La area of southern France is very accessible from Spain, especially if you live in that area near the border. That is why it is a space very visited by Spaniards who seek to discover corners of France that they have not yet explored. In this southern area, as in all of France, it is possible to find villages with incredible charm that can be visited in a short time.
Beyond the cities, visiting small towns is something great, because they have a different touch, they are quieter and more traditional. In the peoples of the south of France we can see what their customs are like in towns that receive their influences from nearby Spain. We are going to see some of the most interesting.
Carcassonne, medieval citadel
In the place of the citadel there was already a Roman settlement and in the XNUMXth century the first fortress was built. The Trencavels were the ones who built the current great citadel, although it has been rebuilt on several occasions. About the thirteenth century the construction of the lower part known as the Bastida de San Luis. You can freely enter through the Narbonne Gate, near the car park, to see the miles of ramparts. Inside there are towers, several access doors, the Carcassonne Count Castle or the Saint Nazaire Basilica.
Najac
Najac is located in the department of Aveyron, among green hills in a hilly landscape. This is a curious town that has a meandering arrangement in a line leading up the hill, where the castle is located. Plaça del Barry is its main square and it is curious to walk down the only street that leads to the castle. From the castle there are also great panoramic views of the area.
Belcastel
Belcastel is one of those towns in France that offers us precisely what we are looking for. It has a beautiful stone bridge from the XNUMXth century, stone houses in an incredible natural environment and a lot of tranquility. It also has an XNUMXth century stone castle. You can visit part of this castle, although it has private owners. The ideal is to walk through the town calmly discovering its corners. There are several places with terraces to take a break in a place like this.
Conques
This town is on the Camino de Santiago and it is located between lush green areas, so it is a town that stands out for its beauty and its environment. You can go up to the viewpoint to see the town of Conques and of course you have to walk through its streets to see the incredible rural architecture of its small stone houses. Its great Romanesque abbey with the Portico of the Last Judgment stands out.
Lauzerte
This is another pretty medieval towns in the Occitania region. It is located on the Camino de Santiago Frances, so it is a fairly crowded place. In the town we can see beautiful light stone facades in its old houses. It is a bastide, a town that extends from a large central square. It can be seen from the Plaça des Cornieres, from which two streets start. You can also see the beautiful church of San Bartolomé with a baroque altarpiece.
La Roque-Gageac
This incredible village is located in the Dordogne department, near the town of Sarlat. It is on the banks of the Dordogne river and on some stone cliffs. The houses overlook the cliff in an amazing way and of course the best way to see it is by taking a boat trip on the river. In the village you can also see the Marqueyssac Gardens, beautiful and well-kept gardens. As in many villages, this one also has a castle, that of Castelnaud la Chapelle