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    Mérens-les-Vals Church (Ariège) Axiat Church (Ariège) Louron Valley Church (Hautes Pyrénées) Lauzerte Church (Tarn et Garonne) In the streets of Lauzerte (Tarn et Garonne) Montpezat de Quercy Collegiate Church (Tarn et Garonne) Montpezat-de-Quercy (Tarn-et-Garonne) Church of Notre Dame des Saux - Montpezat de Quercy (Tarn et Garonne) Montcuq Church(Lot) A game of pétanque in Montcuq (Lot) Church of Saint-Pantaléon (Lot) The stunning Dourbie Gorge, home of several Romanesque churches (Aveyron)

    Churches and chapels circuits

    The Dourbie Gorge, Louron Valley and Quercy Blanc: some of our prettiest churches in each area have come up with the wonderful idea of getting together to enable us to propose 4 short itineraries that combine cultural tourism with beautiful scenery.

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      The churches of the Quercy Blanc (Lot and Tarn et Garonne)



      21 km southwest of Cahors, you start in the village of Saint Pantaléon, built entirely of white stone (12th century church with bell tower).
      You then move on to the lovely village of Montcuq with its distinctly southern feel (Gothic Church of Saint Hilaire: beautiful 19th century stained-glass windows).

      Continue to the bastide of Lauzerte (Church of Saint Barthélemy: Baroque retable, Christ figure in leather, etc.). Just 10 minutes from there, the Romanesque Chapel of Saint Sernin du Bosc stands vigil in an extremely rural setting (ask at Lauzerte Tourist Office for directions).

      Then, head for the bastide of Castelnau-Montratier (neo-Romanesque church with cupola). After that, continue through the countryside (the light here has an almost Provençal quality) to Montpezat de Quercy (Collegiate Church of Saint Martin: carved stalls and an outstanding collection of 16th century Flemish tapestries).
      Whatever you do, don't continue before making the short detour to Notre Dame de Saux, hidden in the woods (amazing 14th century frescoes; ask at Montpezat de Quercy Tourist Office for the key).

      Walk

      • From Lauzerte, you can continue on foot to seek out the Romanesque Chapel of Saint Sernin du Bosc, nestling in the hollow of a little side valley known fittingly as the "Combe du Miel" (Honey Coomb).

        Walk and mountain biking route of 12 km (3 hrs 30).

        Description available from Lauzerte Tourist Office – Tel. +33 (0)5 63 94 61 94.

      The Romanesque chapels of the Dourbie Gorge (Aveyron)




      From Millau, take the D991 towards the Dourbie Gorge. Lying between the Causse du Larzac and Causse Noir, this magnificent canyon just 15 minutes from Millau contains a succession of 7 Romanesque churches built between 1050 and 1200 along a stretch less than 20 km long.

      Most of them are monastic churches built during the expansion of the Benedictine order, based at Nant. Others originally belonged to châteaux, before becoming parish churches. Each is a masterpiece that bears witness to the talent of the local stonemasons.

      Your route: the churches of La Roque-Sainte Marguerite, Saint Véran, Cantobre, Les Cuns, Nant, Saint Martin du Vican and Saint Michel de Rouviac.

      Please note

      • To keep them safe, many of the churches in Midi-Pyrénées and the rest of France are kept locked.
        However, even if the churches mentioned on this page are locked, their distinctive architecture and the beauty of their settings alone are worth making the trip to see them.

        It's always worth asking at the nearest Tourist Office, where you'll be able to find out which ones can be visited

      The painted churches of the Louron Valley (Hautes Pyrénées)


      • Start and end point: Bordères-Louron – Circuit of approximately 30 km.

      This unspoilt little valley some 25 km long which runs alongside the ridge line marking the France-Spain border has a strong Pyrenean identity. It is home to a unique collection of churches of Romanesque origin which have the distinction of being decorated with outstanding frescoes dating from the 16th century.

      Clinging to the valley side in their pretty little mountain villages, these churches bear witness to the fruitful artistic exchanges that took place between France and Aragon.

      Starting from Bordères-Louron, continue to Cazaux-Fréchet, Mont (where there is an amazing view of the Pyrenees), Germ, Loudervielle, Armenteule and Vielle Louron.
      To protect their contents, these churches are kept locked, but tours are organised in summer.

      Information from the Louron Valley Tourist Office – Tel: +33 (0)5 62 99 92 00.

      Museum visit

      • In Loudenvielle, the Arixo museum features an interactive presentation of the painted churches of the Louron, their history and their painted frescoes. www.vallee-du-louron.com

      The Romanesque churches of the Upper Ariège Valley (Ariège)


      • Start and end point : Ax-les-Thermes – Circuit of approximately 58 km.

      Between Ax-les-Thermes and Tarascon-sur-Ariège there are some hidden gems of religious architecture that appeared in the Pyrenees at the dawn of the second millennium.

      High above the N20 main road in the distance, you follow the picturesque "Route des Corniches", stopping off at Unac, Vernaux, Axiat and Verdun. These little villages are home to Romanesque churches with a mountain charm, strongly influenced by the Lombard master builders who settled in neighbouring Catalonia in the 9th and 10th centuries.

      Off this route, the oldest Romanesque church built in the Lombard style is the one at Mérens-les-Vals. Situated on the GR10 long-distance footpath which crosses the Pyrenees from east to west, it is one of the most curious, with its grass-covered apse. To get to this church, return to Ax-les-Thermes and take the N20 towards Andorra as far as Mérens-les-Vals (9 km).


      More information

       
      Project co-financed by the European Union. Europe is partnering Midi-Pyrénées with the European Regional Development Fund.