Tag Archives: bastide

Cordes-sur-Ciel: Dramatic and Timeless

Posted on 31/08/2019 by nessafrance

I’d forgotten what a long way up it is. Seventeen years had obliterated our memory of the steep hike up to the cité of Cordes-sur-Ciel perched on its hilltop, which was long considered inaccessible. But we weren’t going to wimp … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Places | Tagged Albigensian Crusade, bastide, Cathars, Cordes-sur-Ciel, Counts of Toulouse, Raymond VII Count of Toulouse, Southwest France, Tarn | 23 Comments

Noses to the Grindstone? La Meulière de Clayrac near Cordes

Posted on 02/06/2019 by nessafrance

Our walking group has recently taken some interesting routes, which have introduced us to the patrimoine (historic heritage) of the region. Some of the sites are quite off the beaten track and we hadn’t come across them before in our … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Places | Tagged Amarens souterrains de, bastide, Cordes-sur-Ciel, Counts of Toulouse, la Meulière de Clayrac, millstone quarry, petit patrimoine, SW France, Tarn | 6 Comments

C’est la Fête!

Posted on 22/06/2016 by nessafrance

It’s that time of year again when every street corner (and your windscreen if you stop for long enough) bristles with posters advertising local fêtes, vide-greniers and concerts. Some of the early ones have had to contend with appalling weather … Continue reading →

Posted in French life, Places, Teysseroles chapel | Tagged bastide, Beauregard, chapelle de Teysseroles, Fête de la Musique, fête de Teysseroles, Lot, SW France, Teysseroles | 15 Comments

Beaumont-de-Lomagne: Garlic Capital of Southwest France

Posted on 06/04/2014 by nessafrance

I’ve been getting out and about a lot recently, interviewing people for various magazine articles. This gets me away from the computer and the internet and introduces me to places I might not otherwise have visited. On Tuesday, my … Continue reading →