Itinéraire Cyclo de Salles-Courbatiès à Villefranche de Rouergue
Route details
Description
21 km to discover the local built heritage, two bastides and a pre-Romanesque church, all on small, little-used country roads.
Departure from Villefranche de Rouergue station in the morning. Taking the first train is ideal to have time to visit the charming villages of Salles-Courbatiès and Villeneuve d'Aveyron. In the afternoon, you will have the opportunity to visit Villefranche de Rouergue.
Unmarked circuit, fairly easy to follow with only 5.7% average elevation gain and 570 meters of elevation gain.
Your itinerary
Step 1: Departure from Villefranche de Rouergue SNCF station
During the week, 6 trains per day from Villefranche de Rouergue and 3 trains per day on weekends.
Bicycles are accepted free of charge and without reservation on board liO trains, within the limits of
places available (6 bikes max per train) and stored in spaces reserved for this purpose.
Step 2: Departing from Salles-Courbatiès station
When you arrive at the station, exit onto the platform, go around the station which is now closed and take the road which goes down on your right. At the intersection turn left for a few meters then immediately right towards the center of the village and towards the mill, a former fish farm.
Turn right up the flower-filled street then right again on the main road.
Turn left to reach the largest pond in the village on your left.
On your right, a magnificent covered wooden hall built in 2021 with old artisanal techniques as part of the carpentry meetings.
Step 3: Direction Villeneuve d’Aveyron
Leave the village of Salles-Courbatiès by taking the D40, direction Villeneuve d'Aveyron.
Pass the place called “Montaris” and on the right before a bend there is the possibility of stopping to observe wildlife: an LPO observatory has been set up with benches and explanatory panels in an oak wood.
Step 4: Visit Villeneuve d'Aveyron and direction the dry stone huts
When you arrive in the Bastide de Villeneuve, head opposite under the medieval gate to arrive at Place des Conques, where you can take a break.
The tourist office is on your right under the covers.
Several visits possible before returning to Boulevard Cardalhac, then left rue des Condamines, then right Le Grès housing estate, department D922 left and right in front of the supermarket to leave Villeneuve d'Aveyron.
Step 5: Direction the pre-Romanesque church of Toulongergues
Go through the place called “Marty”.
(If you are by VTC, make a stop in this hamlet and turn right between 2 houses, going back and forth along the dirt road which will allow you to discover 3 very well restored caselles as well as low walls, all in stone dry. From this place you will also have a beautiful view of the bastide of Villeneuve).
Stay on this road until you arrive at an intersection with the D120, continue opposite towards the pre-Romanesque church of Toulongergues.
A little further down on the right is a wash house and an old dovecote.
Step 6: Direction the village of Saint-Rémy
Turn around and immediately after the church, take a small grassy path lasting only a few meters.
Take the road again, the D120 on the right. The road goes down.
Arriving at an intersection where there is a statue of the Virgin, continue opposite on the same road which goes down.
The road forms a few bends and arrives opposite the Château de Saint-Rémy (private).
Visit the village and the Moulin des arts, contemporary art space (information on opening days and times from the tourist office).
Step 7: Return to Villefranche de Rouergue
Take the same road again, the D120. At the 1st intersection turn right towards the Bérals activity zone. This road will allow you to avoid the roundabout, the main road and all the traffic.
Pass under the commercial/artisanal zone, continue on the same road, pass under a bridge and you will arrive on a road called D1. Be careful, traffic.
Turn right until the roundabout. Then left in the roundabout to leave this main road and take the lower road to Farrou or D922.
This little-used road runs along the Alzou to Villefranche de Rouergue.