Aubrac
and Saint Chély of Aubrac
In the middle age, the crossing of the Aubrac by every pilgrim led
to Saint-Jacques of Compostelle since the Puy-en-Velay was particularly
perilous due to the violent wind that blows and the snow that can
surprise the pilgrim and be lost for ever.
In winter, the mountains of the Aubrac resemble equally the Siberian
steppe as the Scottish Highlands.
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The construction of the monastery to help
the pilgrims in this wild country began in 1120.
We owe the Dômerie of Aubrac to Adalard, Lord of Flandres. When he
went on his pilgrimage, he almost perished crossing the plateau of Aubrac.
On route, he was attacked by a horde of highwaymen and robbed. On his return,
he was surprised this time by a snowstorm. Coming out safe and sound from
this ordeal, he promised to build in this place a refuge house, for the traveller
and to chase from the mountains the thieves that infested it.
The hospital and the monastery came under the reign of Saint-Augustin.
The knights of the order of Jerusalem were also charged with the protection of
pilgrims. The Dômerie was recognised by Chateaubriand who called
it « Great Saint Bernard of France ». |
The church
tower holds the bell Maria, called the « bell of the lost ». As
its nickname suggests, its job was to guide the lost pilgrims
in the snow or fog towards the Dômerie.
You can read the following inscription:
« Exalt for God,
Sing for the clerks,
Hunt the Demons,
Call back the lost ».
In 1353, with the hundred years war, the
monastery endowed itself with a 30m high tower destined to
protect against the "roadsters",
these mercenaries turned highwaymen of the great road that
infested the region against the English soldiers. Hence
came the name the English Tower.
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Still today, it is recommended to pilgrims and walkers and
even in during the summer, to cover up to protect yourself
against the wind that can blow across the plains.
The Aubrac crossing, this plateau of 2
500 km², allows
you to discover a surprisingly intact nature.
You can meet the herds of the Aubrac race or the pilgrim will
be surprised by the particularly rich and varied variety of
flora. 1 300 species have
in fact been catalogued.
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From the
village of Aubrac, the pilgrim takes an unevenness (1307 -
808 m) until the village of Saint-Chély d'Aubrac where
the cross of the Old Bridge has been classed as Human World
Heritage.
Situated at an altitude of 800 m, Saint-Chély d'Aubrac is crouched at
the foot of the plateau of Aubrac in a green valley. If the section of
the GR 65 Nasbinals-Aubrac-St-Chély d'Aubrac (17 km) had been classed
as Human World Heritage by UNESCO, in December 1998, for it's natural authentic
setting, the bridge of the Pilgrims on the Boralde, at Saint-Chély d'Aubrac
is equally classed. |
Situated on the route of Saint-Jacques
of Compostelle, the Cross of Pilgrims of Saint-Chély
on the Old Bridge represents a pilgrim with his hand on
his staff (stick supposed to ward off unbelievers and demons)
and holding in the other, a rosary.
The Roman church of St. Chély dates from the 11th-12th centuries. Reconstructed
in the 15th century, following a fire about 1385 during the hundred years war,
there remains one tower of the old fortifications that served as a belfry. To
note; a gothic bas-relief on the left of the entrance representing around Jesus
Christ, four apostles one of whom is Saint-Jacques le Majeur.
After Saint-Chély begins a long descent towards the
next stop of Saint-Côme-d'Olt. Walking through
beech and chestnut woods, the pilgrim leaves the plains of
Aubrac to rejoin the Lot valley and Saint-Côme-d'Olt.
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>> See the map
>>See the Diaporama
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