Payzac – Heritage, sandstone and dinosaur footprints

Payzac brings together protected hamlets, a distinctive terraced landscape and traces of cultural and geological history. From the Chapelle funéraire Notre-Dame des Sept Douleurs to the circular routes and dinosaur footprints, the area reveals several different sides. When looking for a hotel in Payzac, you can narrow down your search by the focus of your trip.

Landscape and protected hamlets

The entire municipality is recognised as a Site Patrimonial Remarquable (SPR), and its old hamlets are protected. Payzac’s distinctive topography also shapes the landscape throughout the area: successive levels of terrain and viewpoints give the surroundings their character. The paths are lined with small heritage features and distinctive vegetation. Protection, landscape and the small details along the paths are all part of the experience, rather than being confined to a single town centre.

The chapel and traces of history

Historically, pilgrims travelling to the major pilgrimage site of Notre-Dame du Puy would stop in Payzac. At the time, the place was called Payjacum. One landmark building is the Chapelle funéraire Notre-Dame des Sept Douleurs: it was designed by the Lyon architect Pierre Bossan and built between 1852 and 1865. It was listed as a heritage site in 1982.

Its artistic decoration is also attributed to specific creators. The statues and terracotta motifs of the first eleven stations of the semicircular Stations of the Cross were made by the Lyon sculptor Joseph-Hugues Fabisch. This links the chapel’s architectural history to a particular artist and a clearly defined sequence of stations.

Dinosaur footprints and circular routes

The “Les Grès du Trias” route features around thirty dinosaur footprints in Triassic sandstone in Payzac, as well as four rare trackways showing both foot and hand impressions. The footprints are attributed to Coelurosaurichnus grancieri, a type considered unknown elsewhere. The route therefore focuses on both the geological bedrock and an unusual footprint pattern.

The easy “Les Grès du Trias” circular walk is 5.9 kilometres long and takes about two hours. It starts and finishes at the Salle des fêtes de la Blache in Payzac. The VTT-FFC circular route No. 32, “Au grés de Brès”, also starts and finishes there; it is 9.4 kilometres long and takes about an hour and a half. The walk is the shorter route, but it is listed as taking longer.

On the mountain biking route, red and grey sandstone formations alternate with terraces planted with olive trees or vines. The route also passes through pine and holm oak forests and offers panoramic views. Along the way, it passes the church of Saint Hyppolite de Brès, known for its unusual red sandstone construction.

Agriculture and activities

Terraced vineyards and olive groves shape Payzac’s agricultural landscape. The main grape varieties include Gamay, Merlot and Chatus. Blanche de Payzac and Rougette are the olive varieties named for olive oil production.

“Butinez en famille – Randoland Payzac” is a free treasure hunt with three age groups: ages 4 to 6, 7 to 9, and 10 and over. It is available from the tourist offices in Joyeuse and Les Vans.

Fossil footprints indoors and outdoors

The attraction “Sur les traces des premiers dinosaures” features fossil footprints indoors and outdoors. Its collection contains more than 470 footprints and is considered extremely rare in France. Visitors can make and take home their own cast of a dinosaur footprint. If you plan to visit the exhibition and take part in the activity, check in advance that both are available on your visit date.

Discover more destinations: Valvignères, Banne, Chauzon, Cornas, Saint-Cirgues-En-Montagne, Joannas, Saint Basile, Burzet

For the broader travel guide: Ardèche.