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Rogations Path

Hikes & walks in Roussayrolles

On this circuit, you will discover the ancient tradition of "Les Rogations". On 1 May, a procession used to be held around the village, and each of the five crosses was decorated with a white cloth and a sprig of box soaked in holy water. The procession was led by the cross carried by the priest and the banner carried by a parishioner. This tradition was a blessing and requested the protection of the harvests from hail and bad weather.

Description sheet

DepartmentTarn
Departure municipalityRoussayrolles
Outing typeHike
DifficultyEasy
Duration40 min
Recommended periodfrom january to december
EnvironmentCountryside
Kilometres1 km
Altitude upon departure413m
Change in altitude23m

Access

Depart from the village of Roussayrolles next to the church: the first sandstone cross is at the entrance to the cemetery.

Itinerary

Take "Rue de la Forge", and with your back to the church facing south, follow this road to the junction where, on the left, you will find the second cross. Continue in this direction to the third cross at the crossroads of the main streets where a resting place has been laid out half-way.

Descend the tarmac road to the village. At the Coustou resting place, a more recent cross and, behind the wall, the schoolchildren's old garden.

Take the path on the right, the "old path from St Antonin to Vaour", just after the "Roussayrolles" sign. Note the outstanding tree, "The Montpellier Maple" which crowns the path and the line of stones planted along the route.

At the next crossroads: fourth cross, turn left - where you will find the old sandstone drinking trough on the left - unless you want to continue to the Touron wash house and fountain 100 m away. This spring used to supply water for the village before the 1950s and children used to bring water home in sandstone "cruchon", while washerwomen used to meet there for the "Bugado".

When you arrive at the road, turn left and walk back to the church.

Against the old school wall, the fifth cross, decorated with a symbolic vine on which you can faintly see the Latin words "O crux ave spes unica", marked the end of the procession.

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