In Caylus, medieval lanes wind along the slope of a rocky hill, with the remains of a castle rising above the town. To find your way around, you can follow an informative walking tour of Caylus from the tourist office, using a town map. The townscape is shaped by a variety of architectural features: streets in the former castle moat, a surviving tower and residential buildings from several centuries.
Lanes and buildings in the townscape
Rue Droite runs through the former castle moat and offers views of medieval buildings made of stone or half-timbering. The square Old Tower is all that remains of the former royal castle; it rises above the town and is topped by a terrace. The Pavillon Gauléjac is a residential building dating from the 15th century. Its distinctive features include a polygonal staircase tower and a portal in the Flamboyant style. The Maison des Loups takes its name from its wolf-shaped gargoyles. The townscape therefore brings together a range of details: the façades along a street, a tower above the town and the unusual design of a portal.
Churches, the market hall and art
The Church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste is classified as a historic monument; its present structure dates mainly from the 14th century. The market hall offers particularly tangible details of its construction and history: it was built in 1505 and designated a historic monument in 1900. Eighteen octagonal stone pillars support a remarkable roof structure with a four-sided slate roof. Its date and visible architectural features offer two different ways to explore the building.
The Christ de Zadkine is another striking work of art. Ossip Zadkine created it between 1950 and 1953 in his studio in Les Arques. The figure, which is more than 5.40 metres tall, was carved from an elm trunk from the forests of Quercy. The material, the regional origin of the wood and the period in which it was made bring the work’s history to life without reducing its artistic significance to a single feature.
Saint-Symphorien also combines religious history with a specific reason to visit: the church was founded in 1011 and is a 15th-century priory with a miraculous spring. Visits are possible by appointment or during the European Heritage Days. Arrange a specific visit in advance. The church is also the starting point for walking trails.
Nature by the water
The Petrifying Waterfall has been a protected site since 1942. Its geological feature is the tufa deposits formed by carbonate-rich water. This offers a different way to experience nature around Caylus than the paths by Lac de Labarthe: here, the focus is on rock formation and how it develops.
Lac de Labarthe lies in a valley basin designated an Espace Naturel Sensible (sensitive natural area). Activities at the lake include fishing, walking and picnicking. There is also a botanical discovery trail, an orientation board and a playground. Swimming is prohibited. Bear this restriction in mind when planning, and choose one of the permitted activities for your time by the water.
Walking trails and practical directions
There are different trail options for visitors who want to walk. The Cirque de Labarthe is the starting point for the PR3 hiking trail and provides access to the medieval village of Caylus. The Black Swift Trail by Lac de Labarthe is an easy 1.9-kilometre loop that takes two hours. The PR3 focuses on access to the village, while the Black Swift Trail has a stated distance and duration. This helps you compare the options based on your preferred destination and available time, without treating the routes as equivalent.
The town map and the appointment-based visiting options at Saint-Symphorien also support different ways of exploring: the walking tour offers an informative route through Caylus, while visits to the church require an appointment or must take place during the European Heritage Days. Architecture, art, nature and walking can therefore be treated as separate focuses for your stay and selected according to your own interests.
Discover more destinations: Vazerac, FĂ©neyrols, Saint-Vincent-Lespinasse, Comberouger, Loze, VaĂŻssac, Bruniquel, Cazes-Mondenard
For the main travel overview: Tarn-Et-Garonne.
