Fontans combines riverbanks, granite landscapes and sacred heritage from various periods. Between signposted trails, historic churches and remote natural formations, a diverse local landscape unfolds.
Anyone wishing to rent a holiday apartment in Fontans can take the area's special features into account when planning their trip.
Hiking
The signposted “Les berges de la Truyère” hiking trail is 7.39 km long in Fontans and takes around two hours. It begins in Les Estrets and follows the banks of the Truyère. Parking for this trail is available next to the church.
Nature
At Baou de l'Estival, the Truyère flows through flat green meadows and between rounded, moss-covered granite boulders. Baou de l'Estival includes a granite barrier with a 3 m-high waterfall. Baou de l'Estival is more than 1 km from any dwelling and is difficult to reach by vehicle.
The “Tiracols: Le Trou del Baou” hiking trail runs above the Truyère and leads to the granite chaos of Baou de Lestival. A trail also leads downhill from the hamlet of Lestival to the Truyère over a distance of 1.5 km.
Culture and History
An ancient road connecting Chapeauroux and Javols, the ancient capital of the Gabales kingdom, ran through the municipality of Fontans.
The Church of Saint-Pierre in Fontans originated in the Romanesque period and was remodelled in the Gothic period. Restored murals with figurative, geometric and floral motifs cover all the ceiling surfaces of the building. In front of the church stands a fleur-de-lis cross dating from 1823: on the front, it depicts Christ on the cross, and on the back, the Madonna and Child. Saint-Pierre is open to the public all year round, free of charge and freely accessible.
In Les Estrets, the Church of Saint John the Baptist became a parish church in 1843. In the Middle Ages, it was a simple private chapel of the Knights of Malta. Its choir houses an altar made of oak and lime wood, depicting the Last Supper after Leonardo da Vinci in bas-relief. Next to the church, the remains of a commandery of the Hospitallers of Saint John of Jerusalem can be seen in the former priory.
Other places: Villefort, Le Bleymard, Prévenchères, Le Massegros, Gatuzières, Sainte-Énimie, Saint-Pierre-des-Tripiers, Vebron
