Vallée du Tarn

 

Architecture


First taking a sun bath before enjoying the coolness in the shade of the arches.
 
These arches supported a wooden roof that collapsed because of the enormous weight of the slate roof tiles.


The weight of the roofs and the pressure on the walls made it necessary to give additional support by building these pillars.

 
These slate tiles still cover many walls in the south mountains of the park Grand Causses.

Brousse le Château is one of the prettiest villages of France
 
This column is unusual for this area of the Causses!

Beautiful village in the valley of the Dourbie.
 
A sun ray enlights this wine cellar.
Valley of the Tarn.

These wine cellars, on one side burried in a hill, are partially submerged to get a stable temerature.
 
Wine cellars. back to back built on top of a cliff hanging over de river Tarn.

The rain water is collected through gutters made of stone.  (Larzac)
 
The rainwater is collected by stone  gutters.

Not all houses were entirely made out of stone. Here they used wooden  gutters.
 
Here entirely stone. Watch the curious waterworks at the front door!

This tower is used to store rainwater.
 
Balets are covered steps. From Comprégnac a foot-path leads to Peyre, the remains of an ancient village
of cave dwellers near the Tarn.

At the back of the courtyard you can see a canopy protecting the entrance of the house.
 
Watchtower in the form of a pepper mill. Also pay a visit to the court of justice and the rest of the village of Combret.
It is worthwhile the trip.

The remains of a village of cave dwellers discovered a century ago. Nice trip.
 
You get a much stronger wall, if you build it in a circle.

Difficult to reach lonely house, close to the abbey of Comberoumal.
 
You will find Cress at the left bank of the river Tarn at the edge of the Causse Noir.

Here the very heavy slate roofing tiles rest on
arches of stone.
 
A Lavogne is a drinking place made on e layer of heavy clay. This one is authentic. Many times they were surrounded by brick walls to lead the sheep more easier.

House built of limestone with slate roof tiles.
 
 
Other example of typical living style of the Causses.
Because slate is heavy and wood is rare,
the roofing construction rests on arches.
 

Make a detour at Sainte Grégoire, close to Sévérac for the castle and not just for the  
pigeonnier.
 
The door post is on the inside.

Saint Véran, native country of Montcalm, in the shelter of a cliff.
 
Because rainwater is rare in the nature reserve of the Causses, structures are modified to collect and store rainwater. Here it is stored in the righthand side building.

Because rainwater is rare in the nature reserve of the Causses, structures are modified to collect and store rainwater. Here a drinking place is fed.
 
Ancient fortress of cave dwellers close to Larzac,
and
Saint Martin

Cow watching a train (of tourists!) pass by.
 
Open stable used as
sheep pen.