Conques
Conques – a ‘must see’ village on the pilgrim route to Santiago de Compostela
The village of Conques, classed as one of the ‘Loveliest Villages in France’ is an essential stop along the pilgrim route to Santiago de Compostela. Tucked away in a leafy setting, the village has a wealth of treasures to discover : cobbled streets lined with lauze-roofed, half-timbered houses ; the abbey-church, a Romanesque masterpiece with its superb tympanum of ‘The Last Judgment’, beautiful contemporary stained glass windows by Pierre Soulages and the magnificent ‘Sainte-Foy treasure’, a reliquary covered with gold and precious stones.
Conques lies on the edge of the Marcillac wine-growing area, with its easily recognised red earth which produces a PDO wine : Marcillac. This well-reputed, traditional wine is made from a single grape – Mansois – and there is no better way to enjoy it than with ‘soleil de Marcillac’, a local pastry. The gently rolling countryside is ideal for walking and other outdoor activities. Heritage enthusiasts will love the many character villages in the area, like Salles la Source and Clairvaux. There are also lots of Romanesque churches, museums and medieval castles waiting to be explored !
The area in and around Conques-Marcillac has been fashioned by the River Dourdou and the River Lot and has many surprises in store : character villages, castles, Romanesque churches, museums for history lovers, walks and outdoor activities for families, sporting and countryside enthusiasts as well as lots for foodies, art lovers and visitors interested in the local way of life.
The Causse Comtal has picturesque villages with yellow-ochre buildings like Salles la Source, Muret le Château, Bozoul and Rodelle. The area known as Le Vallon or Rougier de Marcillac lies on red sandstone which can clearly be seen on the slopes and houses of Marcillac, Clairvaux, Bruéjouls, etc. Upstream, in the Ségala de Conques, the River Dourdou and its tributaries have hollowed out deep valleys in the blue-grey shale to reach the Lot Valley where you can explore the villages of La Vinzelle and Montarnal.
There are numerous Romanesque buildings to discover : the chapel de Monédiès (Grand-Vabre), churches (at Clairvaux d'Aveyron, Salles-la-Source…) and a crypt (Saint-Maurice à Auzits). Don’t hesitate to visit different museums to understand the history and culture of the region : Trésor de St Foy at Conques (works by medieval goldsmiths), Musée des Arts et Métiers Traditionnels du Rouergue (traditional arts and crafts) at Salles la Source, Musée Joseph-Fau at Conques, Terra d’Olt at St Parthem, Espace G Rouqier at Goutrens, Maison de la Châtaigne Chestnut Discovery Centre) at Mourjou. Travel back through time when you visit the medieval castles of Château du Colombier at Mondalazac, Château d’Estaing, Château de Belcastel and Château Bournazel. While out and about you will see many other castles and country houses (not open to the public) in the villages and valleys or on rocky spurs (Panat, Montarnal, Sénergues, Pruines, Mouret, etc).
Conques-Marcillac - lose yourself in the culture and gastronomy of Aveyron
The area has numerous artists and craftspeople who welcome visitors to their studios and workshops : potters, sculptors, engravers, jewellery-makers, upholsterers, textile artists, cutlers, metalworkers, leather workers and poets. Come and see traditional and contemporary works of art, decorative and useful objects.
There’s no better way to soak up the local atmosphere than by strolling around the markets at Marcillac or St Cyprien where you can try local specialities : Soleil de Marcillac ‘ a local pastry, farçous, estofinados, accompanied by red or rosé AOP Marcillac wine. In summer a visit to the evening producer’s market at Valady is a delicious way to end the day. Here you can see ‘tassous’ shallow silver cups for wine tasting (the largest tassou in the world can be seen at Bruéjouls !) and ‘liadous’, originally working knives used by Marcillac wine-growers to tie vines to willow stakes, and today quality designer knives.
What to do around Conques-Marcillac ?
Walking : GR65 (Via Podiensis from Puy-en-Velay), GR62 and GR465 hiking paths, as well as many circular walks which can be downloaded from the internet.
Mountain bikes and electric mountain bikes : 3 circuits between Vallon de Marcillac and Causse Comtal
Canoeing, rafting, paddle-boarding : breathtaking experiences in the Lot Valley, a few kilometres from Conques,
Canyoning, aqua trekking to explore the streams and waterfalls around the village of Salles-la-Source on the outskirts of Rodez
Caving
Treetop adventure trails, rock-climbing and Via Ferrata on the rock faces of Causse Comtal.
Fishing : the Lot Valley and the Aveyron Valley are a great place for fishermen.
Geocaching : Enjoy this modern-day treasure hunt using SatNav coordinates to explore the natural attractions of the area. A rewarding, enjoyable outdoor activity which can be done alone, with family or friends. Fun for everyone !
