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The Rajat caves

The Rajat caves - Office de Tourisme du Sancy · the Rajat caves is dominated by the basalt promontory where the château stands. It is, in fact, reminiscent of the volcanoes. Its

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Page 1: The Rajat caves - Office de Tourisme du Sancy · the Rajat caves is dominated by the basalt promontory where the château stands. It is, in fact, reminiscent of the volcanoes. Its

The Rajat caves

Page 2: The Rajat caves - Office de Tourisme du Sancy · the Rajat caves is dominated by the basalt promontory where the château stands. It is, in fact, reminiscent of the volcanoes. Its
Page 3: The Rajat caves - Office de Tourisme du Sancy · the Rajat caves is dominated by the basalt promontory where the château stands. It is, in fact, reminiscent of the volcanoes. Its

Name : The Rajat caves

Town: Murol

Owner: council

References : GPS :

Longitude : 02°57’00.2 " E

Latitude : 45°35’22.7"N

Access: by car and on foot

From Murol head towards Beaune le Froid on the D5, carry

on for around 2 km then take the road which drops to the

right in the direction of Chautignat (D5a). Drive through the

little hamlet of Chautignat, and the Rajat caves are signed

after the hamlet.

Facilities: Vehicle access is possible to around 50 m from

the caves, but then the track is too narrow and steep to

approach by car.

Lenght of itinerary : From Senchiney (the hamlet near

Chautignat) it’s a 40-minute round trip. The walking track is

better going at the arrival point, but then the path

becomes narrow, slippery and steep. Since no official car

parking site has yet been decided on, the time to cover the

distance is not definite, just to give you an idea.

Public facilities: parking

Location of the artwork : the caves

Description of the site: type of soil / surface area /

vegetation / exposure

The ancient cave-dwellings of Rajat dug out of the

volcanic mass resemble a fortress, and the crudely hacked

openings are evidence of the presence of our ancestors.

Three caves in all are visible, 2 facing you and one at the

side (visible by climbing to the summit).

The Rajat cave-dwellings face towards Murol château,

almost as if they had been cut to keep watch over the

château. And the great reddish lava spills are impressive in

the way they dominate the scene. The reddish hue is all the

more outstanding thanks to the lush vegetation all around.

The rocks themselves are covered in low growth

dominated by white stonecrop and cobweb houseleek.

If you take the little path to the right of the caves, the view

becomes breathtaking, with the peaks of the Sancy Massif

to the west and then out over the hills of the Livradois Forez,

and to the south Murol château and the volcanic cores of

Bessolles and the Tartaret. To the east is the Livradois Forez

again, and to the north the Chaîne des Puys can be made

out.

Additional information about Murol château: The view from

the Rajat caves is dominated by the basalt promontory

where the château stands. It is, in fact, reminiscent of the

volcanoes. Its compact mass, its embanked curtain walls

and its straight roof line are reminiscent of ancient lava

flows. The mediaeval architecture harmonises with the

landscape. Its walls are over thirty feet in height.

The advantages of the location: A stunning panorama is

present with a slope to Murol château nearby.

Comments: A circular route has been suggested whereby

walkers can visit the Rajat caves, pass by the side of the

restored Landrode mill, built in local stone with a stone-

flagged roof, before crossing a traditionally decorated

bridge surrounded by trees, and reach Murol château.

Page 4: The Rajat caves - Office de Tourisme du Sancy · the Rajat caves is dominated by the basalt promontory where the château stands. It is, in fact, reminiscent of the volcanoes. Its

The caves on the left and Murol castle on the right

Page 5: The Rajat caves - Office de Tourisme du Sancy · the Rajat caves is dominated by the basalt promontory where the château stands. It is, in fact, reminiscent of the volcanoes. Its

From the summit view of the castle (on the right)

From the summit, view of the Massif of Sancy at West

From the summit view of the north face

The caves on the left and the castle on the right

Page 6: The Rajat caves - Office de Tourisme du Sancy · the Rajat caves is dominated by the basalt promontory where the château stands. It is, in fact, reminiscent of the volcanoes. Its

The summit of the caves

Les grottes et derrière vue sur le Massif du Sancy

The summit of the caves

The summit of the caves

Page 7: The Rajat caves - Office de Tourisme du Sancy · the Rajat caves is dominated by the basalt promontory where the château stands. It is, in fact, reminiscent of the volcanoes. Its
Page 8: The Rajat caves - Office de Tourisme du Sancy · the Rajat caves is dominated by the basalt promontory where the château stands. It is, in fact, reminiscent of the volcanoes. Its
Page 9: The Rajat caves - Office de Tourisme du Sancy · the Rajat caves is dominated by the basalt promontory where the château stands. It is, in fact, reminiscent of the volcanoes. Its