Saint-Laurent-De-Trèves brings together a village’s striking setting and chapters of history from widely separated periods. The houses stand on a rocky spur above the Tarnon Valley; at the Castellas, a panorama stretching as far as the Causse Méjean, the early use of a limestone plateau and the history of a former castle come together. Dinosaur footprints and the Romanesque Church of Saint-Laurent add to this. These offer distinct ways to understand the place: landscape, palaeontology, castle history and church architecture each shape it in their own way.

Village and landscape along the Tarnon

The houses of Saint-Laurent-De-Trèves stand along a rocky spur overlooking the Tarnon Valley. This describes the settlement’s location; the panorama from the Castellas is a different viewpoint, stretching across the Tarnon Valley as far as the Causse Méjean. The distinction is useful when planning your visit: the houses reflect the form of the village, while the view from the Castellas shows its landscape setting. Both offer concrete ways to understand the area: the settlement on the spur and the panorama from the Castellas.

Castellas: plateau and castle history

At the Castellas, the plateau’s early use can be distinguished from the later history of the castle. The limestone plateau, in the form of a “cap barré,” was used in the Late Neolithic, approximately between 3000 and 2500 BC. The former castle stood at the site of the dinosaur footprints and was mentioned as early as the beginning of the 12th century; it was destroyed in the 17th century. The chronology therefore runs from the plateau’s use thousands of years before the castle was mentioned to its later destruction. Several information panels are available at the Castellas, providing a specific point of reference on site. Prehistoric use and the history of a former castle thus come together here, although they belong to different periods.

Dinosaur footprints and protected site

The dinosaur footprint site is a classified and protected site in the Parc National des Cévennes. Footprints of Grallator were found there. The site is also associated with the Castellas, but the dinosaur footprints have their own palaeontological significance and are not part of the castle’s history. This makes it possible to distinguish between two different subjects: the finds at the site and the former castle mentioned later. Its protected status is also part of the site’s description.

Romanesque church and traces of the castle

The Church of Saint-Laurent is a Romanesque church dating from the 12th century. It offers a different architectural focus from the plateau’s prehistory and the castle’s history. A lintel in the village bears the coat of arms of the former castle; this detail provides a separate link to the castle’s history. The church and the coat of arms are therefore two distinct points of reference: the church represents Romanesque architecture, while the coat of arms recalls the former castle. Together with the village’s location on the rocky spur and the panorama from the Castellas, these features help you distinguish the area’s themes according to whether you are more interested in landscape, palaeontology, castle history or church architecture.

Discover more destinations: Le Collet-De-Dèze, Saint-Alban-Sur-Limagnole, Altier, Saint-Symphorien, Chasseradès, Aumont-Aubrac, La Panouse, Saint-Chély-D'apcher.

Return to the regional travel overview: Lozère.