Discover Saint-Julien-Des-Chazes

Saint-Julien-des-Chazes can be explored for trip planning through specific cultural and touring themes: the Chapelle Sainte-Marie-des-Chazes, the Benedictine abbey of Saint-Pierre-des-Chazes and two challenging circular hikes offer different points of focus. The Via Allier cycling stage from Langeac to Prades also provides regional context. If you are looking for a hotel, you can first decide whether your trip will focus more on Romanesque heritage, a hike or a cycling tour.

Chapelle Sainte-Marie and the history of the abbey

The Chapelle Sainte-Marie-des-Chazes was designated a historic monument in 1862. Its history also reaches back to the Middle Ages: it was a priory dependent on the Benedictine abbey of Saint-Pierre-des-Chazes. The abbey was founded around 910. These dates and facts offer several historical points of reference: the approximate date of the abbey’s foundation, the chapel’s role as a dependent priory, and its designation as a historic monument in 1862. Together, they provide a historical framework for the area.

Statue and Romanesque art

The statue of Notre-Dame des Chazes dates from the 11th or 12th century and is considered a masterpiece of Auvergnat Romanesque art. It is no longer in the chapel; today, it is located in the parish church. If the statue is of particular interest to you, this distinction is important for finding it: its current location is the parish church. The chapel itself, sheltered by basalt cliffs, is also considered an outstanding example of Auvergnat Romanesque art. This lets you distinguish between two different artistic points of interest: the statue and the chapel as a building.

A Mass is celebrated at the Notre-Dame des Chazes sanctuary every year on August 15 for the Feast of the Assumption. If you are planning your trip around this date in a particular year, check the details of the celebration in advance. This lets you take the annual tradition into account without assuming the date for a specific year without checking.

Hiking: two challenging circular routes

The PR323 L'ermitage de Saint-Gal is a marked, challenging circular hike starting in Saint-Julien-des-Chazes. It is 7.1 kilometres long and takes about two hours. The PR214 Les croix à boules is also a marked, challenging circular hike starting in Saint-Julien-des-Chazes, but it covers 12.7 kilometres. Along the way, the route passes beneath the basalt columns of Roche Servière. These are two circular routes with the same starting point, but different distances and distinct landscape features.

For a direct comparison, the PR323 is 5.6 kilometres shorter than the PR214; an approximate walking time of two hours is also given for the PR323. Both routes are rated challenging. The shorter distance does not mean that the PR323 is considered an easy hike. If you are choosing between the two, you can consider the distance, their shared difficulty rating and the approximate time given for the PR323.

Cycling on the Via Allier

Another perspective is offered by the Via Allier cycling stage from Langeac to Prades. It recommends Saint-Julien-des-Chazes and the Chapelle Sainte-Marie as places of interest along the way. The stage that includes Saint-Julien-des-Chazes is suitable for experienced cyclists or cyclists using an electrically assisted bicycle. Check the stage conditions before setting off. Cycling thus complements the two hiking routes with a different way to travel, while the recommendations identify the village and the chapel as stops on this Via Allier stage.

For a broader travel overview: Haute-Loire.