Montredon: GR®65, Churches and Landscapes

Montredon sits on a hill at the edge of Auvergne, overlooking rolling terrain shaped by cattle farming. The uplands of the Ségala quercynois form a series of rounded ridges with grassy slopes where Limousin and Aubrac cattle graze. This sets the elevated village site apart from the broader landscape.

Hiking the GR®65

The GR®65 passes through Montredon and forms part of the Via Podiensis, also known as the Way of Le Puy-en-Velay. The stage from Montredon to Figeac is 20 km long and takes 6 hours and 45 minutes. This is a long hiking stage to factor into your day’s plans; actual walking time may vary depending on conditions. Check trail conditions before setting out and plan accordingly.

Churches and local history

Notre-Dame-de-Pitié and the Croix des trois évêques

The Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-Pitié is located on the GR®65 in Montredon. It houses a 16th-century Pietà; the chapel also contains a carved wooden triptych made by Abbé Bonal in 1967. The Croix des trois évêques has a clearly defined historical connection: it was erected in Montredon on 31 July 1949, where the territories of the three adjoining dioceses of Cahors, Rodez and Saint-Flour meet.

Saint-Michel

The church of Saint-Michel combines clearly articulated architecture with the story of the Croix des trois évêques. Its nave has six bays, the side aisles are vaulted, and the bell tower has paired pointed-arch openings. A bay is a section of the nave; the six bays make this layout easy to see. Three figurative stained-glass windows in the church commemorate the Croix des trois évêques. Hippolyte Poujade drew up a project for rebuilding the church. The associated plans and estimates are dated 6 March 1875.

Notre-Dame-de-Pitié combines a Pietà with a carved triptych, while Saint-Michel is distinguished by its architectural layout and commemorative windows.

Sainte-Madeleine in Poustans

The church of Sainte-Madeleine in Poustans has a square-ended choir, above which the bell tower rises. The choir has a rib vault, while the nave is covered only by a ceiling. Beneath the rib vault, the corbels are sculpted with human heads or plant motifs. The present church seems to date from no earlier than the 15th century; however, the shape of the vault corbels, and especially their supporting slabs, could point to an earlier date. An earlier date is therefore possible, but not certain.

Traces in the village centre

Traces of Montredon’s former commercial activity can still be found in the village centre. Montredon is also considered a stopping and welcoming place for numerous pilgrims on the Way of St James. Its trading history and role as a pilgrimage destination add two further historical perspectives to the village’s church architecture.

Discover more destinations: Lhospitalet, Prudhomat, Saint-Géry, Assier, Espère, Nuzéjouls, Boissières, Reyrevignes

For the overview of the wider area: Lot.