ROC CASTEL WALK

1

Your route begins at the village square, the true heart of social life in Le Caylar, where you can admire the sculpted tree. This Elm, affected by Dutch elm disease, was transformed by sculptor Michel Chevray to illustrate the life of the Causse. Passing through the archway of the clock tower, you enter the former fortified enclosure. Going up Rue de la Ville, lined with 16th and 17th-century houses, you will reach Saint Martin Church. Built in the 19th century on an ancient site, it houses valuable treasures, including a wooden Christ, 12th-century statuettes, and a magnificent 14th-century altarpiece depicting the life of Christ like a three-dimensional comic strip.

2

Retrace your steps towards the Southeast gate, where a rounded wall remains, then take Rue Notre-Dame towards Roc Castel. This fortified site, mentioned as early as 1112, preserves the ramparts of the former castle of the bishops of Lodève, dismantled in 1629 by order of Richelieu. The path winds between traces of the past, such as the old washhouse and the Elm Square. A fork on your right leads to the Cloister and then to the Notre-Dame Chapel of Roc Castel. Partially carved into the rock in the 12th century and rebuilt in the 18th, it proudly stands next to its bell tower.

3

At the top of Roc Castel, a panoramic table allows you to observe the striking contrast between the cultivated lands to the south and the vast limestone plateau to the north. Exploring the rocks, you will discover a hollow called "Les Écolettes": look for the engraved coat of arms facing the stone benches, and you will realize that you are seated in a giant armchair overlooking the void. The site is full of defensive remains, such as Monseigneur's Chamber or the Notched House. This medieval house, with a curious double-arch attic using the rock, testifies by the fineness of its carving to a prestigious past.

4

To begin the return, go down by the west slope while observing on your right the ruins of beautiful Renaissance houses. By returning to the Grande Rue axis, you will notice that the 18th and 19th-century facades display a more elegant and less severe style than the buildings in the upper town. The route ends at the Portal Blanc Tower, built in the 14th and 15th centuries. This imposing remains conclude your visit by bringing you back to the lower part of the village, bearing witness to the evolution of the city through the ages. You will have nothing left to do but return to the starting square.

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Tourist Office Lodévois and Larzac