Castelmary: Castle and Lézert Gorges

Castelmary combines visible traces of its history with a distinctive river landscape. The castle stands on a rocky spur overlooking the gorges and meanders of the Lézert. The Porta Barrieyra can also be seen at the entrance to the village. When planning your trip, it is worth considering these features separately: the castle and the gate are different architectural landmarks, while the river, valley and hiking route describe the surrounding landscape.

The castle and traces of its architectural history

Castelmary Castle is now a ruin. Only a few sections of wall remain; the site stands on a rocky spur above the gorges and meanders of the Lézert. Both its location and its fragmentary condition shape the historical character of the place. The sections of wall are privately owned. If you are considering entering the site, check the access arrangements locally.

Porta Barrieyra and church ruins

The Porta Barrieyra dates from the 14th century and is visible at the entrance to the village. It may also have served as the bell tower of the church dedicated to Saint Fabian and Saint Sebastian. The 14th century places the gate in its historical context, while its possible function as a bell tower links it to the church.

The ruins of Castelmary’s church now serve as a passage for the path that goes around the tower at the entrance to the village. Unlike the Porta’s presumed former role as a bell tower, this is a present-day function of the path; both details shed light on different periods in the village’s history.

The Lézert, the Viaur and the landscape

The Lézert rises in the hamlet of Castanet. In the village of Port de la Besse, it flows into the Viaur, after passing through wild, wooded and steep-sided gorges. Its source and confluence are thus associated with two specific place names: Castanet marks the river’s origin, while Port de la Besse is where it joins the Viaur. The gorges describe the stretch in between and frame the landscape.

Castelmary is one of the communes included in the continental type 2 ZNIEFF (Natural Area of Ecological, Faunistic and Floristic Interest), “Vallée du Viaur et ses affluents” (“Viaur Valley and its tributaries”). The village is also a protected site in the Aveyron department. These designations apply to Castelmary itself and complement the description of the Lézert as an individual river by placing it within a wider landscape. For nature enthusiasts, this clearly named area classification is another point of reference alongside the river’s course.

The “Entre Lézert et Viaur” hiking route offers another way to experience nature. It descends from the plateau into a wild, still-unspoilt valley. Unlike the description of the river, the focus here is on the change in terrain from plateau to valley.

When planning your stay, you can choose your focus accordingly: the castle, Porta and church ruins reveal the architectural traces and their place in history; the Lézert, its gorges and the hiking route turn your attention to the landscape. This way, you can decide whether to explore Castelmary mainly through its history or its river landscape.

Discover more destinations: Comprégnac, Aubin, Nauviale, Sénergues, Rivière-Sur-Tarn, Saint-Léons, Rodez, Lunac

For the regional travel overview: Aveyron.