Nougairolles path
Description
This getaway that goes to the Nougayrolles mount crosses along its way the dolmen tour and holds in the heart of a pastoral landscape some magnificent scenic views over the causse of Saint-Affrique.Upon leaving the car park on the rue Lamartine, turn right and carry straight on to the Maison de la Mémoire. Walk down to the left on rue Pierre Cadias, then stay on your right to reach the rue des Potiers (graveyard road)Take the road that leads to the graveyard (D 50). Then, a bit further than the new graveyard, leave the road to take a left a dirt road.Walk along a brook and join up with the route de Bages that you take to the right. Make a wide turn.Walk off the road by turning to the left and head your way to the north towards Roubiac. After the last house, keep going on an ascending dirt road throughout the woodland.Reach the intersection south of Nougayrolles, carry on northward and walk close to a lavogne in leaving the access to the equestrian gite on the right (make sure you close the gate behind you). Continue on a small road up to the intersection with the route de Bages in Crassous. Take the road to the right and carry on for 1 km 100.Reach the road that leads to Boussac. Opposite, a path lined up with box-trees will lead you to the Puech Ibilié dolmen in a 15 minute time going there and back. Retrace your steps back and take the road towards Crassous in a north-easterly direction. A bit before the quarry to the right is another well-preserved dolmen, the Crassous dolmen.At the exit of Crassous, take to the right the boussière that gently slopes down to the D50 road. Walk across the road and carry on the track opposite. Walk across the stream on a lovely small wooden bridge and join up with the valley path which you take to the right.Keep going in the same direction. Walk along a sheepfold. Leave to the right the path that joins the D50 (alternative route towards Nougayolles). Reach the intersection with the trail coming from the crests.Carry on walking the path overlooking the D993 that can be seen below to the left. Walk around Caylus rock on a stone path and reach the tarmac road.At the intersection, take the road to the left and walk in a narrow path. Then, join a tarred road that goes downhill towards Saint-Affrique and leads you to the town centre.This circuit has been designed and described by the hikers association Les Cardabelles
Technical Information
Altimetric profile
Starting point
Steps
Dolmen de Crassous
Ce dolmen, visible depuis la route, fait partie, avec celui de Tiergues, des dolmens qui méritent le détour. Son surnom, l'Ercoule, nous rappelle que selon la légende ce fut le demi-dieu Hercule connu pour sa force sur-humaine qui bâtit cette sépulture.source : Statues-menhir et dolmens des Causses et du Haut Languedoc - Bruno Marc - Les Presses du languedoc
Château des comtes de Caylus
Ce rocher servit d'appui à la construction du château des comtes de Caylus au XIème siècle, dont il ne reste aucune trace aujourd'hui.Au pied du Rocher, à l'intérieur de l'enceinte fortifiée, étaient regroupé les maisons des serviteurs du château, formant de l'est à l'ouest une rue traversante.Les habitants de Saint-Affrique s'étant plaints du seigneur de Caylus auprès de Raimond VII, le château fut détruit à la suite d'une rebellion en 1238 du comte de Caylus contre son suzerain Raymond VII, comte de Toulouse, marquis de Provence et de Gothie.Le mur d'enceinte a subsisté jusqu'au début du XIXème siècle : en 1808, le Conseil Municipal de Saint-Affrique le fit abattre pour empierrer la route de Tiergues, alors route impériale 99.Le rocher culmine à 519 mètres.
Points of interest
Crassous dolmen
This dolmen which can be seen from the road is one of the dolmens that is worth making a detour to visit. It is nicknamed l’Ercoule owing to an old legend that the demigod Hercules, known for his superhuman strength, must have built this burial chamber.
Counts of Caylus’ Castle
This rock was used as the bedrock for the building of the Counts of Caylus’ Castle of which nothing remains todayThe castle was destroyed in retaliation of Count of Caylus’ rebellion against his overlord Raymond VII, count of Toulouse, marquis of Provence and of Gothie.
Additional information
Public transport
Getting around by bus or train: lio.laregion.fr/carpooling: BlaBlaCar, Rézo Pouce, Mobicoop, Idvroom, LaRoueVerte, Roulez malin
Advice
Box tree moths are active from May to October. During the caterpillar phase, they feed on the leaves of box trees. They crawl down trees and move on long silken threads, although these threads are annoying when hiking they do not pose any health risk.
Advised parking
rue Lamartine car park
Access
Saint-Affrique is situated on the D999 road linking Millau to Albi
Arrival
rue Lamartine car park in St-Affrique
Ambiance
With an average 337m difference in altitude, this loop that runs on one of the summits overlooking Saint-Affrique leads you at an easy jog-trot up to the Domaine de Nougayrolles horse breeding centre encircled by dry stones. Beyond, the Puech Ibilié and Crassous megaliths await you at the bent of a path, in the hilly landscape of the frontal causses.
Departure
rue Lamartine car park in St-Affrique
Data author
