Pyrénées
Ainhoa is a "bastide" or walled village in the Basque country on the pilgrims’ route to Santiago de Compostela. The village is on the boundary of the provinces of Labourd and Navarre, just a few kilometres from Espelette and Sare. It boasts typical red and white-fronted houses along its only street.
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Camon sprang up as a result of a 10C abbey, later to become a fortified priory, being built in the hollow of a small valley in Ariège, where the River Hers makes a loop. Today, visitors enter into the village through the old arched door of the church and discover the signs of Camon’s religious past and its red curved roof tile houses.
Themes
- Abbeys and churches : The abbey and church
- Castles and ramparts : The fortifications
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This former defensive site was built in terraces in the garrigue between the Conflent valley and Mont Canigou and had to repel the French in the 16C and the Spanish army in the 18C. Today, the imposing Church of Saint Vincent stands in place of the old citadel and steep cobblestone streets descend from its doors.
Themes
- By the waterside : River Têt
- Panoramas : Views of the Conflent basin from the old rampart walk
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The hamlet of Evol is attached to the village of Olette and is overlooked by the old fortress of the Viscounts of So and the steeple of its Romanesque church. The village still has a mountain feel to it today because of the pasturing and the houses with their shale walls and stone-slab roofs, the "lauze" slabs for which used to be cut in winter by the inhabitants.
Themes
- Castles and ramparts : The viscount’s castle
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"Bastida de Clarenza" was founded in 1314 by Louis I King of Navarre and future King of France because he needed an outlet onto the sea. It still bears the marks of the different peoples and religions that came here as a result of its position. White facades striped with green or red nevertheless remind visitors that here they are in Basque country
Themes
- Unusual sights : The Jewish cemetery
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55 kilometres east of Perpignan, Mosset looks out over Castellane Valley from the top of its rocky spur. Besides the fine architectural heritage stemming from medieval times, the Catalan village, which covers 7,120 ha and has a 2,000 m variation in height, also boasts an exceptional wealth of flora and fauna.
Themes
- Unusual sights : La Tour des Parfums (fun, interactive and educational museum)
- Panoramas : View of Castellane Valley
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Bertrand, bishop of Comminges, had Sainte Marie Cathedral built on a rocky outcrop as if it were keeping watch on the Pyrenees. Although the village is famous because of this fabulous building, other treasures lay behind its walls and entrance gates such as the noble houses dating from the 16C to 18C.
Themes
- Abbeys and churches : Sainte Marie Cathedral (11C and 14C)
- Castles and ramparts : Ramparts, Majou, Cabirole and Hyrisson gates
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Perched on a steep hill in the Pyrenees, Saint Lizier Cathedral, which is a listed UNESCO World Heritage Site along with four other monuments in the village because they are on the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela, has made this small village in Ariège famous. Inside the Roman walls, the narrow paved streets lined with 17C houses are an added attraction to a pleasant stroll.
Themes
- Abbeys and churches : The cathedral Saint-Lizier (XIe au XVe S)
- By the waterside : The river Salat
- Castles and ramparts : The Gallo Roman wall, towers and gates
- Unusual sights : The 18C chemistry, an introduction to ichnology (study of fossil footprints)
- Panoramas : View of The Pyrénées from the esplanade du palais des Evêques
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"Saran Astia" : we have time in Sare is the motto of this village nestled at the foot of the legendary mountains of Axuria and La Rhune where traditions such as merry-making, sport and smuggling have travelled down the ages.
Themes
- Gastronomy : Basque gateau
- Unusual sights : La Rhune train, a rack-and-pinion railway going up to the top of La Rhune Mountain
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This former commercial town was the capital of Conflent and has kept exquisite traces of its history and of its status as a defensive site. For instance, the ramparts and La Viguerie tower, both built by the Count of Cerdagne in the 11C, then strengthened with fortifications added by architect Vauban in the 17C and the Fort Libéria, recently listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, or the stalls and houses that belonged to leading citizens or rich traders.
Themes
- By the waterside : The river Têt
- Castles and ramparts : Ramparts, towers, Fort Libéria
- Unusual sights : Caves with limestone concretions
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 Forge _ Dlebigot.jpg "Bastide-clairence (La) Forge _ Dlebigot.jpg")
The Villages
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