Gaudiès: Heritage and the Hers River Landscape

Gaudiès offers several ways to explore the area: historic buildings, varied landscapes along the Hers and a canoe route that runs from here to Calmont. The dates associated with the buildings range from the 11th or 12th century to modern times; the riverside attractions include a beach, a landing stage and a canoe trip, each offering a different way to experience the Hers.

Castles and churches in Gaudiès

Construction of Gaudiès Castle began in 1280 around a church dating from the first half of the 12th century. The castle has a moat and a preserved drawbridge. These details give the building its own historical context: the start of construction on the castle is dated, while the church around which it was built dates back further.

Malportel Castle has a different date: François de Baron, a viguier of Pamiers, had it built in 1565. A cannon loophole is preserved on the side facing the Hers. This specific architectural feature adds a clue to the castle’s historical function alongside the date, without implying that the two castles are the same.

The present-day parish church of Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption is documented after 1630. Its brick bell-gable has three sound openings. Three Romanesque double capitals featuring human and fantastical animal figures are also recorded in Gaudiès. They may date from the 11th or 12th century, but this is uncertain. The capitals are therefore a distinct art-historical feature; their precise date remains open to question.

The landscape along the Hers

The landscape can be divided into three zones. In the middle lies the alluvial plain of the Hers, which is slightly prone to flooding. To the west are alluvial terraces at an altitude of 250 metres. To the east, the terrain rises along slopes of molasse, puddingstone and limestone to 350 metres. A comparison helps with orientation: the terrace is the western part of the landscape described, while the higher slopes are to the east; the plain lies between them, alongside the river.

There are also different points of reference by the water. Gaudiès beach lies by the village square, in a bend in the Hers. The landing stage is upstream from it. This distinguishes the beach’s location in the village from the landing stage’s relative position, without treating the two as the same starting point.

Canoeing on the Hers Vif

The canoe route on the Hers Vif is 23 kilometres long and runs from Gaudiès to Calmont. The trip is suitable for beginners. Its length and endpoints provide a clear framework for planning your own journey; at the same time, the route should be distinguished from the individual riverside locations: the beach is in the bend by the village square, the landing stage is upstream from it, and the route continues as far as Calmont.

Gaudiès offers several different focuses for a stay: the history and details of the castles, the parish church and the recorded capitals, as well as the landscape and the water. Those interested in canoeing can find a named route with a stated length and destination. Those looking at the village’s history can distinguish between the different construction dates and the individual features of the castle, Malportel Castle and the parish church.

Discover more destinations: L'aiguillon, Audressein, Sainte-Croix-Volvestre, Bonnac, Saurat, Betchat, Durfort, Laroque-D'olmes

For an overview of the wider region: Ariège.