Castelnau-De-Mandailles: Churches, Lake and Hiking

Castelnau-De-Mandailles offers several distinct points of interest to help you plan your trip: churches with different architectural and artistic histories, a viewpoint overlooking hydroelectric infrastructure, a hike along a ridge, and a park with gardens. This lets you choose the focus of your stay according to your interests. At Artistoparc, arranging an appointment in advance is explicitly part of planning your visit.

Churches and architectural history

A notable feature of the church in Castelnau is its restored Romanesque portal. Above the portal is a stained-glass window from 1926. It depicts an angel supporting a dying soldier from the First World War. The church became a parish church in 1630 and is dedicated to Saint Thomas Becket of Canterbury. The portal, window and dedication each provide a different architectural and religious accent.

In Castelnau’s outer fortified area, a manor chapel was built beside an old watchtower in the 16th century. In Cambon, the Romanesque church has been classified as a Monument historique since 1924. Its features include its architecture, rich furnishings and remarkable wall paintings.

The church in Mandailles also has its own architectural history: the present church dates from 1866 and replaced an earlier castle chapel. Its furnishings are Neo-Gothic; it is dedicated to Saint Peter and Saint Martial. The churches therefore differ not only in their histories, but also in their furnishings and dedications.

Viewpoint, lake and hydroelectric power

The Belvédère de Castelnau-Lassouts offers a remarkable view of the lake’s final meander, the dam and the power station. A permanent exhibition at the belvedere covers the history of hydroelectric power and the construction of the dam. Here, the landscape and the history of energy production come together.

The lake is considered remarkable for its abundance of fish and biodiversity, and offers opportunities for activities in nature. This gives you a second perspective on the area: alongside the dam and power station, the lake’s natural environment is also a point of interest.

Hiking along the ridge

The Circuit du Cerf is a hike along a ridge, with numerous sections through the forest. The terrain and wooded stretches are defining features of this route. If you would like to include a hike with this profile in your trip plans, you can also take into account road access to the starting point: it can be reached from Espalion or Saint-Geniez-d’Olt via the D557.

Artistoparc in Brousse

The approximately one-hectare Artistoparc in Brousse is open to the public, but visits are possible only by appointment made in advance. Be sure to take this requirement into account when planning a visit. The park includes a permaculture vegetable garden and an orchard; both are cultivated without artificial inputs.

The two garden areas have distinct focuses: one is dedicated to growing vegetables using permaculture, and the other to the orchard. Together, they give Artistoparc a clear focus on horticulture and cultivation.

Find a hotel to suit your travel interests

When looking for a hotel in Castelnau-De-Mandailles, it helps to first decide what you would like to focus on during your stay: church art, the views and hydroelectric power, a hike, or a pre-arranged visit to Artistoparc.

Discover more destinations: Rodez, Firmi, Viala-du-Tarn, Tauriac-De-Naucelle, Salles-Courbatiès, Saint-Amans-Des-Cots, Campagnac, Agen-D'aveyron

For the broader travel overview: Aveyron.