La Piguière | From Aubrac to the Gorges du Tarn

La Piguière is a small village on the Causse de Sauveterre.

A village

In the heart of the Causse de Sauveterre

The small hamlet of La Piguière is perched on the Causse de Sauveterre, between Le Massegros and La Canourgue. It’s hard to believe that in 1870, it had a population of over 80, 3 cafés, a grocery store, a dairy where Roquefort cheese was made, and a school. In those days, the church attracted all the local parishioners for Sunday mass. Today, as a result of the rural exodus that hit Lozère hard from the 19th century onwards, the hamlet’s population has halved, and all shops and services have disappeared. In 1968, the parish was abolished and services were transferred to Saint-Georges de Lévéjac.

La Piguière church

An emblematic monument

By this time, thechurch had outlived its usefulness and was gradually falling into a deep sleep… In 1979, the association ” Les Amis de l’église de la Pigui&egrave;re” was created to save the church. Thanks to this association, a campaign to restore the walls and murals was undertaken, and further restoration campaigns are still planned. Today, you can visit the church with its fully painted interior for a few days a year, notably during the European Heritage Days, while a grid and appropriate lighting allow you to observe its décor even when it’s closed to the public. This is one of the most beautiful churches on the Causse de Sauveterre.