Curiosities and wonders on the Way to Compostela

Between the splendor of the Middle Ages and modern art, the Route du Puy runs for almost 44 km and 6 stages between our villages of Saint-Côme-d’Olt and Espeyrac, and has many surprises in store for you. Religious buildings and remarkable monuments follow one another along the way, creating an incredible Jacobean heritage. These are jewels to be preserved and major cultural elements thatUNESCO has inscribed on its World Heritage List.

Jewels of the novel And Gothic treasures

The Pont Vieux d’Espalion and the Gothic bridge at Estaing are two of the buildings on the UNESCO World Heritage list, and represent major milestones along the way.

The flamed bell tower of Saint-Côme-Saint-Damien church in Saint-Côme-d’Olt stands out from the style of its neighbors.
In Espalion, theRomanesque church of Perse, a jewel of the Romanesque style, features a remarkable tympanum, capitals and painted decoration. Its combed bell tower is also typical of the region.
The pink sandstonechurch of Saint-Pierre-de-Bessuéjouls boasts a rare ^12th-century altar and an astonishing air chapel.
In Estaing, the Gothic-Renaissance church of Saint-Fleuret boasts an atypical bell tower leaning against the spire and a monumental staircase.

The summer heat calls for a break. A nearby stream refreshes our steps. In this bucolic setting, a shady bench opens its arms to us. Opposite us stands a singular church built of pink sandstone. At the far end, a narrow staircase leads us to a secret place. In the airy chapel, time stands still as our prayers soar skyward.

Anonymous pilgrim on the Way of Saint James

From crosses to chapels A string of wonders

Along the way, more intimate chapels and crosses bearing the image of Saint Jacques bear witness to the religious fervor of the Middle Ages.

In Verrières de Sébrazac, the chapel backing onto the château offers a peaceful place to meditate.
On the forecourt of the Saint-Fleuret d’Estaing church, a surprising four-lobed cross features a Christ on the Cross on one side, before whom Mary Magdalene and a pilgrim wearing a staff and hat are meditating. On the reverse, a piéta is surrounded by angels.
Between Estaing and Golinhac, a trail of wayside crosses tells legends and anecdotes.
In Golinhac, a pilgrim’s cross welcomes walkers.
In Espeyrac, a wrought-iron cross adorned with a scallop shelltops a granite block.

– A church as a film location –

One of the scenes in Coline Serreau’s film “Saint-Jacques… La Mecque” was shot at theEglise du Trédou on the plain of the same name. It was at this very spot that Ramzi, one of the characters, convinced that he was on his way to the Muslim holy land and thought by everyone, including himself, to be illiterate, discovered that he could actually read!

La Chambre d'Or in Golinhac

In Golinhac, La Chambre d’or offers a contemplative and meditative pause in the heart of a grove. This surprising work of refuge art, inspired by granite boulders, is part of the “Fenêtres sur le paysage” art trail collection . Scattered along the GR®65 and designed to provide shelter, these works of art offer an unusual and immersive experience. Why not spend a night there yourself?

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The legacy of the penitents Blue or white

Defined by the color of their vestments, the penitents were brotherhoods of lay people committed to parish life. Whether male, female or religious, they were exemplary in their faith through services, processions and funerals. The duty of charity was paramount in their status: visiting the sick, hospitals and prisons, accompanying those condemned to death and helping the most destitute were all part of their daily routine.

In Saint-Côme-d’Olt, the Chapelle de la Bouysse, with its hull roof, served as their headquarters until 1930.
In Espalion, the Chapelle des Pénitents Blancs houses a rare papier-mâché Christ, as well as the stocks and canopies used during processions, and a remarkable Baroque recumbent and altarpiece.
In Estaing, the Église Saint-Fleuret houses processional crosses that belonged to the Pénitents Bleus. They are still used today for the historic Procession de Saint Fleuret.

Near Saint-Côme d'Olt on the GR®65, the remains of the portal of the Church of Lévinhac

Saints And legends

The routes to Santiago de Compostela are full of extraordinary stories and legends – let our villages tell you all about them along the way!

In Estaing, Saint-Fleuret is credited with a series of miraculous cures. Preserved in the church, the precious relics of the saintly healer are celebrated every year.

Around the year 1000, Sainte-Foy de Conques invited Guibert, an inhabitant ofEspeyrac, in a dream to visit her tomb after brigands had gouged out his eyes. Raving before the statue of the saint, the pious man miraculously regained his sight.

Between Saint-Côme-d’Olt and Espalion, the Portail de Levinhac recalls the past presence of a Romanesque church and a ford over the Lot for pilgrims. This is the birthplace of Saint Hilarian, who was beheaded by the Saracens while officiating at theRomanesque Church of Persia, where his relics now rest. To keep the promise he had made to his mother, who feared this fatal fate, he would have brought her head here.