Payzac: Holiday apartments and holiday homes

The entire municipal area of Payzac is recognized as a Site Patrimonial Remarquable (SPR); as a result, all the old hamlets in the municipal area are protected. Payzac’s distinctive topography offers viewpoints and successive landscape levels throughout the entire municipal area. The paths through the municipal area are also lined with small heritage features and characteristic vegetation.

Those choosing Payzac as a place to stay may wish to rent a holiday apartment.

Culture and history

Historically, pilgrims traveling to the major pilgrimage site of Notre-Dame du Puy stopped in Payzac; at that time, the place was known as Payjacum. One important building is the Chapelle funéraire Notre-Dame des Sept Douleurs. It was designed by the Lyon architect Pierre Bossan and built between 1852 and 1865. The statues and terracotta motifs of the first eleven stations of the semicircular Way of the Cross at the chapel were created by the Lyon sculptor Joseph-Hugues Fabisch. In 1982, the Chapelle funéraire Notre-Dame des Sept Douleurs was listed as a heritage site.

Landscape

Payzac’s agricultural landscape is characterized by terraced vineyards and olive groves. Gamay, Merlot, and Chatus are cited as the main grape varieties of the wine-growing landscape. Blanche de Payzac and Rougette are named as olive varieties that share olive oil production in Payzac.

Routes

The “Les Grès du Trias” route features around thirty dinosaur tracks in Triassic sandstone in Payzac, as well as four rare manus-pes trackways. As an easy circular hike, it is 5.9 km long, takes around two hours, and starts and ends at the Salle des fêtes de la Blache in Payzac.

The VTT-FFC route no. 32, “Au grés de Brès,” is a 9.4 km circular route lasting around one and a half hours, starting and ending at the Salle des fêtes de La Blache in Payzac. It follows red and gray sandstone formations and terraces planted with olive trees or vines, passes through pine and holm oak forests, and offers panoramic views. The cycling route passes the church of Saint Hyppolite de Brès, known for its unusual construction from red sandstone.

Dinosaur tracks

The dinosaur tracks found in Payzac are attributed to Coelurosaurichnus grancieri; this species is considered unknown elsewhere. “Sur les traces des premiers dinosaures” displays fossilized footprints indoors and outdoors. The scientifically significant collection comprises more than 470 prints and is described as extremely rare in France. As part of this activity, visitors can make and take home their own cast of one of the dinosaur footprints.

Other activities

“Butinez en famille – Randoland Payzac” is a free treasure hunt with three age groups: 4 to 6 years, 7 to 9 years, and 10 years and older. It is available at the tourist offices in Joyeuse or Les Vans.

Other destinations in this selection: Mayres, Le Béage, Issarlès, Saint-Jean-Le-Centenier, Arlebosc, Chazeaux, St. Barthelemy Le Plain, Ozon.

To the higher-level travel overview: Ardèche.