Circuito en bicicleta de 44 km en La Bastide-Puylaurent

Distance: 44 km. Maximum altitude: 1182 m. Minimum altitude: 842 m. Total elevation gain: 781 m.
IGN maps: La Bastide-Puylaurent (2738E). Largentière La Bastide-Puylaurent Vivarais Cévenol (2838OT).

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Chasseradès is a former commune that has preserved its rural charm and historical heritage. Its stone houses, often covered with flat local stones (lauzes), are typical of Lozère architecture. The village also has a church dedicated to Saint Blaise dating back to the 12th century. This Romanesque church is a fine example of religious architecture in the region and has been restored over the centuries while retaining its medieval character. The village is also famous for its railway viaduct, built for the train line of the former Compagnie du Midi, which connects Clermont-Ferrand to Nîmes. The Chasseradès viaduct, with its imposing arches, is an impressive testimony of 19th-century engineering.

The etymology of the name Prévenchères dates back to the Middle Ages. The name is associated with the ecclesiastical history of the region, dominated by the Abbey of Saint Gilles. The first known mention of Prévenchères, under the form "Sancti Petri de Prevencheriis", dates to a papal bull of Pope Calixtus II from 1119, confirming the possessions of the Abbey of Saint Gilles. The name could therefore derive from the presence of a priory or a church dedicated to Saint Peter (Sancti Petri) in the region. Over time, the name evolved to become Prévenchères as we know it today. In the green setting of Lozère, Prévenchères stands as a sentinel of time, with roots deeply anchored in medieval history. The Regordane Way, a route for merchants and pilgrims, crossed these lands, connecting Puy-en-Velay to Saint-Gilles-du-Gard, stage of the exploits of Guillaume d’Orange and a passage point for those going to the tomb of Saint Gilles or to the Black Virgin of Le Puy.

At the heart of Prévenchères, the judicial past comes alive around an ancient linden tree, under whose rustling leaves judges rendered justice. It is not just a simple tree, but a symbol of justice and community, said to have been planted by Sully to celebrate the birth of the future Louis XIII. Its sturdy trunk and extended branches have witnessed the passing seasons and centuries, remaining an unshakable meeting point for the inhabitants. A stone’s throw away stands the old 12th-century church, a jewel of Romanesque art, whose broken barrel vault was rebuilt in the 17th century. The choir, the beating heart of the building, is a festival of granite sculptures, where every detail is a prayer petrified in stone. The neighboring churches, such as those of La Garde-Guérin or Puylaurent, share this same architectural language, a dialect of granite and faith that unites the region in a silent brotherhood. It is deeply marked by the religious wars. Traces of this can be found on the northern wall of the nave where recent restoration works reveal the original architectural decoration.

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Former holiday hotel with a garden along the Allier, L'Etoile Guest House is located in La Bastide-Puylaurent between Lozere, Ardeche, and the Cevennes in the mountains of Southern France. At the crossroads of GR®7, GR®70 Stevenson Path, GR®72, GR®700 Regordane Way, GR®470 Allier River springs and gorges, GRP® Cevenol, Ardechoise Mountains, Margeride. Numerous loop trails for hiking and one-day biking excursions. Ideal for a relaxing and hiking getaway.

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