Must-see: A day in Bruniquel!

Ranked among the “ Most Beautiful Villages of France ”, Bruniquel is an incredible medieval city that is absolutely worth a visit. It is a major site, to be discovered urgently in Occitania! It is also part of the Fortified town route, just like Castelnau-de-Montmiral, Puycelsi, or even Penne. This is to say the richness of its history and its heritage. The village will enchant you with the beauty of its buildings, its relaxed lifestyle and architectural harmony despite the times crossed.

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Visiting Bruniquel means traveling back in time!

Discovered in 1990, the Bruniquel cave reveals evidence of human life dating back 176,500 years, i.e. to the Neanderthal era. Despite its location (300m underground), traces of hearths and strange circles of broken and arranged stalagmites were found there. Research is still ongoing.

Organize your stay in the region: Find Bruniquel and the remarkable villages around, in our discovery of the Causses du Quercy Garonne.

Did Neanderthal man pass through Bruniquel?

In addition, a legend says that Queen Brunehaut (Merovingian period) would have built the ^1st castle in Bruniquel. But it was in the Middle Ages that the city grew considerably, in particular thanks to the trade in saffron, flax and hemp.

Queen Brunehaut is still present in the Bruniquelais heritage

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The most beautiful things to see in Bruniquel

Medieval cities, wherever they are located in France, all have one thing in common. Do you know which one? These are of course the narrow, non-rectilinear alleys. Quite the opposite of what is done today!

To extend the exceptional heritage tours, go to the Tarn a stone's throw away, to discover surprising hilltop villages. You haven't finished marveling.

In Bruniquel, the alleys, and especially the houses there, form a magnificent and superbly preserved whole. The whole being perfectly maintained. It is very pleasant to stroll there. Around every corner, you can only marvel at so much beauty. It is a journey through time that awaits you there.

Read our article on the most beautiful villages of Tarn-et-Garonne, of course, you will find Bruniquel there!

 

Take the time to walk through the cobbled streets

However, if there are many places to see or visit absolutely during your Bruniquelaise getaway, they are the following:

• The two Châteaux de Bruniquel: Yes, yes! Two castles stand side by side and dominate the gorges of the Aveyron. It is possible to visit them, and even to have an audio guide to better understand its past and that of its occupants.

 

The Château Neuf and the Château Vieux face each other

• The gardens of the châteaux: How pleasant it is to take the time to enjoy this little green lung, located close to the two châteaux.

A pretty green space with Tuscan airs

• The Clock Square: Visible from the car park, you can see this imposing clock square which dominates the main street. The street of the hospital is very commercial. You will find something to eat there, but also some pretty clothing shops, but also a flea market, etc.

 

The clock is a real landmark wherever you are in the village

• New Walls and Old Walls: Who says castle says pregnant! You will notice that here there is already an imposing natural rampart: the gorges of the Aveyron! But to protect yourself from invaders, nothing beats real walls. In Bruniquel, what we call here the New Walls and the Old Walls remain. Some doors are still more or less visible like the Porte Neuve (new walls), the Porte du Rocas (old walls) and the Porte Méjane (old walls).

The Rocas gate

• Saint-Maffre church: observe its bell tower completely integrated into the facade wall.

 

The bell tower of St Maffre church and its typically Romanesque appearance

• Half-timbered and / or corbelled houses: They are numerous in the village and reflect the construction of dwellings in the Middle Ages.

 

Half-timbering and corbellings bring charm and authenticity to the cobbled streets

Several ways to visit Bruniquel

There are several ways to discover Bruniquel. The easiest way is to stroll between the alleys, but for those who would like to deepen the subject or who would like a more fun and cultural walk, there are several possibilities:

• The Baludik application: thanks to the free application, go in search of Bruniquel's Talisman (fr). To help you in this quest, you will be accompanied by the two heroes Jonas and Lyra.

Immerse yourself in the puzzles of the Baludik application

• The downloadable (fr) booklet of fun walks for young and old.
• The game booklet to unravel the Neanderthal mystery, for 6-10 year olds (fr) and for 11-15 year olds (fr).
  

Here is a map of the village of Bruniquel to download (fr), with explanations of the main places.

Hoping that these few elements made you want to stop off at Bruniquel for a stroll. Do not hesitate to continue your visit by making other stops in the incredible villages that are part of the Bastides Albigeoises circuit.

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Article and photos prepared by Charline Prod'Homme for the Guide Tarn Aveyron

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