In Aujac, fascinating architectural history meets a variety of hiking trails. The Church of Saint Martin tells the story of several building phases, while trails lead through the landscape of the southern Cévennes and to the Cèze. You can tailor your stay to the themes that interest you most.
Church, château and chestnut crafts
The Church of Saint Martin in Aujac was built around 1120–1160. Its bell-gable was added in 1479. The nave has four pillars with capitals decorated with stylised leaves and prominent ribs. The construction period and the later addition of the tower give the church a clearly discernible sequence of building phases.
La Clède Peyric also offers a glimpse into local culture: the farm specialises in chestnuts and their traditional processing in a clède. During a visit, you can discover an authentic chestnut dryer that is still in use, old peeling equipment and a traditional Cévennes beehive.
The Château du Cheylard d’Aujac illustrates the development of castle architecture from the Middle Ages, particularly the 12th century, to the Renaissance in the 17th century. The grounds include a medieval hamlet with a farm, dovecote, sheepfold, clède and chapel. This lets you explore the history of architecture alongside the hamlet’s different features.
The château is reached via a five- to ten-minute walk. Check seasonal opening hours separately before planning your visit.
Hiking routes with different settings
The 130-kilometre GRP Le Cévenol passes through Aujac. The GRP Haute Vallée de la Cèze also runs through the village: a 52-kilometre circular route over three days and three moderately difficult stages, returning to Bordezac. The Sentiers d’Interprétation La Cézarenque is a 2.3-kilometre loop starting in Aujac. For the Haute Vallée, the three-day timeframe and three stages are explicitly part of the route description; the Cézarenque loop offers a clear contrast in terms of the stated distance.
The Sentiers d’Interprétation La Cézarenque trail passes scattered hamlets and bancels. The landscape, typical of the southern Cévennes, shows how settlements adapted to environmental conditions. The Church of Saint Martin in Aujac is also one of the sights along the trail. You can also discover the “orvet fragile” and the “chicorée des moutons” there.
Local hiking trails offer panoramic landscapes and provide access to the Cèze and its bathing spots. At Pont de Souillas on the Cèze, there is a bathing spot that is easily accessible for children and adults.
Landscape and village character
Another hike, Les crêtes d’Aujac - Bordezac, first follows the former livestock track known as the “draille des crêtes de la Loubière” and then an old Roman road hidden in the pine forest. The local trails thus offer different points of interest: their routes and landscapes, as well as the history of the paths themselves.
Many faïsses in Aujac are still maintained and clearly visible, shaping an impressive landscape. The façades also give the village a distinctive character: warm slate tones meet pale surrounds made of “grès d’Aujac”. These details add a glimpse of local architecture to the impressions created by the church, château and hikes.
First consider whether architectural history, chestnut processing or hiking will shape your stay, then tailor your search to that focus.
Discover more destinations: Saint-André-De-Valborgne, Aigues-Vives, Les Plantiers, Durfort-Et-Saint-Martin-De-Sossenac, Vauvert, Saint-Paulet-De-Caisson, Saint-Privat-Des-Vieux, Fressac
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