Estaing (Aveyron)

The community Estaing with 596 inhabitants (as of 1 January 2011) is located in the French region of Midi -Pyrenees in the department of Aveyron and is the capital of the canton of the same name. The town lies on the GR 65, which is largely the historical course of the French pilgrimage route " Via Podiensis " follows.

Les plus beaux by the Association villages de France Estaing was declared one of the most beautiful villages in France.

Geography and transport

Estaing is situated in the southwestern part of the Massif Central on the banks of the Lot. The next major French cities are Lyon ( 216 km) to the northeast, Toulouse ( 144 km) in the south-west, Bordeaux (260 km ) to the west and Montpellier ( 142 km) to the southeast.

The nearest airport is Rodez - Marcillac, which is served, including the Air France and Ryanair. About the D22 he is about 35 road miles away. The next stations are Gare de Rodez Gare de Cergy - Saint -Christophe and Gare SNCF Viviez - Decazeville with daily connections to Paris and Toulouse. In Estaing cross the D920, which follows the Lot, with the coming of the North D97 and D22 coming from the east.

History

The origin of the place is ungekannt. The center of the town is the castle of the d'Estaing family. Guilaume d' Estaing was with the English King Richard the Lionheart on the Third Crusade. Dieudonné d' Estaing could save the life of King Philip II at the Battle of Bouvines. Return, he was henceforth lead the royal Lillien in his coat of arms. During the Revolution, sat Charles -Hector Count of Estaing for the royal family. He was arrested and said as a witness in the trial of the Queen of. He was then sentenced to death itself. The name d' Estaing was adopted in 1922 by the family of former French President Valéry Giscard d' Estaing on 17 June 1922.

Way of St. James ( Via Podiensis )

In Estaing there next to the hotels and restaurants, tourist information, several pilgrims' hostels (French: Gîte d' étape ). In addition, the village has a campsite. The Way of St. James leads from here down to Cahors Lot, but because of the narrowness of the valley is not always right on the river.

After Livinhac -le-Haut leads as road link along the Lot, the D920a to Entraygues and continue on the side streets D107, D42 and D627.

Attractions

• The church of Saint - Fleuret from the 15th century.
• The Château d' Estaing from the 15th century, the castle of Estaing family. Although the family died out in the 18th century, its title, however, was bought in 1922 by Edmond Giscard. His son Valéry Giscard d' Estaing, former French President, has acquired the castle in 2005 together with his brother and builds it currently to a conference center.
• The old bridge over the Lot with its four stone arches erected at the beginning of the 16th century in connection with the establishment of three annual market days. The initiative goes back to " bienheureux " ( the Blissful ) François d' Estaing, Bishop of Rodez, who inaugurated in 1524. His statue stands in the middle of the bridge since 1866. On the other side of the bridge a large wrought iron cross was erected in the 20th century. The bridge belongs since 1998 as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO " Camino de Santiago in France "

The Château d' Estaing Castle

The old bridge over the Lot

The Town Hall