The best walks and hikes around Saint-Porquier

The abbey and its cloister, the historic center, the Art Deco buildings, the Napoleon bridge, the towpath, and the Cacor canal bridge are must-sees. Everything can be easily discovered on foot. Moissac is a major stop on the Camino de Santiago thanks to its exceptional heritage, particularly its abbey, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Its Romanesque cloister and sculpted tympanum make it an emblematic place for pilgrims from all over the world.

The Old Carmel of Moissac, overlooking the Saint-Pierre abbey, was built between 1857 and 1858 on the initiative of the "ladies of Praslin", wealthy benefactresses. It is a major stop for pilgrims on the Way of Saint James of Compostela (via Podiensis). The architecture of the Old Carmel of Moissac perfectly reflects the spirit of poverty, contemplation, and self-sufficient life characteristic of the Carmelite order in the 19th century. Cloister with raised dormitories, open south gallery, enclosure, predominance of limestone, cut stones, stepped church, stained glass from three periods, including three signed ones from the 20th century.

The Calvaire viewpoint in Moissac offers a lovely panorama of the town of Moissac: the Tarn river, the bell tower of Saint Pierre Abbey, the Moissac mill hotel, the Canal des 2 Mers, and the countryside with its orchards. Near the end, you will see the impressive statue of the Virgin of the Calvaire, erected in 1858. The town of Moissac was placed under the protection of the Virgin during the plague epidemic of the 18th century. Every August 15th, a commemoration takes place and a procession is organized. In order to restore it to its original state, major renovations were carried out in 2023. Today, it is in immaculate white that the Virgin proudly overlooks the town.

Abbey founded in the mid-7th century. After its affiliation with Cluny in 1047, the abbey was consecrated in 1063. Cloister built at the end of the 11th century (high altar consecrated by Urban II), portal completed between 1115 and 1135, fortifications and cloister arcades in the 13th century. After the troubles of the Hundred Years' War and the plundering due to the Wars of Religion, the abbey passed into commendam in the 17th century. After the Revolution, the abbey was bought back as national property and saved by the town hall secretary. The church was returned to worship in 1801 and was restored at the initiative of Viollet-le-Duc in 1847. In 1856, the conventual buildings located on the site of the seminary were destroyed and divided into plots for sale. The purchase of the plots allowed for the construction of the minor seminary and a chapel between 1860 and 1865. The seminary is built on medieval remains of the abbey, particularly the cistern and the Hall of the Dead, which retains painted decoration from the 14th century.

Abbey founded in the mid-7th century. After its affiliation with Cluny in 1047, the abbey was consecrated in 1063. Cloister built at the end of the 11th century (high altar consecrated by Urban II), portal completed between 1115 and 1135, fortifications and cloister arcades in the 13th century. After the troubles of the Hundred Years' War and the looting due to the Wars of Religion, the abbey came under commendatory abbots in the 17th century. After the Revolution, the abbey was bought back as national property and saved by the town hall secretary. The church was returned to worship in 1801 and was restored at the initiative of Viollet-le-Duc in 1847. In 1856, the conventual buildings located on the site of the seminary were destroyed and divided for sale. The repurchase of the plots allowed for the construction of the minor seminary and a chapel between 1860 and 1865. The seminary is built on medieval remains of the abbey, particularly the cistern and the Hall of the Dead, which retains painted decoration from the 14th century.

The abbey and its cloister, the historic center, the Art Deco buildings, the Napoleon bridge, the towpath, and the Cacor canal bridge are must-sees. Moissac is a major stop on the Camino de Santiago routes thanks to its exceptional heritage, notably its abbey, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Its Romanesque cloister and sculpted tympanum make it an emblematic place for pilgrims from all over the world.

The Montech Canal is very pleasant, the lock houses are picturesque

The Abbey of Moissac is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, great frescoes in the entrance portal and a unique cloister with many biblical scenes and saints' stories in the capitals