Tag Archives: Najac

Welcome to the New Normal in France

Posted on 14/06/2020 by nessafrance

Some things don’t change, whatever else is happening. And so the first two weeks of June have been pourries (rotten). The weather has been chilly, damp and generally miserable. We should be used to this; after all, it happens every … Continue reading →

Posted in French life | Tagged COVID-19, déconfinement, Najac, Oustal del Barry, SW France, Teysseroles fête | 8 Comments

Virtual Visits: Western Aveyron

Posted on 03/05/2020 by nessafrance

I am extremely attached to the Aveyron département, although we live just over the border in Tarn-et-Garonne. Our part of our département has more in common with Aveyron than it does with the rest. Our neighbours even kiss three times, … Continue reading →

Posted in Aveyron, Places, Virtual Visits | Tagged Aveyron, Najac, Peyrusse-le-Roc, SW France, Toulongergues, Villefranche de Rouergue, Villefranche-de-Rouergue market, Villeneuve-d'Aveyron | 22 Comments

Saving Face: Some of the Less Obvious Gems in SW France

Posted on 05/05/2019 by nessafrance

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, so I’m following the example of fellow blogger Midi Hideaways, who wrote a recent post about the statuary and carved stone faces on buildings in the towns of the Languedoc. In this post … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Places | Tagged carved stone figures, Caylus, chimera, French Wars of Religion, gargoyle, Maison des Loups Caylus, Najac, Puycelsi, Puylagarde, Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val | 6 Comments

Inside le Château de Najac

Posted on 12/06/2016 by nessafrance

At least a dozen years have elapsed since I visited the interior of the ruined château de Najac in Aveyron. This imposing 13th-century fortress is a landmark for miles around, best seen from the opposite slope on a misty autumn … Continue reading →

Posted in Châteaux, History, Places | Tagged Aveyron, Chateau de Najac, French châteaux, medieval life, Najac, patrimoine, Plus beaux villages, SW France, Templars | 19 Comments

Every Château Tells a Story #11: Le Château de Mazerolles, Aveyron

Posted on 13/03/2016 by nessafrance

As you round a hairpin bend just before the hamlet of Mazerolles, you get a breath-taking view of Najac across the valley, crowned by its ruined château (pictured below). This must have greeted the chatelains of Mazerolles (above) every morning … Continue reading →

Posted in Châteaux, History, Places | Tagged Aveyron, Chateau de Najac, Château de Mazerolles, French châteaux, Mazerolles, Najac, Rouergue, SW France | 10 Comments

When the Weather is Springlike in Autumn

Posted on 06/11/2015 by nessafrance

I’m in the throes of the literary lunacy called National Novel Writing Month, and creating my second Corsica novel. This is not an easy task and it is made doubly difficult by the phenomenally warm weather we have experienced during the … Continue reading →

Posted in Nature, Weather | Tagged autumn, climate, drought, mante réligieuse, Najac, praying mantis, rainfall, SW France, Weather | 7 Comments

Every Château Tells a Story #2: Le Château de Najac

Posted on 18/11/2014 by nessafrance

On autumn mornings, it rises out of the mist, perched on top of its pinnacle; while on summer evenings, it seems to float in the sky, lit from below. The fortress is a landmark for miles around, standing sentinel … Continue reading →

Posted in Aveyron, Châteaux, History, Places | Tagged Aveyron, Chateau de Najac, Croquants, French Wars of Religion, Hundred Years War, Najac, patrimoine, SW France, Templars | 15 Comments

Beautiful Bastide: Villeneuve-d’Aveyron

Posted on 20/05/2013 by nessafrance

Today is la fête de la Pentecôte (Pentecost) in France – for those of you who think I don’t know my dates, this was posted late on Monday. And in keeping with the tradition of public holidays it’s cold and … Continue reading →

Posted in Aveyron, History, Places | Tagged Aveyron, bastides, church wall paintings, Hundred Years War, Najac, Villefrance-de-Rouergue, Villeneuve-d'Aveyron | 17 Comments

Najac Conundrum: the Answer

Posted on 30/09/2012 by nessafrance

In my recent post about Najac, I posed a conundrum. What is the protuberance on the side of the building above, about three metres up? I received some interesting suggestions.

Posted in Aveyron, History | Tagged Aveyron, bread oven, four à pain, Najac, patrimoine | 8 Comments

Najac Revisited – and a Couple of Conundrums for You

Posted on 19/09/2012 by nessafrance

Last Saturday and Sunday were journées du patrimoine (heritage days) not only here in France but also across Europe. Thousands of historic sites throughout France opened their doors, many of them free, and put on associated events and entertainment. We … Continue reading →

Posted in Aveyron, History, Places | Tagged Aveyron, Chateau de Najac, Najac, patrimoine, Rouergue, travel | 18 Comments

France’s Most Beautiful Villages – Plus Beaux Villages

Posted on 23/03/2012 by nessafrance

France has more than its fair share of picturesque villages. Some of them are designated l’un des plus beaux villages de France (one of the most beautiful villages of France). Within a 50 km radius of us I have counted … Continue reading →

Posted in Aveyron, History, Places | Tagged Belcastel, Bruniquel, Les Plus Beaux Villages de France, Najac, patrimoine, Puycelci, SW France | 28 Comments

Najac: One of the Most Beautiful Villages in France

Posted on 26/01/2011 by nessafrance

This morning, we went walking around Najac, in Aveyron, with our walking group. Najac is “l’un des plus beaux villages de France” (one of the most beautiful villages in France), a designation it shares with 154 other picturesque towns and … Continue reading →

Posted in Aveyron, French life, History, Places | Tagged Aveyron, Chateau de Najac, France, Najac, Plus beaux villages de France, SW France | 10 Comments