A major stopover on the Pilgrim’s Way to Santiago de Compostela, the Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges/Valcabrère Grand Site boasts a remarkable archaeological and monumental heritage. A crossroads for gentle itineraries, the site is an ideal place for cycling and walking.
An ancient Roman town, Lugdunum Convenae was a prosperous city of several thousand inhabitants at the centre of a major communications network. It had all the attributes of a major Roman city: a theatre, a temple, a forum, thermal baths and a vast market. The subsoil of the Saint-Bertrand-de Comminges/Valcabrère site today bears witness to this rich ancient heritage.
The imposing Sainte-Marie cathedral bears witness to the former bishopric of the Middle Ages. Its cloister overlooks the hills of the Pyrenean foothills and is a place full of charm. The choir stalls and the organ, both Renaissance, are other must-sees.
Another of the site’s key monuments, the Romanesque basilica of Saint-Just-de-Valcabrère, isolated in the middle of the fields, is particularly unusual. Built on the site of a Roman necropolis, it was constructed largely from reused stone from the same necropolis.
The cathedral and basilica, as well as the early Christian basilica and the chapel of Saint Julien, located in the lower town, are listed by UNESCO as part of the Pilgrim’s Way to Santiago de Compostela.
Crossed by the GR861-Via Garona and the GR78-Voie du Piémont, the site is the starting point for numerous walks and hikes suitable for all levels, not forgetting the Garonne cycle path for cycling enthusiasts.
In front of the cathedral, at Les Olivétains-Haute Garonne Tourisme, you’ll find all the information you need to visit the site, the region and the département. Guided tours for groups. Temporary exhibitions. Bookshop.
The archaeological museum, open in summer, offers temporary exhibitions on the archaeological history of the site and the region.
