Located between the Causses and Aubrac, Saint-Geniez d’Olt is a charming city in the Lot valley. A must for discovering the Aveyron and plateaux of the Aubrac or the Causse de Sévérac. Zoom on one of the most beautiful cities of Aveyron, located in the beautiful valley of the Lot.
Let’s visit Saint-Geniez d’Olt in France
What is fantastic in Saint-Geniez are the houses built on the banks of the Lot. It is both a concentrate of life and a very open place where the brightness changes throughout the day.
Things to See in Saint-Geniez
This town of just over two thousand inhabitants is ideally located at the foot of the Aubrac plateaus and in the heart of the Lot valley. As a reminder, the Lot Valley is more than 450 kilometers of river and meanders for only 120 kilometers in length as the crow flies.
The Chapel of the Black Penitents (left bank)
The Tourist Office occupied this beautiful building. But behind the classic appearances of a religious building lies the testimony of high poverty. Indeed Penitent chapel is an answer to some inhabitants who decide to organize themselves to help the poor. Non-governmental organizations do not exist, and traditionally it is the church that is in charge of the charity. But in front of the distress of some, men and women meet in the chapel of penitents. They are allowed to help the poor provided they are not recognized. Depending on their chapel, these “penitents” wear black, white, or red clothes. These clothes cover them from head to foot so that no one can recognize them and bring them allegiance.
Today the chapel is an auditorium.
Address of the Chapel of the Black Penitents: 4 rue du Cours, Saint-Geniez.
The cloister and the church (left bank)
This beautiful cloister is open access. It bears witness to the religious past of the city, a time when Saint-Geniez d’Olt hosted an Augustinian monk brotherhood. Today we find in the center the tourist office — an essential place to be informed of the many events that take place all year long.
A mansion along the Lot (left bank)
The Talabot monument and its breathtaking view (right bank) Located in the heights of the city, the Talabot monument was built in memory of a local child. We are in the nineteenth century, and Marie Savy, who the city hoof to try to succeed in Marseille. And there she meets her husband Paulin Talbot, an engineer who built the first railway lines. At his death, the inhabitants built a mausoleum. And now this monument is the highest in the city. The memorial of Talabot stands in memory of the child of the country.
The parish church (right bank)
The history of this church is as long as the history of Christendom. Initially, it is a Romanesque church built just after the year one thousand. Then towards the beginning of the XVIIIth century, an architect Jean Paraté strives to enlarge the building. Thus the small Romanesque church became a parish church of Gothic style.
Pictures of Saint-Geniez at night
At night when everyone is home, an Olympian calm seizes the city, and the landscapes take another dimension.
This fountain is twice a year the theater of a surrealist scene and twice a year. Indeed during the transhumance, the cows stop to drink water from the fountain. When the cows go to the mountains at the end of spring, it is an opportunity to see them with flowers on the horns.
Some addresses to remember in Saint-Geniez
The “center bar”
If you want a drink, or coffee do not hesitate to stop at the café in the center. Close to the old bridge, sit in a friendly place. An authentic and ideal place to watch life go by and “leave time to time,” as Rivarol would have said.
6 market place, 12 130 Saint-Geniez d’Olt, phone: + 33 5 65 70 41 46
The restaurant of the Lion d’Or hotel
In this restaurant, there is a large room, very bright and perfect service. The Lion d’Or is a restaurant with generous plates whose chef cooks perfectly the dishes of the soil.
Adress of this hotel – restaurant Lion d’Or: Cours street, 12130 Saint-Geniez d’Olt. phone: +33 5 65 47 43 32
The castle of Falque, the time of a night
Still, a first address in the Lot Valley, the castle of Falque, is one of the beautiful surprises of the stay. A very well kept hotel, spacious rooms accessed by a pretty landscaped garden.
Adress of the Falque Castle: Prades road, 12130, Saint-Geniez d’Olt. Phone: +33 5 65 62 45 60
The other places to stay for an overnight
If you are wondering where to stay in this part of Aveyron, Saint Geniez d’Olt is the place to go. Indeed the city has a reasonably large hotel capacity, more than 3000 beds. Between the two campsites located upstream and downstream of the town, there are also many accommodations. Whether in bed and breakfast, hotels or apartments available for rent at Chateau Ricard. You will, therefore, necessarily find a place for a few days to shine in one of the most beautiful departments of France.
Activities to do in Saint-Geniez
The Lot river, necessarily occupies a significant place in Saint-Geniez. For instance the both campsites are on its banks. On the river, you can go canoeing, sport fishing or be guided by the bike path that follows the rivière.L’hiver the town is located only twenty kilometers from the ski resort — Aubrac and Brameloup station.
But the great advantage of this beautiful city Aveyron is to be in a territory meshed with towns and villages all as fair as each other. Around the city, there is, for example, Sainte Eulalie, one of the most beautiful villages in France. And to discover the surroundings, nothing more comfortable, follow the river Lot.
Photo credits: Yann
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