Finally it’s time to go into Clansayes in detail. This tiny town is just chock-a-block full of interesting things and promises a full day of enjoyable exploration.
First, let’s talk about the mammoth tower. Clansayes is perched on a rocky outcrop, a strategic advantage in the wild and wooly dark ages. This tower was built in . Solidly constructed, it remains almost totaly intact. It is topped by a gigantic statue of the Virgin Mary which was placed there in 1853 by devout villagers.
Adjacent to the tower is the 11th century Eglise de St Michel, a prime Romanesque specimen.
Wandering around the village, there is also an interesting wall carved drawing of a cat, who’s origins are a source of debate.
<>We can also hope to see traces of Roman roads that are nearby.
Following a tour of the village, we can embark on a 1.5 hour hike to walk over to the next hilltop, viewable from the village, where Knights Templar, in the 13th century, built a charming chapel which today is the site of a yearly pilgrimage. The walking tour follows in the next post which goes from the village to this spot. See more pix of this amazing place in the walking tour post.Also on the hilltop are a 19th century shrine and a well in rough stone construction.Clansayes is truly an adventure!
Following the “more” is some detailed history of Clansayes. (more…)
