6 - LES BELVÉDÈRES DE ST-BERTRAND

It proudly overlooks the ancient site and the plain, offering an exceptional panorama of the surrounding countryside. Surrounded by ramparts, the remains of which can still be admired, the medieval town of Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges was once a lively and bustling place, with shops, inns and craft workshops, as well as vineyards and gardens. A hospital and a prison completed the urban organisation typical of the Middle Ages. At the heart of the city, the cathedral stands in a fortified enclosure known as the "scepte". This privileged space housed the episcopal palace, the canon houses, the cloister and the cemetery. According to medieval texts, a drawbridge linked this complex to the town. Walking through the narrow, winding and steep streets, visitors will discover a remarkable heritage, marked by history. Numerous stones and sculptures from the ancient city have been reused, giving the complex a unique character that blends Gallo-Roman heritage with medieval architecture. Listed as one of the "Most Beautiful Villages in France", Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges is a must-see in the heart of the Pyrenees. An Occitanie Grand Site and a UNESCO World Heritage Site on the Pilgrimage Route to Santiago de Compostela, the village invites you to take a journey back in time, through history, culture and exceptional landscapes.

On the Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges/Valcabrère site, the Olivétains building is a space designed to welcome you to the upper town in a former 19th-century convent, at the foot of Sainte-Marie Cathedral.At Les Olivétains, the Grand Site de Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges/Valcabrère, you'll find all the information you need to explore the site, the cathedral ticket office, a specialist bookshop/shop, contemporary art exhibitions and a groups service. Our tourist advisors will give you all the information you need about visiting the site: the Cathédrale Sainte Marie, the Basilique Saint-Just-de-Valcabrère, the Roman city of Lugdunum Convenae and the departmental archaeological museum. At our hiking desk, we can advise you on walks and hikes in the area. Maps and topographical guides are also on sale in our bookshop. Want to take home a souvenir? We're sure you'll find something to suit your tastes in our Haute-Garonne flavours shop.

Listed as a Historic Monument. The ancient city of Lugdunum is over 2,000 years old... The Grand Site of Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges/Valcabrère is well worth exploring, with its range of monuments from different periods.Founded in the 1st century BC, the capital of the Convènes territory (slightly larger than modern-day Comminges) covered an area of 36 hectares and had an estimated population of between 5,000 and 10,000. The oldest remains found on the site date back to the time of Emperor Augustus (27-14 BC). Only part of the ancient heritage is visible today, including the thermal baths, the market and the theatre. At the foot of the medieval town of Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges, the archaeological site of Lugdunum Convenarum invites visitors to step back nearly two thousand years in time to discover one of the most important ancient cities in south-western Gaul. Founded at the end of the 1st century BC, this prosperous Roman city occupied a strategic position between the Pyrenees and the Garonne valley, facilitating trade and cultural exchanges with the entire Roman world. Today, the preserved remains bear witness to the wealth and importance of this former capital of the Convènes. As visitors explore the site, they discover the traces of a genuine Roman city with its ancient theatre, thermal baths, forum, places of worship and imposing monumental market, considered one of the largest in Roman Gaul. These remains allow us to imagine the daily life of the inhabitants who once brought the streets of this flourishing city to life. The site is also distinguished by its exceptional setting. Dominated by the majestic silhouette of the medieval town and its cathedral, the ruins blend harmoniously into the Pyrenean landscape. This convergence of ancient and medieval heritage offers visitors a unique insight into history, illustrating the continuity of human settlement in this region from antiquity to the present day. The numerous archaeological excavations carried out over more than a century have gradually revealed the extent of the ancient city. They have unearthed remarkable finds that help to enrich our understanding of Gallo-Roman civilisation in the Pyrenees. The site is now a must-visit for enthusiasts of history, archaeology and heritage. A visit to Lugdunum Convenarum is a true immersion in ancient history. With its monumental remains, interpretive spaces and exceptional views of the surrounding mountains, the site offers an enriching cultural experience that will appeal to families and history enthusiasts alike. This exceptional testament to antiquity makes Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges one of the key sites of Occitanie’s archaeological heritage.

Listed as a Historic Monument. Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges Cathedral, in its present form, has undergone several transformations and spanned several periods under the guidance of three bishops.The cathedral was built around 1100 by Bertrand de l'Isle, Bishop of Comminges, and is flanked by a cloister and a fortified enclosure. In the early 14th century, during the pontificate of Clement V, and to accommodate the influx of pilgrims, the cathedral was extended in the Gothic style. Around 1535, the rood screen and choir stalls were inaugurated. Around 1550, the organ was completed. From the Romanesque period, Sainte-Marie Cathedral has retained part of the cloister and its portal. Altered over the centuries, it is today a true gem of southern Gothic architecture! Its choir of Renaissance stalls will bring your artistic journey through time to a close! Facing the Pyrenees, this Romanesque-Gothic cathedral (12th–14th centuries) will captivate you with its Romanesque bell-tower porch (12th century), its carved choir stalls, its stained-glass windows and organ case (16th century), its treasury (objects and liturgical vestments from the 12th to 19th centuries) and its Romanesque-Gothic cloister (12th–14th centuries). It is situated within the Grand Site Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges/Valcabrère. This cathedral is listed by UNESCO as part of the Routes of Santiago de Compostela.