Comiac: Walking Routes and Heritage

If you are looking for a hotel in Comiac, you can plan your stay around a simple question: should you focus on hiking routes, architectural and local history, or both? Three described routes differ in length and course. The Church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste brings together visible medieval fabric, an early written mention, and the bas-relief Dieu au Maillet. This allows you to plan your stay around the themes that interest you.

Hiking in Comiac: three routes with different focuses

The Le Lac des Vergnes circular route starts in Comiac and is 11.3 kilometres long. The Communauté de Communes de Cauvaldor maintains and signs it. The route follows a stream to Lac des Vergnes and goes around the lake. Along the way, it offers encounters with rural heritage features such as fountains, bridges, and wayside crosses. This route therefore combines a lakeside walk with insights into the rural heritage.

Circular Route A, which is 8 kilometres long, is designed as a discovery walk through the former municipality of Comiac. Its focus is on landscapes, old buildings, and characteristic hamlets. At 14 kilometres, Circular Route C is the longest of the three routes described here. It climbs to the site of the former château; the route then descends along the road to the church with the Dieu au Maillet.

The three specific distances can therefore be compared: 8 kilometres for Circular Route A, 11.3 kilometres at Lac des Vergnes, and 14 kilometres for Circular Route C. The route content also differs: A focuses on landscapes, buildings, and hamlets; the Lac route on the stream and lake; and C links the site of the former château with the church. You can choose based on route length and the focus that interests you.

The Church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste and local history

The Church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste is an important point of reference for the history of Comiac. The earliest known mentions date back to the beginning of the 14th century. In the customary charter granted by Gilbert de Vayrac in 1304, the church is named as the first reference point for defining the boundaries of the Comiac territory. Significant medieval remains are visible at the church, particularly around the chancel and in the north chapel. Written records and surviving fabric thus offer two different ways to explore local history.

The sculpture Dieu au Maillet is displayed in the church. The bas-relief dates from the 10th or 11th century and was restored by the local association after its rediscovery. Its dating places it in an earlier period than the church’s first known mentions. A visit to Saint-Jean-Baptiste therefore lets you take in both medieval architectural features and a work of art with its own, earlier history.

Listed buildings and historic sites

In Aleyrangues, Comiac, the Ferme is partially listed as a Monument historique. It was listed by decree dated 20 March 2023. The dwelling and the well are fully protected. For the two barns and stable buildings, protection covers the façades and roofs.

The Château de Comiac is also part of the area’s history: in 1377, during the Hundred Years’ War, it fell into English hands. Circular Route C climbs to the site of the former château and then descends to the Church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste. The route thus connects two historical points of reference without suggesting that the château site is the same as a surviving château.

Discover more destinations: Linac, Milhac, Le Boulvé, Gintrac, Creysse, Caillac, Bretenoux, Gramat

For the wider travel overview: Lot.