The Roc de Miramont and the hamlet of Taurines show two different sides of Centrès: sweeping views across the landscape and a village whose Gallo-Roman origins and medieval appearance shape its history. There are also signposted trails with clearly defined highlights—from scenic views and village history to glass furnaces along the riverbanks.
Views from the Roc de Miramont
The Roc de Miramont lies at an altitude of 552 metres. From here, the 360-degree view stretches across the Ségala and the wooded valleys of the Viaur and its tributaries; on a clear day, you can even see the Pyrenees. If you are interested in the landscape around Centrès, this is a striking viewpoint from which to take in the different valleys together. A complete circular hiking trail also runs around the Roc. This makes the view and a walk around the rock two distinct options.
Taurines: Castle, Art and Village History
The Château de Taurines dates from the 13th to 14th centuries and was restored in 1982 in collaboration with the Compagnons du Devoir. Since 1985, it has hosted an exhibition of contemporary art every summer. Check the current exhibition dates for your trip. The village’s history goes back further: Taurines has Gallo-Roman origins, while its appearance is particularly shaped by the Middle Ages. On a walk through the hamlet, you can discover a Gallo-Roman altar and the castle’s former portal.
“Château en balade” is a signposted walk through the village of Taurines. Information panels describe the history of the exhibitions and the village’s sights. This gives the trail a different focus from the 1.5-hour hiking route that starts at the Château de Taurines and is lined with scarecrows: here, the emphasis is on information about the village and the history of art, while the other route focuses on the hike itself and its companions along the way.
Hiking Trails with Different Destinations
The hiking trails from the Château de Taurines also lead to a special destination: the glass furnaces on the banks of the Viaur and Céor. This adds another themed highlight to the walks through Taurines and the circuit around the Roc. Which option you choose depends on whether you would rather make a viewpoint, a village or the glass furnaces the focus of your hike.
“Les randonnées du pas-sage” offers guided hikes with donkeys or ponies. If you would like to include this activity in your trip, check the booking and seasonal conditions in advance. This will help you choose between independent signposted trails and a guided hike with animals to suit your plans.
Traces of Mills and Regional Cuisine
The surrounding area also tells the story of the rivers’ earlier uses. The Moulin de Bontemps was the last mill still in operation, until 1970. Between 1920 and 1940, five mills were still operating on the Céor. These dates distinguish the more recent history of milling from Taurines’ much older origins. In the valleys of the Ségala, chestnuts were a dietary staple; so-called Sécadous, chestnut dryers, are a subtle trace of this tradition.
Ségali cuisine, too, is rooted in hearty rural cooking. It reflects the resources available at the time, changing tastes and contemporary developments. The region’s approach to food thus brings together rural tradition and change, without reducing the cuisine to a single historical ingredient.
Getting There and Staying
Centrès is about ten minutes from the N88, which connects Lyon and Toulouse. When looking for a place to stay, you can choose Centrès as a destination for its hiking trails, viewpoint and the history of Taurines. The trails have different focuses: the Roc offers expansive views and a circular route, while the walks in Taurines highlight village history, exhibition information and individual historical landmarks.
Discover more destinations: La Loubière, Pradinas, Villeneuve, Anglars-Saint-Félix, Salles-la-Source, Connac, La Bastide-l'Évêque, Campagnac.
For the broader travel overview: Aveyron.
