Visitez Saint Chély d'Aubrac
Saint-Chély-d?Aubrac nestles in the heart of the valley carved out by the Boralde de Saint-Chély, halfway between the Aubrac plateau and the Lot valley.
An essential stop-off point for several long-distance hiking trails, tourism is one of the activities that keeps this small Aveyron village alive. Its heritage is strongly linked to pilgrimage, with the church and the Pont des Pèlerins (Pilgrims? Bridge) the main witnesses. Don?t hesitate to come and visit Saint-Chély-d?Aubrac, its atmosphere is sure to charm you!
The Pont des Pèlerins, a landmark monument!
The bridge dates back to the 14th century and spans the Boralde de Saint-Chély at the bottom of the village. On the parapet, you can admire the beautiful stone cross bearing a bas-relief depicting a pilgrim, with his large cape (pèlerine), his bourdon (staff) and a rosary. Even today, this bridge is used by walkers from all over the world on their way from Le Puy-en-Velay to Santiago de Compostela. The monument is one of the 78 elements inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of the Chemins de Saint-Jacques in France.
The church and its double galleries
The interior is also full of surprises. Double wooden galleries are not very common in the region. They are more common in the south-west of France, particularly in the Basque region. As the church was too small to accommodate all the worshippers, and its extension made impossible by its location in the village, grandstands were built to make up for the lack of space. The church also houses a 14th-century altarpiece, one of the first in Europe.
Village houses
Take a stroll through the village streets and you'll see houses in a wide variety of styles. On Avenue d'Aubrac (now Route de Bonnefon), Saint-Chély-d?Aubrac?s main street, the houses are rather imposing, bourgeois in style.
Continuing into the village center, you'll see some older houses, some of them corbelled and half-timbered, dating back to the 17th century. The Tower, now converted into a B&B, dates from the late Middle Ages. This diversity is proof of Saint-Chély-d?Aubrac?s long history.
