Through fields and hedgerows, this route will take you to the springs of Caudesaygues, a stream with "warm waters". Espinas grew up at the foot of a feudal tower, where the inhabitants could shelter their possessions in case of danger. Some of the remains of this tower, known as "la murette", can still be seen in the centre of the village. Every year, the traditional hay-making festival takes place, organised by the village festivities committee. The village is brought to life by life-size figures made of straw, representing the jobs our peasants did at the time of haymaking, all dressed in authentic period clothing.



Route with 55% of road.

You'll discover the terrefort, a transitional region between the Causse and the granite soils of the Massif Central. The landscape is undulating and the clay-covered soil is richer and deeper than on the Causse. As a result, it is more cultivated.

This is an agricultural landscape where meadows and fields alternate. On the steepest slopes, woodlands dominate, with pubescent and pedunculate oak, ash, lime, elm and hornbeam.



Route with 65% of road.

This route around Caylus is rich in historical heritage. Ancient Roman roads, stone crosses, dolmens and caves are just some of the vestiges that will enhance your walk through the varied countryside. This trail is suitable for mountain biking, with a slight gradient.

This route has few road sections. It is difficult, long and sunny, so we recommend it for good walkers. The fauna is rich and you may even spot a roe deer or the large green lizard that populates the Causse. This is an ideal walk for discovering the flora of the Causse. You'll alternate between meadows, moorland and undergrowth. In the coombs before Gagne-Po (Ganha pan: breadwinner), the path winds under boxwood arbours, offering a refreshing moment for summer walkers.



In Caylus, the Place de la Halle, with the facades and roofs of the buildings that line it, was listed as an Inscribed Site. The covered market became a Historic Monument on 16 February 1900. The structure and shape of its pillars suggest that the Halle dates from the late 15th and early 16th centuries. Built in 1505 and originally located on the opposite side of the square, it had just fourteen pillars. It was moved and enlarged in 1905.



Route with 20% of road.

This walk allows you to appreciate the diversity of the Causse: meadows, juniper heaths and oak woods follow one another. Animals can often be seen. There are several noteworthy hamlets on this route (La Salle, Burguet and Genebrières). At Pech Poujol (potzol: little well), there is a remarkable viewpoint over the Causse, with the presence of a windmill. This trail is unusual in that it has several wells, one of the richest features of the Causse. There are both roofed wells (used to supply the inhabitants) and open wells (used to water livestock).



Discover the Genebrière watering hole. Water was and remains a precious resource on the Causse. That's why people came to the same place to water their livestock and wash their clothes. The V-shaped sloping stone slabs were used to beat the washing. They are known as "lavoir-papillon" (butterfly wash) because they are reminiscent of the wings of this insect. (Source APICQ)



Route with 30 % of road.

The priory of Saint-Symphorien is partly in Caylus (the choir) and partly in Puylaroque (the nave).

The present-day church of Saint-Symphorien dates from the 15th century. It was built on the site of an earlier church destroyed during the Hundred Years' War. The first church was built in the 12th to 13th centuries. It was a former priory of the diocese of Cahors. According to tradition, the church was founded at the beginning of the 11th century by the Knights of the Order of the Temple. This secluded building overlooks the Sietges stream.

A so-called "miraculous" fountain springs up between the priory and the cemetery. It was said to have curative properties for blindness and rickets in children.



The name Caylus derives from castellucium, meaning "little castle". Today, Caylus offers visitors the pleasure of its landscapes and a treasure trove of Gothic architecture, including the town houses, the Gauléjac pavilion and the church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste, where you can admire the monumental Christ carved from an elm trunk by Ossip Zadkine, one of the undisputed masters of this art form.

contemporary sculpture and the former priory of Saint-Symphorien.



Route with 20% of road.