Golinhac
and Sénergues
Having
crossed the Estaing bridge to get to the left bank of the Lot, the
pilgrims took the via Podiensis leading to Golinhac. This village
stop on the way from Saint-Jacques of Compostelle dominates the deep
gorges of the Lot. The church of Golinhac, dedicated to Saint-Martin
is half-Roman and half-gothic.
In the town, a cross was made by the
pilgrims of Saint-Jacques de Composterelle in the 15th century. This
cross represents three shells and a pilgrim holding his staff (stick).
Close to the village, at an altitude of 684 m, the Puech de Regault
offers a magnificent panorama over the valley of Entraygues, the
Viadène, the mountains of Aubrac and Auvergne. Also
called "the glancing hill", in good weather you can see
the Plomb du Cantal (Auvergne).
After Golinhac, you arrive
in Conques. All the way along these 25 km separating
Golinhac from Conques, the pilgrim crosses immense prairies,
chestnut and oak woods. Certain abandoned farms remind
us of the rural exodus that this region suffered during the
glorious thirties that caused the depopulation of the Aveyron
countryside. From the 19th century immigration had
begun when farms could no longer feed themselves. One
brother joined a college; the second went to Paris, the third
stayed in the country. The northern Aveyronnais also
directed their steps towards the capital. |
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From Golinhac to Conques, the pilgrim crosses
Campagnac and Espayrac, built on a rocky promontory. According
to a legend, a pilgrim called Vuitbert made blind by a highway
attack, re-found his sight by invoking Saint-Foy. To
visit; the church Saint-Pierre d'Espayrac.
On the way, the chateau de Sénergues (above and opposite)
with a tower built in 1388 and the main building in the 15th
century. The church of Sénergues also dedicated
to Saint Martin dates from the 14th and 15th centuries.
On leaving Sénergues, the pilgrim takes a route to
Fontromieu, which leads to Conques.
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Towards Conques
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