Soulomès: Commandery, church art and Causse

A trip to Soulomès offers several distinct themes: the history of the commandery, paintings in a church, a signposted cycling circuit with geocaching, and a panorama of the Causse and the village. If you are looking for a hotel for your trip, the focus of your stay may be the deciding factor: cultural history, the circuit’s geocaching game, or views of the landscape.

The commandery and local history

The commandery in Soulomès belonged to the Hospitaller Order from the end of the 13th century. Between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, it was the commander’s residence. These details concern two different aspects: the first refers to its affiliation with the order, while the second refers to its use as a residence. They also cover different periods. The end of the 13th century marks the start of its affiliation, while its use as a residence extended over the longer period between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.

Church and historic paintings

The Church of Sainte-Madeleine in Soulomès was built in the 12th century. The paintings in the Church of Sainte-Marie-Madeleine in Soulomès were completed in two campaigns during the first half of the 16th century. The building and the paintings therefore belong to different historical periods. The tempera paintings are in the choir and the nave. In church architecture, the nave is the main space, while the choir is the area by the altar; the paintings are therefore spread across two different parts of the church interior. Their subjects include the Incredulity of Thomas, the Deposition from the Cross, Christ as the Gardener, Mary Magdalene, the Entombment and the Ascension. They also include the homage of a Knight of Malta to his feudal lord. The iconographic program thus combines several Christian scenes with a depiction of the homage.

Boucle du Vers en Géocaching

On its return to the Causse, the Boucle du Vers en Géocaching passes through Soulomès. Cycling circuit signs marked with the letter A identify the route. The geocaching game uses a companion booklet; a GPS device or smartphone is optional. The goal is to find four virtual caches and one physical cache at the end. The signs and game materials serve different purposes: the A is part of the cycling circuit signs, while the booklet is for the search; electronic devices are an optional addition. If you plan to take the tour with the game, check the latest route and game information beforehand.

Windmill remains and panorama

Just before the village of Soulomès, the remains of two windmills stand on a rise on the Causse. A 200-metre-long path from the crossroads offers a panorama of the Causse and the village of Soulomès. These are two distinct landscape features: the windmill remains on the rise and a measured path with views of the village and the Causse. The two details help distinguish the historic traces of the windmills from the described viewpoint.

Discover more destinations: Montlauzun, Saint-Cyprien, Concots, Labastide-Marnhac, Gramat, Montvalent, Saint-Martin-Labouval, Payrac

For the broader travel overview: Lot.