lavognes are traditional water reservoirs designed to collect and retain rainwater in an area where water quickly disappears into the limestone bedrock. Built around a natural depression with an impermeable clay base, they were essential for providing drinking water to livestock.

  To preserve water quality and prevent erosion caused by animals, the bottom and edges were carefully paved with stone slabs and flat stones.

  Today, the Hermilix Lavogne is also a haven for a wide variety of wildlife, making it a small but thriving ecosystem.

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  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.

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  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.

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  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.