Bédouès – Chapel, Collegiate Church and Historic Trails

Bédouès offers several specific points of interest for a trip focused on cultural history and trails. Chapelle Saint-Saturnin can be explored through its painted interior and its former role as a parish church; the Collégiale Urbain V tells a different story of construction. When planning your visit, it is worth checking the visiting arrangements for Château du Miral and keeping in mind the different themes of the routes.

Chapelle Saint-Saturnin

Chapelle Saint-Saturnin is the former parish church of Bédouès and has a fully painted interior with colourful decorative and funerary motifs. The two groups of motifs offer different perspectives: decorative motifs shape the space, while funerary motifs relate to death and remembrance of the dead. On 11 March 2020, the chapel as a whole was listed as a historic monument. Tourist information updated in 2025 states that it is open every day year-round; check opening hours before your visit.

The Collegiate Church and Château: Local Building History

The fortified Collégiale Urbain V overlooks Bédouès. The Collégiale de Bédouès was built in 1363 to house the remains of the Grimoard family. After its destruction during the Wars of Religion in 1580, it was rebuilt on a smaller scale in the shape of a Greek cross. A Greek cross has arms of equal length; the term illustrates the altered design of the rebuilt structure.

Château du Miral was built in the 13th century and gradually extended by the Malbosc de Miral family in the 16th and 17th centuries. Its chapel is decorated with 14th-century frescoes and can be visited. Chronologically, the chapel’s decoration dates from between the construction of the château and its later extensions. Individual visits to the château last one hour and are available by appointment only. Check visitor information before travelling.

Routes through transhumance, the collegiate church and the Tarn

The Puecheral hiking route starts and ends in Bédouès and follows the Draille de la Margeride, a route used for the transhumance of sheep flocks. Transhumance means the seasonal movement of herds between grazing areas. When choosing a route, it helps to consider the difference between their points of interest: Puecheral links the herds’ route with a start and finish in Bédouès; the Histoire et patrimoine médiéval au fil de la source du Tarn route includes the fortified Collégiale de Bédouès. Check route conditions before setting out.

The Vallée du Tarn VTT n°9 mountain biking route runs alongside the Tarn. Unlike Puecheral, its course along the river is the clear point of reference. La Rodé provides access to the river for cooling off and relaxing. Access conditions may vary seasonally; check them before your visit.

Discover more destinations: Sainte-Croix-Vallée-Française, Mas-D'orcières, Quézac, Le Rozier, Albaret-Sainte-Marie, Banassac, Saint-Laurent-De-Trèves, La Panouse

For the broader travel overview: Lozère.