Tence: Holiday apartments and holiday homes

Tence showcases history in many different forms: the Croix-menhir de Mendigoules is a menhir and an archaeological site. Since January 5, 1989, it has been protected as a historic monument. Tence is also classified as a Station Verte de vacances.

A possible accommodation request for Tence is: rent a holiday apartment.

Culture

Among the protected architectural and cultural monuments is the Chapelle des Pénitents, which, including its interior furnishings, is protected as a historic monument and was built in 1813. The façades and roofs of the Château du Besset have been protected as a historic monument since September 30, 1991. The Besset lordship is already mentioned in texts from the mid-13th century.

The history of the village also includes the pharmacy of the Hôpital Saint-Joseph. It is protected as a historic monument, including its wooden interior furnishings; the furnishings appear to date from the first half of the 19th century. The former hospice pharmacy of Tence is now the Musée de la Pharmacie. It explains the history of the village and how various pharmacy instruments worked. The museum also displays two historical models: one based on writings from 1521 and another based on digitized Napoleonic cadastral documents from 1830.

The Charreyrons are narrow lanes connected to the village's fortifications. The walking tour “A la découverte de Tence” leads through the lanes of Tence and to the village's most important architectural monuments. Tence's Occitan linguistic heritage is also still alive and is still spoken locally.

Trails

The circular trail “Le Château du Besset et le Lignon” leads to the Château du Besset, continues to the Lignon and returns to Tence via the Chemin de la Meyre. The trail is 7.47 kilometres long, takes approximately two hours and starts at the Place de la Mairie in Tence. Another signposted circular hike is the Circuit du Druide to the Roche Druidique; an explanatory guidebook is available from the tourist office.

PR040 La Roche druidique de Crouzilhac is a challenging 12.8-kilometre circular hike starting and ending in Tence. The Musée-chapelle des Pénitents offers guided tours weekly in July and August by reservation; outside the peak season, tours are available for groups.

Nature and water

The natural area at the Plan d’eau de Bathelane can be reached on foot from Tence in about 15 minutes. The “Balade le long du Lignon” leads from the village to the Plan d’eau de Bathelane. There is an accessible fishing spot at the fishing pond in Tence.

Other destinations: Solignac-sur-Loire, Landos, Saint-Just-Près-Brioude, Chastel, Venteuges, Moudeyres, Saint-Victor-Malescours, Vorey

For the higher-level travel overview: Haute-Loire.