Reilhaguet – Landscape and Heritage

Reilhaguet lies on the western edge of the Causse de Gramat, also known as the Causse de Rocamadour. Its landscape, a route connected to a pilgrimage trail, and historic buildings offer different themes to explore. The GR 64 passes through Reilhaguet and follows the valley between the village and Laval.

Landscape and route connections

The landscape of the Causse de Gramat near Reilhaguet alternates between oak trees and junipers. It also includes dry valleys interspersed with clearings, suitable for sheep farming. Wooded areas and open valleys thus sit side by side, and farming is also part of the landscape. Causse de Rocamadour is another name for the Causse de Gramat.

Locally, the GR 64 is described as part of the Way of St. James. Its two local connections are distinct: it passes through Reilhaguet and follows the valley between Reilhaguet and Laval. The 2026 guide “Lot Saint James” lists Reilhaguet at kilometer 13.5 on the GR652. Check route details again before your trip.

Notre-Dame de l’Assomption

The church of Notre-Dame de l’Assomption combines a striking portal design with an elaborate interior. Its façade has a bell gable. Several archivolts with pointed profiles form the west portal; above them are a small niche and a trefoil window. The nave comprises three rib-vaulted bays, separated by wide transverse arches. The stained-glass windows bear the signature “G. P. Dagrand Bordeaux” and the date 1884.

The church appears to have been rebuilt between 1467 and the end of the 15th century. Wall paintings in the north chapel show angels playing the psaltery, harp, and organ. These paintings were classified as historic monuments on October 5, 1972; the church as a whole was listed as a historic monument on December 18, 2023. The statue “Christ on the Cross” dates from the first quarter of the 16th century. The chronology thus brings together a presumed rebuilding period, a date on the windows, and two distinct heritage-protection designations.

Château and church in Laval

The Château de Laval is a former fortified manor house built on a motte. Its surviving buildings are arranged in a U-shape around a courtyard on a rectangular earthwork. The square tower dates from the 13th century and is fully preserved across three stories. Notable painted decorations remain inside the tower. The complex thus offers several architectural features to observe: the layout of the courtyard, its position on the earthwork, and the multi-story tower.

The church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste in Laval can also be described through specific architectural features. It has a single-nave plan, a bell gable, and a pointed-arch portal. It may date from the 16th or 17th century. At Notre-Dame de l’Assomption, individual furnishings have more precise dates, whereas the dating of Saint-Jean-Baptiste remains tentative. This distinction helps avoid combining building history and furnishings into a single date.

Visitors choosing Reilhaguet will find a range of themes to consider when planning their trip: the changing landscape of the Causse, the GR 64’s local connection to the Way of St. James, and buildings with their own architectural and historical features. The GR652 details also provide a specific route reference; for the church and château, the focus is on architectural forms, furnishings, and different dating estimates.

Discover more destinations: Linac, Cahors, Lissac-et-Mouret, Francoulès, Floressas, Frayssinhes, Albas and Autoire.

For the broader travel overview: Lot.