Moyrazès: Churches, Pont de Comencau and Hiking Trails

Moyrazès lies at an altitude of about 700 metres on the heights of the Ségala plateau. In clear weather, the panorama may include Rodez, the Cantal, Aubrac, the Palanges, Lévézou and even the Pyrenees. This long-distance view depends on the weather. To get your bearings in the village, consider the history of its buildings and local area, as well as the hiking trails and their varying time estimates, as two points of focus. This makes it possible to plan your stay according to your interest in architecture, history or hiking.

Saint-Médard Church and Local History

Saint-Médard Church was built in 1341 by the Bishop of Rodez as a castle chapel for the bishop’s summer residence established there. On 5 August 1526, François d’Estaing authorised its partial rebuilding, to be funded by a voluntary taille tax. Saint-Médard is a 16th-century Gothic building with a pentagonal choir. The term castle chapel points to its connection with the summer residence; the choir is another specific architectural feature. The history of the building and the church’s design can therefore be considered separately.

A stroll through Moyrazès also takes you past the former seigneurial prison complex. On the heights, the oratory stands on the site of a former windmill. These two landmarks complement the church with other aspects of the village’s history: you encounter the prison complex on a walk through the village, while the oratory combines a religious building with the former site of a windmill.

Pont de Comencau: Bridge and Access

Pont de Comencau is a 15th-century bridge over the Aveyron. It lies within the territory of the communes of Moyrazès and Druelle and forms part of the GR62B. Specific access information is provided: from the roadside car park near the hamlet of Caufour, you can reach the bridge only on foot or by mountain bike via an unpaved track. Take this into account when planning your visit, and check local trail conditions beforehand. Its location on the GR62B and the stated access options are two useful points of reference for visiting the bridge.

Hiking Trails by Time Required

The Cantagrel–La Maresque hiking trail is 9 kilometres long and takes about 2 hours 30 minutes. Les Planques–Aiguesvives covers 9.5 kilometres and takes about 3 hours; a variant is 19 kilometres long and takes about 6 hours. The two shorter routes differ in distance by 0.5 kilometres, but their stated durations differ by about half an hour. The time estimates are therefore a separate point of comparison alongside distance when planning your schedule. The longer Les Planques–Aiguesvives variant allows for a considerably longer outing on this trail.

The basic Moulin d’Ayssens–Pont de Moyrazès route is listed as taking 2 hours 30 minutes. The variants range from 8.2 kilometres in 2 hours 45 minutes, to 9 kilometres in 3 hours, and 12.5 kilometres in 4 hours. Within this trail, the variants increase step by step in both distance and duration; the shortest variant is close in duration to the basic route, while the longest takes four hours. Compare these time estimates with the time you have set aside for your hike, and check current trail conditions before setting out.

Discover more destinations: Tayrac, Sébrazac, Cabanès, Lapanouse-de-Cernon, La Capelle-Bleys, Coupiac, Salles-la-Source, Entraygues-Sur-Truyère

For the main travel overview: Aveyron.