Discover Celoux: Mill, Church and Circular Trail

Celoux has several distinct points of cultural and historical interest: a pyx reliquary in the parish church of Saint-Roch, the Moulin de Celoux and the Tour du moulin de Lagarde circular trail. The village’s character also includes houses with exposed stonework and restored former farm buildings. If you are looking for a hotel for a trip to Celoux, these themes offer a concrete sense of what makes the place distinctive: the reliquary as a single cultural object, the history of the mill, historical traces along the circular trail and the village’s built character.

An object in the parish church of Saint-Roch

The pyx reliquary is in the parish church of Saint-Roch in Celoux and dates from the 15th century. On 16 May 1980, it was designated as an object worthy of protection. To place these details in their proper time frame, they should be distinguished: the 15th century indicates when it was made, while the specific date in May 1980 marks its later designation. Thus, a single object brings together a creation date far in the past and a precisely dated step in its protection history. The focus here is on the reliquary and its place in time, not on a technical process such as that of the mill.

The history and mechanism of the Moulin de Celoux

The Moulin de Celoux was taken out of use in 1883 and restored in 1993 and 1994. These dates mark two phases: its closure and, more than a century later, its restoration. The mill is considered the only functioning windmill in Auvergne. Its accessible wooden structure also makes it possible to follow the grain’s journey, from hoisting the sack to sifting the flour. The mill therefore brings together a historical sequence and practical steps: the dates chart the mill’s history, while its structure illustrates the path taken by the grain.

The Tour du moulin de Lagarde circular trail

The Tour du moulin de Lagarde circular trail places the mill in a broader historical context: the village of Celoux, a former railway line and the windmill shape the route as traces of the past. The focus is therefore not just on the mill’s workings, but also on the village and the former railway line. The circular trail has 127 metres of ascent. This figure gives you a specific indication of the climb for planning purposes; the tour’s historical focus is reflected in the sites mentioned. Unlike the mill as a single destination, the circular trail brings several traces of the past together.

Village character and elevation

Celoux is located at just over 1,000 metres above sea level. The village has houses with exposed stonework and restored former farm buildings. These details relate to two different scales: the elevation puts Celoux in its geographical setting, while the houses and buildings shape the village’s built character. Exposed stonework and restored former farm buildings complement the history of individual cultural objects and the mill with a perspective on the village’s architecture.

Discover more destinations: Junhac, Saint-Amandin, Pleaux, Parlan, Trémouille, Labesserette, Loubaresse, Lascelle

For the regional travel overview: Cantal.