Discover Vézac

Vézac brings together architectural history, religious art and various routes through the countryside. The options differ considerably when planning your trip: the Balade parmi les hameaux de Vézac is a longer circular route of moderate difficulty, while the Tour du Golf is shorter, at 1.2 kilometres. A wooded route and historic buildings add further variety. You can decide whether architecture, a particular walking route, or the landscape and nature are of greater interest to you.

The Château’s History and Construction Phases

The Château de Caillac in Vézac is listed as a historic monument. It was listed on 10 November 1997, and the protection covers the entire château, including the protected interior rooms, the park-arboretum, the portal, the chapel and the barn with stable. The building’s history goes back to a medieval fortress and can be traced through changes spanning several centuries.

Among other features, the staircase and a section of the façade were created in the 16th century. The east façade was clad in the 17th century; interior fittings were added in the 18th and 19th centuries. The park is also part of the estate’s history: it was laid out in the 19th century with a diverse range of trees and is considered an arboretum in the region. The construction phases and the park give the Château de Caillac several distinct historical features rather than presenting just one period.

The château of Vézac has a turbulent history. It was rebuilt in 1476. Later, Huguenots occupied the château; troops under M. de Saint-Hérem besieged and destroyed it. It was then rebuilt once more and again inhabited by the de Salles family.

The Église Saint Roch

The Église Saint Roch in Vézac is a Romanesque church dating from the 15th century. It has two chapels with different dedications and furnishings: one is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and contains an altarpiece. The second is dedicated to Saint Roch and has a traditional statue. The church thus combines its architectural classification with specific elements of religious art.

Walking Routes and Countryside

The Balade parmi les hameaux de Vézac is an 11-kilometre circular route. It is listed as taking three hours and having a moderate difficulty level. The starting point is the car park near the village shops. From there, the route follows the Chemin du Prince and the Sentier musical. Its length, duration and difficulty level help you plan it as a day’s outing in its own right.

The Tour du Golf is considerably shorter, at 1.2 kilometres. It follows a paved or gravel path along the Vézac golf course, passes the variety garden and offers views of the surrounding countryside and the Château de Salles. Comparing its length with that of the Balade parmi les hameaux reveals two quite different scales; the Tour du Golf also has its own highlights, with the garden and the views.

The Vézac Dousques route can be extended by 2.5 kilometres to make a circuit around the golf course. The route passes through wooded countryside along the first slate-bearing foothills. There are signs of martens and deer there. This describes the landscape and the traces found there; it does not guarantee that you will see animals along the way.

Another Historic Viewpoint

The historic Manoir de Salles, also spelled Sales, stands on high ground near Vézac. From there, the view extends across the Cère Valley as far as Polminhac and beyond. For travellers interested in cultural history, the Manoir offers a different focus from the construction phases of the Château de Caillac or the chapels of the Église Saint Roch: here, the focus is on its elevated setting and the expansive view across the valley.

Discover more destinations: Mauriac, Saint-Julien-de-Toursac, Chalvignac, Chaudes-Aigues, Nieudan, Virargues, Cros-De-Ronesque, Antignac

For the broader travel overview: Cantal.