36km bike tour at La Bastide-Puylaurent

Distance: 36km. Maximum altitude: 1162m. Minimum altitude: 842m. Cumulative elevation: 832m.
IGN maps: La Bastide-Puylaurent (2738E). Largentière la Bastide-Puylaurent Vivarais Cévenol (2838OT).

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Chasseradès is an old commune that has retained its rural charm and historical heritage. Its stone houses, often covered with lauzes (local flat stones), are typical of Lozère architecture. The village also has a church dedicated to Saint-Blaise, dating from the 12th century. This Romanesque church is a fine example of the region's religious architecture, and it has been restored over the centuries while retaining its medieval character. The village is also famous for its railway viaduct, built for the former Compagnie du Midi train line, which links Clermont-Ferrand to Nîmes. The Chasseradès viaduct, with its imposing arches, is an impressive testimony to 19th-century engineering.

The etymology of the name Prévenchères dates back to the Middle Ages. The name is associated with the ecclesiastical history of the region, dominated by the Abbey of Saint Gilles. The first known mention of Prévenchères, in the form “Sancti Petri de Prevencheriis”, dates from a bull of Pope Calixtus II in 1119, confirming the possessions of the Abbey of Saint-Gilles. The name could therefore derive from the presence of a priory or a church dedicated to Saint Peter (Sancti Petri) in the region. Over time, the name evolved to become Prévenchères as we know it today. In the green setting of Lozère, Prévenchères stands like a sentinel of time, with its roots deeply anchored in medieval history. The Via Regordane, a path of merchants and pilgrims, crossed these lands, connecting Le Puy-en-Velay to Saint-Gilles-du-Gard, the scene of the exploits of William of Orange and a place of passage for those going to the tomb of Saint Gilles or to the Black Virgin of Le Puy.

In the heart of Prévenchères, the judicial past comes alive around a centuries-old lime tree, under which judges, in the shade of its rustling leaves, dispensed justice. It is not a simple tree, but a symbol of justice and community, planted, it is said, by Sully to celebrate the birth of the future Louis XIII. Its robust trunk and its outstretched branches have seen the seasons and centuries pass by, remaining an unwavering meeting point for the inhabitants. A stone's throw away stands the old 12th-century church, a jewel of Romanesque art, whose pointed barrel vault was rebuilt in the 17th century. The choir, the beating heart of the building, is a festival of granite sculptures, where each detail is a prayer petrified in stone. The neighboring churches, such as those of La Garde-Guérin or Puylaurent, share this same architectural language, a dialect of granite and faith that unites the region in a silent fraternity. It is deeply marked by the wars of religion. Traces of this can be found on the northern wall of the nave where recent restoration work reveals the original architectural decor.

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Former resort hotel with a garden on the banks of the Allier, L'Étoile Guesthouse is located in La Bastide-Puylaurent, nestled between Lozère, Ardèche, and the Cévennes in the mountains of Southern France. Positioned at the crossroads of GR®7, GR®70 Chemin Stevenson, GR®72, GR®700 Voie Régordane (Saint Gilles), GR®470 Sources and Gorges of the Allier, GRP® Cévenol, Montagne Ardéchoise, and Margeride. It offers numerous loop routes for hiking and day-long cycling excursions. Ideal for a relaxing stay.

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