Sorèze is a commune in the Tarn department, Occitania region (France).
Historically and culturally, the commune lies in the Montagne Noire, a mountain range forming the southern edge of the Massif Central.
The city stands on the Camino de Arlés of the Camino de Santiago route to Santiago de Compostela.
Exposed to an altered oceanic climate, it is drained by the Sor, Laudot, Rigole de la Plaine, Ruisseau d’Aygo-Pesado, Ruisseau de Sourette, Ruisseau d’Orival, Ruisseau du Dourdou and various other small streams. Part of the Haut-Languedoc regional nature park, the commune boasts a remarkable natural heritage: a Natura 2000 site (the “Montagne Noire occidentale”) and five natural areas of ecological, faunistic and floristic interest.
Main attractions
- Former church of Saint-Martin de Sorèze. The bell tower was listed as a historic monument in 1876.
- Church of Notre-Dame-de-la-Paix in Sorèze.
- Abbey church of the Sorèze royal abbey-school.
- Chapel of the students of the Sorèze royal abbey-school.
- Remains of the pre-Romanesque Saint-Jammes chapel.
- Sorèze military school; its motto “Religioni, scientiis, artibus, armis”.
- Statue of Louis XVI.
- Timber-framed houses, rue du Maquis, formerly rue de Castres, home to the town’s notables, built on the edge of the old town.
- The Berniquaut oppidum is an archaeological site located in the commune of Durfort, overlooking the town of Sorèze to the southeast. In 2002, it was classified by the French Ministry of the Environment as one of France’s outstanding protected sites.
- The medieval archaeological site of the Calel cave on the Causse plateau.
- Roquefort castrum (ISMH). Mentioned as early as the 11th century, and probably abandoned during the 14th century. The de Roquefort family played a very important role throughout the 13th century, in connection with Catharism.
How to get to?
From Paris: 8 hr 45 min (713 km) via A20
From Toulouse: 1 hr 5 min (71.3 km) via N126
From Andorra: 2 hr 56 min (197 km) via N20
From Barcelona: 4 hr (369 km) via AP-7
From Madrid: 9 hr 2 min (766 km) via A-2
From Monaco: 5 hr 31 min (559 km) via A8
From Moscow: 35 hr (3,484 km) via E30/M1
From Belgrade: 17 hr 52 min (1,862 km) via E70
From Istanbul: 28 hr (2,811 km) via E70
From Bern: 7 hr 44 min (817 km) via A9
Main information
Area: 41 km2
Population: 2963
Coordinates: 43°27′14″N 2°04′02″E
Language: French
Currency: Euro
Visa: Schengen
Time: Central European UTC +1
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