Tence A green, family-friendly resort where rivers meet

Tence, 850 m above sea level, on the banks of the River Lignon, is a charming village with beautiful stonework, slate roofs and a rich religious heritage. The river runs through the village, guiding you from one district to the next…
Tence has a population of 3,123.
A friendly atmosphere prevails, as evidenced by the market, the shops and the good restaurants.

If you’re a lover of nature and simplicity, you’ve come to the right place, with everything you need for an ideal stay and to enjoy outdoor activities with your family.

To discover

The Penitents chapel

Dominating the Place du Chatiague, the Pénitents chapel was built in 1813.

The visit evokes the religious history of the area. You’ll discover the choir, woodwork, nave, pulpit, stained glass windows, paintings, checkrooms, sacristy and instruments of the Passion.

Musée-chapelle des Pénitents

The charreyrons, typical architecture

Tence is a typical village with its charreyrons (narrow streets), a reminder of its fortifications.
Discover the site of the old ramparts, the barracks district…

Marvel at the stonework and lauze roofs of the village’s houses.
The “A la découverte de Tence” circuit will guide you through its narrow streets. Follow the signs of the Amis du Vieux Tence, and relive the history of Tence as you discover its main monuments along the charreyrons.

Discovering Tence

Bathelane rivers and lake

Tence is criss-crossed by 3 rivers, La Sérigoule and Les Mazeaux, which join before plunging into the Lignon. If you like to stroll by the water, there are paths along their banks to guide you…
And in the middle flows a river.

The natural site of the Bathelane lake can be reached on foot from the village in 1/4 hour.

Bathelane lake

A little history

The village of four steeples

The coat of arms bears witness to Tence‘s past, its attachment to Languedoc with the cross of the county of Toulouse.
We are an Occitan village, and this linguistic heritage is still alive and well, spoken in the homes of our inhabitants, with the La Retornadaassociation and the creation of acalendreta (Occitan school).

The motto “Alta sicut Montes Cordas” still resonates strongly in the minds of the Tençois. “Hearts as high as mountains”.

The four bell towers bear witness to the town’s religious history: the Saint Martin church, the Notre-Dame chapel, the Pénitents Blancs chapel-museum and the temple.

Hiking in Tence

Mysterious hike...

In the heart of the Crouzilhac forest, a mystical wind still blows, and history and legends combine to keep the mystery alive!

This walk takes you to the Druidic Rock, marked at its summit by cupules, circular notches said to have been used for sacrifices by druids.
This rock is not alone. All around, the arrangement of certain rocks seems to have been arranged…

Legend has it that 400 years ago, a little man moved a forest boundary by carrying one of his boundary stones. The stone was too heavy for him to set down, and so he wandered until the day when the lord of Le Mazel rescued him and allowed him to set down the stone near the Les Mazeaux stream. His ghost still haunts the place…

PR040 La Roche druidique de Crouzilhac

All hikes

On foot
MOUNTAIN BIKING
Cyclo
Trail

Etape GR430 Tence - Queyrières

PR703 - Sentier de la Tour

36 - Panoramas, sucs et forêts

T53 - Les Gorges du Lignon

A Family Plus destination

In Tence, families are pampered: the commune is a Famille Plus Nature resort.

A special welcome is reserved for children and their parents in public places, accommodation and restaurants, and during special activities and events.

The Family Plus label

On the banks of the Bathelane Tence lake

Heart of the village The Town Hall

Whether you’re a local or just passing through on holiday, and would like to find out more about our commune, the Town Hall is always ready to help!