Circuit de St Côme - Aubrac
Saint-Côme-d?Olt, on the banks of the Lot, is one of France?s most beautiful villages.
Admire the medieval village and its church with its magnificent flamed bell tower. Follow the country road to Castelnau-de-Mandailles, the link between the Lot valley and Aubrac. After the "Trescol" pass (711 m), you'll come across Prades-d?Aubrac, a small mountain village with numerous basalt houses, spread over several levels of terraces surrounded by meadows.
Continuing your tour, you'll discover the Aubrac between forest and plateau. You'll pass through the Brameloup area: in winter, a friendly, family-friendly resort with a ski area suitable for learning downhill skiing. In summer, a pause at the spring or a stroll through the magnificent beech forest, with its scents of wild berries, Aubrac tea, gentian or arnica, is much appreciated. In autumn, the forest takes on magnificent colors and the bellowing of the stag, which you can hear from time to time, offers a unique ambience.
On the way back down, you'll pass Lac des Picades, a trout-fishing and relaxation spot, and then the hamlet of Bonnefon, where you'll plunge back into the history of the Domerie d'Aubrac (12th century), passing the imposing 15th-century tower (now privately owned) and the old granary at the rear, where the rye harvest was stored. As you continue on your way, you'll come across a number of hamlets and farms, testifying to the local agricultural activity, specialized in part in the extensive breeding of the Aubrac cattle breed.
After the hamlet of Le Recours, you come to the village of Saint-Chély-d?Aubrac, nestled in a green setting along the river "la Boralde de Saint-Chély". Take the small road on your left, which leads you to the "Pont des Pèlerins", the cross and the sculpted pilgrim (14th century), a cultural asset classified as a World Heritage Site as part of the Pilgrim's Way to Santiago de Compostela (Unesco ? 1998).
A few kilometers after Saint-Chély, you'll find the Union Aubrac selection and evaluation station on your left, which houses some 140 young males during the winter months.
From the village of Salgues, a pleasant road leads to Labastide-d?Aubrac and then Saint-Côme-d?Olt.
