Lozère (48) and Gard (30)

... - - immediately - slowly - cautiously - and - cowardly - I climbed back over the electric fence, when the father of all calves in the Aubrac got obviously pretty interested in me. A beast of a bull. As soon, as I was over the fence, he calmed down and I could get my camera out.... -------------- In summer 2010, I saw his even bigger brother, but then, the distance between him and me, was much bigger. www.flickr.com/photos/martin-m-miles/4986870734/in/pool-s...

..after all I reached the plateau de Aubrac, a high, empty and pretty windy place. I forgot to say, that it was swampy too...

....there were no trees. A vast empty place, divided by old stonewalls and populated only by a couple of cows and sheep...

Since 1973 the formerly small, but independent municipality of La Capelle is part of La Canourgue that by now has a population of more than 2000. St. Martin was probably built after the 12th century and its Romanesque architecture was altered in the course of the centuries. Originally this was a single-nave church with three bays. The side chapels were added in the 17th century, the steeple dates from the 19th century.

Since 1973 the formerly small, but independent municipality of La Capelle is part of La Canourgue that by now has a population of more than 2000. St. Martin was probably built after the 12th century and its Romanesque architecture was altered in the course of the centuries. Originally this was a single-nave church with three bays. The side chapels were added in the 17th century, the steeple dates from the 19th century. Once the interior was adorned with Baroque frescoes.

Since 1973 the formerly small, but independent municipality of La Capelle is part of La Canourgue that by now has a population of more than 2000. St. Martin was probably built after the 12th century and its Romanesque architecture was altered in the course of the centuries. Originally this was a single-nave church with three bays. The side chapels were added in the 17th century, the steeple dates from the 19th century. The interior once was adorned with frescoes inside as well is this rough carving. The information given here says it "could be a vestige from an older chapel. It represents a hunter holding a spear with an animal on either side (...) So far no reliable interpretation has been given".

The Gorges du Tarn, and of two tributaries la Jonte and la Dourbie, cut through a high limestone plateau area known as Les Causses.

Uzès was a small Gallo-Roman oppidum near the huge Roman aqueduct, today named Pont du Gard. In the early 8th century, Uzès was a fortified civitas and bishopric under the Archbishop of Narbonne. During the Saracen invasion, Uzès became a stronghold of the Saracens and in 736 Charles Martel besieged the, but it remained in Saracen hands up to 752. A year later the former stronghold rebelled against the Franks - unsuccessfully. The romanesque cathedral Saint-Théodorit was destroyed within the Cathar Crusade, was rebuilt but destroyed again during the Wars of Religion. The church of today was constructed within the 17th century. Just the 12th-century bell-tower, named today "Tour Fenestrelle" survived the centuries (though "reconstructed" in the higher levels). The tower is round - and seems to be a very close cousin of the Italian campaniles.

Uzès was a small Gallo-Roman oppidum near the huge Roman aqueduct, today named Pont du Gard. In the early 8th century, Uzès was a fortified civitas and bishopric under the Archbishop of Narbonne. During the Saracen invasion, Uzès became a stronghold of the Saracens and in 736 Charles Martel besieged the, but it remained in Saracen hands up to 752. A year later the former stronghold rebelled against the Franks - unsuccessfully. The romanesque cathedral Saint-Théodorit was destroyed within the Cathar Crusade, was rebuilt but destroyed again during the Wars of Religion. The church of today was constructed within the 17th century. Just the 12th-century bell-tower, named today "Tour Fenestrelle" survived the centuries (though "reconstructed" in the higher levels). The tower is round - and seems to be a very close cousin of the Italian campaniles. There are many carvings around the tower - here are two of them.

Uzès was a small Gallo-Roman oppidum near the huge Roman aqueduct, today named Pont du Gard. In the early 8th century, Uzès was a fortified civitas and bishopric under the Archbishop of Narbonne. During the Saracen invasion, Uzès became a stronghold of the Saracens and in 736 Charles Martel besieged the, but it remained in Saracen hands up to 752. A year later the former stronghold rebelled against the Franks - unsuccessfully. The romanesque cathedral Saint-Théodorit was destroyed within the Cathar Crusade, was rebuilt but destroyed again during the Wars of Religion. The church of today was constructed within the 17th century. J

Uzès was a small Gallo-Roman oppidum near the huge Roman aqueduct, today named Pont du Gard. In the early 8th century, Uzès was a fortified civitas and bishopric under the Archbishop of Narbonne. During the Saracen invasion, Uzès became a stronghold of the Saracens and in 736 Charles Martel besieged the, but it remained in Saracen hands up to 752. A year later the former stronghold rebelled against the Franks - unsuccessfully. Today Uzès is a hotspot for tourists with nice places under shady trees to have a drink. And nice shops to buy a hat.