If you enjoy getting outdoors around Fontans and discovering historical details, you’ll find marked trails along the Truyère, a granite landscape at Baou de l’Estival and churches with diverse architectural and artistic features. For planning, the “Les berges de la Truyère” hike is the one with clearly stated figures; other trails explore the river landscape in their own way.
Hiking along the Truyère
The marked “Les berges de la Truyère” hiking trail starts in Les Estrets and follows the riverbanks. It is 7.39 km long; the walking time is about two hours. Parking for this hiking trail is available next to the church.
Another marked route, “Tiracols: Le Trou del Baou,” runs above the Truyère and heads towards the granite chaos at Baou de Lestival. It therefore follows a different described route from the riverside trail. Another path leads downhill from the hamlet of Lestival to the Truyère over 1.5 km. Check trail conditions before setting out; they may change seasonally.
Granite landscape at Baou de l’Estival
At Baou de l’Estival, the Truyère flows through flat green meadows and between rounded, moss-covered granite boulders. This landscape also features a granite barrier with a three-metre-high waterfall. The combination of river, meadows and rock makes this a natural destination with distinctive geological and landscape features.
The Baou is more than one kilometre from any dwelling and is difficult to reach by vehicle. If you are considering driving there, check local conditions in advance.
Churches and historical traces
The Church of Saint-Pierre in Fontans has Romanesque origins and was altered in the Gothic period. Restored murals depicting figurative, geometric and plant motifs cover all the ceilings in the building. The church is open to the public, free of charge and freely accessible all year round; check the conditions locally before your visit.
A lily cross dating from 1823 stands in front of the Church of Saint-Pierre. The front shows Christ on the cross, and the back shows the Madonna and Child. The two views make the cross a destination in its own right for anyone interested in sacred imagery.
In the Middle Ages, the Church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste in Les Estrets was a simple private chapel belonging to the Knights of Malta; in 1843 it became the parish church. The choir contains an altar made of oak and lime wood. Its bas-relief depicts the Last Supper after Leonardo da Vinci. Next to the church, the former priory contains visible remains of a commandery of the Hospitallers of Saint John of Jerusalem.
An ancient road is also part of the history of the commune: it linked Chapeauroux with Javols, the ancient capital of the Gabali kingdom, and ran through Fontans. Thus, alongside the surviving church buildings and artworks, there are traces of an older connection between two named places.
Discover more destinations: Mas-D'orcières, Bagnols-Les-Bains, Altier, Le Massegros, Châteauneuf-De-Randon, Marchastel, La Panouse, Saint-Symphorien.
For the overview of the wider region: Lozère.
