From Causse to Rougier
Saint-Affrique

From Causse to Rougier

Agropastoralism
History and heritage
Panorama
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This large loop provides a feeling of change of scene and, in two ascents, carries you from one landscape to another, from the stony scenery of the Causse d’Hermilix to the wine-coloured valleys of the Rougier de Camarès.

The circuit features moderate difficulties, only a few sections where you need to shoulder the bike on the Loubière plateau, a surprising natural wall stretching beneath the Causse sky. The loop begins with a green lane and gently ascends to the upland before switching between tracks and roads. An accessible outing throughout colourful landscapes!


5 points of interest

  • History and heritage

    Caussaunejouls Lavogne

    How a lavogne works is very easy to understand; imagine a gigantic upturned umbrella that collects rainwater!

    In the beginning, there was a natural pond with impervious clay soil. This small pond was a real boon for people who quickly set these watering sources up as they were so critical on the causses where water seeps into the cracked limestone. First, they tiled the inside of the pond and finished off the work by laying paving stones around the edge of the pond to preserve the water quality and prevent gullying due to the large flocks trampling the soil when the sheep come to drink.

    The pond tiling was made either with lauzes, flat stones or with paving stones laid one after the other.

    Once completed, this gigantic upturned umbrella would provide a great variety of animals with a welcoming habitat, just look down over a lavogne and see how it swarms and buzzes with life; what a frenzy of activity!

    From this lavogne, you will enjoy a stunning view to the north over the Combalou, a residual mound that shelters the Roquefort maturing caves.

  • History and heritage

    Village of Lapeyre

    This village was controlled by the Templars Commandery during the 12th century and has kept much of its medieval architecture with its old houses clustered around the Tower. There is also the tombstone of Médora Leig, a daughter of the English poet Lord Byron which you can visit in the graveyard.

  • Flora

    Wild orchids

    The Aveyron provides contrasting and diverse landscapes that will put a spell on you. During your time hiking on the Causses across these large limestone plateaux which cover an area approximately one-third the size of the entire department, you will enjoy a great variety of flora.

    Hike through the dry grasslands which are so typical of these landscapes and provide a rich habitat for numerous orchid species with diverse forms, colors and fragrances: Dark-red Helleborine, Lesser Butterfly-orchid, Man Orchid, Lady Orchid, Fly Orchid and many more…
  • Panorama

    A view over the Sorgues valley

    This path which runs on the southern hillside of one of the Loubière vales will provide you with a wonderful scenic viewpoint over the Sorgues valley and the Frontal Causses.

  • Small heritage

    The del Pas cross

    This large metal cross is situated at the junction of paths, which allows a beautiful view over the two sides of the Loubière plateau, the Sorgues side and the Rougiers side.

Description

  1. The circuit starts smoothly from Saint-Affrique via the green lane towards St-Jean-d’Alcapiès.
  2. Then you have to follow a lovely trail that runs through the causse and leads you to Hermilix, where you will enjoy a 360° scenic view before cycling down towards the Sorgues valley.
  3. Finally, after a long uphill, you will crisscross the Loubière plateau that offers a stunning view over

the Rougier plains and the castel of Montaigut.

 

Points of interest:

Hamlet of Hermilix and its lavogne (cycling there and back 200m) Km 13

Village of Lapeyre (heritage) Km 25n

Loubière Plateau (scenic viewpoint) Km 36

 

 

Distinctive features:

The bike has to be shouldered for 100 m at km 38

 

Cycling time according to your level of practice: 2h30 to 4h
  • Departure : Tourist Office, Boulevard Aristide Briand in Saint-Affrique
  • Arrival : Tourist Office, Boulevard Aristide Briand in Saint-Affrique
  • Towns crossed : Saint-Affrique, Saint-Jean-d'Alcapiès, Saint-Jean-et-Saint-Paul, Versols-et-Lapeyre, Gissac, and Vabres-l'Abbaye

Altimetric profile


Information desks

Saint-Affrique Tourist Office

Boulevard Aristide Briand, 12400 Saint-Affrique

http://www.roquefort-tourisme.fr/contact@roquefort-tourisme.fr0565585600

OPENING TIMES:


The Tourism Office is open all year round, the opening hours are:

·July and august:

From Monday to Saturday: 9h – 13h & 15h – 19h

Sunday: 9h – 13h

·From September to June:

From Tuesday to Saturday: 9h – 13h & 14h – 17h

Closed: Sundays, Mondays and bank holidays

From November to April, the office is also closed on Saturday afternoon.

Find out more

Access and parking

Saint-Affrique is located 31 km southwest of Millau via the D 992 and D 999 roads.

Parking :

Bus station car park, boulevard Aristide Briand in Saint-Affrique

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