Saint-Rome-de-Dolan lies on the Causse de Sauveterre, on the southern slope of the Gorges du Tarn, and offers direct views of the gorge. The stone village is surrounded by fields, forests and numerous hiking trails. The landscape, routes and architectural history offer different focal points for a stay. If you are looking for accommodation for your trip, you can first consider whether hiking, cycling or the history of the parish church is the deciding factor.
Scenery and cycling at the Col
The Col de Saint Rome de Dolan reaches an elevation of 909 metres on the Causse de Sauveterre, along the Corniche of the Gorges du Tarn. It is known to cyclists as a climb. The steady ascent from Les Vignes follows numerous hairpin bends, similar to those in the Alps. The course of the climb is therefore a feature in its own right, as well as its elevation: the steady gradient and hairpin bends define this cycling experience.
Hiking near Les Aubépines and Cauvel
Les Aubépines is an easy 6.2-kilometre circular hike. Along the route, there is an opportunity to spot griffon vultures and other birds of prey. The Cauvel hiking route begins and ends in Cauvel, Saint-Rome-de-Dolan, and lies in the core zone of the Causses and Cévennes UNESCO property. This property is a cultural landscape of Mediterranean agropastoralism. The term encompasses farming and livestock raising, and also characterises the landscape through its use. When weighing up the hikes, Les Aubépines stands out for its easy circular route and the possibility of birdwatching; Cauvel combines a start and finish in Cauvel with its connection to the UNESCO cultural landscape.
Another route to consider
The 45-kilometre “en tous points sublimes” route leads to Saint-Rome-de-Dolan. One kilometre beyond, the route passes the first hairpin bend of the Côte des Vignes on the D 46 towards Point Sublime. As route and road conditions can change, check the current route and conditions before setting out.
The parish church’s architectural history
The parish church of Saint-Romain in Saint-Rome-de-Dolan was mentioned in the 13th century as a priory of Rosier and was probably completely rebuilt in the 16th or 17th century. Its bell tower dates from the 19th century; the entrance door is dated 1877. The early mention of the priory and the presumed rebuilding refer to different periods, while the tower and door have their own later dates. The church’s history therefore cannot be reduced to a single year of construction: it spans from its medieval mention to features dating from the 19th century. Those interested in church architecture will find a clear chronology here, with the degree of certainty explicitly varying.
Discover more destinations: Saint-Hilaire-de-Lavit, Lanuéjols, Sainte-Croix-Vallée-Française, Auroux, Naussac, Albaret-Sainte-Marie, Florac, Chasseradès.
For the broader travel overview: Lozère.
