Discover Castelnau-De-Lévis

Get to know Castelnau-De-Lévis through its distinctive building and local histories, as well as two hiking trails. Topics to consider when planning your trip include the Gothic Eglise Saint-Barthélémy, the Eglise du Carla, the Château and trails with different described features. Historical information, visitor arrangements for the Eglise du Carla and trail descriptions offer various elements to help you plan your stay.

Churches: Building history and visits

The Eglise Saint-Barthélémy is a Gothic church built on the ruins of a Romanesque church. Its building history thus connects the Gothic church with an earlier Romanesque structure. The Eglise Saint-Barthélémy was listed as a historic monument in 1927. This year refers to its listing, not the church’s construction, and should therefore be distinguished from its building history.

The Eglise du Carla is also classified as a historic monument and is also known as Église Sainte-Cécile. It was built in the 15th century on the site of a village destroyed by Simon de Montfort during the Albigensian Crusade. The two names refer to the same church; its local history is connected to the site of the former village. Individual visits are possible at any time without a guide; guided visits are available on request. As visitor information may change, check the current arrangements before your visit.

The Château and its history

The Château de Castelnau-de-Lévis was founded in 1235 and was formerly known as Castelnau-de-Bonnafous. The former name and the year of its founding provide two different historical reference points: one concerns the history of its name, the other its founding. The Eglise Saint-Barthélémy, by contrast, is a Gothic church built on the ruins of a Romanesque church and listed as a historic monument. These details therefore relate to different aspects of the area’s building and local history.

Hiking trails with different profiles

The marked Sentier de Fonfrège is an easy hiking trail that starts at the town hall car park. Its description gives both the difficulty level and a named starting point, providing practical guidance for planning your day.

The Sentier des Bouissières passes through woodland, follows the Tarn to the Mirgouses plain, then returns via the old Bouissières path. Its description follows a sequence of landscapes and paths: woodland, river, plain and return route. The trail also offers opportunities to observe local wildlife and plant life, as well as views of the medieval village and its Château.

The difference between the two lies in their stated highlights: for the Sentier de Fonfrège, the description specifies that it is marked and easy, and gives its starting point. The description of the Sentier des Bouissières links its landscape features and return route with opportunities for nature watching and scenic views. You can therefore choose based on whether the specified difficulty and starting point or the described sequence of landscapes matters more to you.

Circuit de Puech Rampant: training use

The Circuit de Puech Rampant differs from the hiking trails described here: it is approved for approximately ten training days per year and is reserved exclusively for riders with a valid FFM licence for the current year. As annual schedules and licence requirements may change, check the club’s current information before making plans.

Discover more destinations: Montcabrier, Andillac, Cahuzac-Sur-Vère, Lisle-Sur-Tarn, Fréjeville, Sainte-Cécile-Du-Cayrou, Moulin-Mage, La Sauzière-Saint-Jean.

For the broader travel overview: Tarn.