You often arrive here by chance, looking for the viewpoint that will give you the best photo of the Viaduct. It’s true that the little hamlet offers a breathtaking panorama of the structure. And the icing on the cake is that, on your way there, you’ll pass the foot of pier P2, the highest in the world. So how do you get there? Just follow the guide! For a map look here – the best Viewpoints on the Viaduct; or if you prefer to follow your GPS directions, starting from Millau, enter “Comprégnac”, the name of the commune on which the hamlet is located.
A troglodytic village
It’s the village’s location that makes it a singular place: Peyre is built at the foot of a tufa cliff on which it seems to rest, out of reach of the waters of the Tarn. The houses are concentrated along the wall of travertine, a light, porous sedimentary rock.
Occupation of the site dates back to prehistoric times, when early man sheltered in caves at the foot of the cliffs: here we speak of “baumes”. Semi-troglodytic constructions offer a dual advantage: they save on walls and preserve maximum space for the surrounding arable land. Even today, the low stone walls on the outskirts of the village reveal the importance of the terraced vineyards and fruit orchards on which the village’s economy once depended.
Look up: the cliffs are home to large colonies of red-billed choughs and cliff swallows.
2022 November Walk and Gouter at Peyre Faustine Costes 3
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2022 November Walk and Gouter at Peyre Faustine Costes 1
PeyreleauWhen visiting Peyre…
The village is best explored by strolling along the cobbled streets (see itinerary): flower-filled terraces, the “baume” which serves as the village hall, the bread oven, rekindled each year for the village fête. And above all, 2 churches, dedicated to St-Christophe, including a remarkable semi-troglodytic fortified church, opened daily by a local. Built on a resurgence, an ancient pagan cult site, Peyre’s Romanesque church was equipped with a defensive system during the Wars of Religion, and a refuge room for the inhabitants. In summer, it hosts exhibitions by local artists and craftsmen.
Peyre, walks and discoveries
Around Peyre, a few pleasant surprises await you. Take the whole family on a search for dinosaur tracks in the Thérondels area above Peyre. There are a dozen tracks to spot, each around 40 cm long. And if you miss them, console yourself with a cast at the Millau museum.
