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PRESS PACK

MIDI-PYRENEES

REGIONAL TOURISM

COMMITTEE

PRESS PACK : SUGGESTIONS FOR EXPLORING THE GREAT SITES OF MIDI-PYRENEES

Great Sites of Midi-Pyrnes

- Villages and historical sites -

Suggestions for sites to visit

Midi-Pyrnes Regional Tourism Committee - Press contact: Solenne Odon

Phone: +33 (0)5 61 13 55 19 [email protected]

www.tourism-midi-pyrenees.co.uk


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Great Sites of Midi-Pyrnes:Villages and historical sites

Suggestions for sites to visit

CONTENTS

Page 2The Great Tourist Site of Midi-Pyrnes seal of approval:- Presentation of the regional scheme- List of Great Sites

Pages 3 to 8Great Sites of Midi-Pyrnes - villages andhistorical sites: suggestions for sites to visit

Page 3: the Arige collection, 14,000 years of history- In Saint-Lizier, admire the Pyrenees from Domaine duPalais- Follow the footsteps of the weavers along the Chemindes Tisserands to Montsgur-Fte de la figue in Mas dAzilPage 4: Conques (Aveyron)- Decipher the message of the Conques tympanum- Take a break at the La Lumire du Roman festival- A former mill converted into a hotel

Page 5: Marciac (Gers)-Jazz in Marciac: festival encore- The spring, autumn and winter jazz sessions- Around Marciac, vineyards and guest-housesPage 6: Rocamadour (Lot)- Delve right into the heart of the sacred city- During the Easter period, sportelle hunt-Rocamadour's Fte des fromages-A hotel befitting the Causses du QuercyPage 7: Saint-Cirq-Lapopie (Lot)- Catch the best view over Saint-Cirq-Lapopie

- Visit the jewel of the Lot valley on a June morning- Pick your own Saffron in Quercy

Page 8: Cordes-sur-Ciel-Explore Cordes-sur-Ciel through its legends and mysteries-Watch Cordes-sur-Ciel emerge from a sea of clouds-A weekend in the heights of the medieval city, with wine-tasting initiation

SUMMARY PRESS RELEASE

Midi-Pyrnes has implemented a "Great Tourist Site" seal of approvalthat has been awarded to about twenty towns, villages, historical sites,areas of natural beauty and engineering structures.

This press pack provides an overview of the Great Sites ofMidi-Pyrnes, with a presentation of the villages and

historical sites with this seal of approval: the Arigecollection - 14,000 years of history, Conques in theAveyron; Marciac in the Gers, Rocamadour and Saint-Cirq-Lapopie in the Lot, Cordes-sur-Ciel in the Tarn.

An overall presentation of each Great Site is provided,along with suggestions of sites to explore, based oncriteria such as originality, striking scenery or unexpecteddiscoveries.

The Great Site of Midi-Pyrnes seal of approval isawarded to sites that are nationally or internationallyfamous, offer visitors an enriching experience and are

emblematic of the regions identity, culture or heritage.

Two other press packs provide suggestions for sites to visit for:> The Great Sites of Midi-Pyrnes: towns, large andsmall.> The Great Sites of Midi-Pyrnes: engineering structuresand natural sites

PRESS PACK: SUGGESTIONS FOR EXPLORING THE GREAT SITES OF MIDI-PYRENEES


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The "Great Sites of Midi-Pyrnes" seal of approval

Presentation of the Great Sites of Midi-Pyrnes scheme

The Midi-Pyrnes region has set itself apart by implementing the GreatTourist Siteseal of approval.

Around twenty sites, including the Millau viaduct, Toulouse,Rocamadour, Lourdes, Figeac as well as the Cirque deGavarnie and the Pic du Midi, have been selected as partof this scheme, in an aim to:

> Promote the Midi-Pyrnes region with a communicationcampaign focusing on a group of well-known tourist sites.

Useful resource: the "Touring Great Sites" pages on theRegional Tourism Committee website (www.tourism-midi-pyrenees.co.uk). This section features films about theGreat Sites. These films are designed like movie trailersand are available in high definition. Each film lasts one-and-a-half minutes. Slides are also available on requestfor press offices, along with practical information for eachGreat Site.

> Facilitate exploration of the Midi-Pyrnes, France's largestregion, by inviting the public to visit emblematic sites richwith historical, cultural or natural interest.

> Enhance and protect these sites, their distinctive features and heritage.

> Ensure that high-quality facilities and services are available for visitorsat each Great Site: well-trained staff, a 3-star tourist office,modern infrastructures, sustainable development andaccessibility, etc.

The Great Sites of Midi-Pyrnes operate as a network,each one showcasing the region while providing agateway to the other Great Sites.

The regional Great Sites project covers issues associatedwith promoting Midi-Pyrnes as a destination, as well asissues concerning local economic development and landplanning.

On www.tourism-midi-pyrenees.co.uk / Touring greatsites section: films, slide shows and practical information.

List of the Great Sites ofMidi-Pyrnes

List subject to additions as other Great Sites are

gradually included in the project

> Toulouse Haute-Garonne> Arige Collection, 14,000 years of history (Grotte deNiaux, Grotte du Mas dAzil, Saint-Lizier, Foix,Montsgur)> Millau viaduct - Aveyron> Conques - Aveyron> Auch - Gers> Marciac - Gers> Lourdes Hautes-Pyrnes> Cauterets/Pont dEspagne Hautes-Pyrnes> Cirque de Gavarnie Hautes-Pyrnes> Pic du Midi de Bigorre Hautes-Pyrnes> Cahors - Lot> Figeac - Lot> Rocamadour - Lot> Saint-Cirq-Lapopie - Lot> Albi - Tarn> Cordes-sur-Ciel - Tarn> At the sources of the Canal du Midi: Sorze, Revel,Saint-Ferrol Tarn /Haute-Garonne> Moissac Tarn-et-Garonne



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G r e a t S i t e s o f M i d i - P y r n e s :

t h e A r i g e c o l l e c t i o n

1 4 , 0 0 0 y e a r s o f h i s t o r y

F o i x , M o n t s g u r , S a i n t - L i z i e r ,

g r o t t e s d e N i a u x a n d M a s d A z i l

The Arige Collection: 14,000 years ofhistory

With four sites that trace back over aperiod spanning from Pre-history to theMiddle Ages, Arige is one of the moreunusual members of the family of GreatSites of Midi-Pyrnes.Start your trip in Arige with a visit toNiaux, one of the world's few caves withcave paintings still open to the public.Niaux is particularly famous for the cavepaintings in its salon noir.Near Niaux, in Tarascon-sur-Arige, theParc de la Prhistoire (Prehistoric Park)provides a different perspective, with

workshops and life-like reconstructedscenes.Another cave to visit: the grotte du MasdAzil, which gave its name to Aziliancivilisation (12,000BC to 8,000BC) andwas used as a refuge for Protestants duringthe religious wars of the 16th century.Sant-Lizier village is a stopping-pointalong the Chemin du Pimont (GR78) andis evocative of the great era of the Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle pilgrimage route.Foix is the capital of Arige and is

overlooked by the former castle, fromwhere Gaston Fbus ruled. Walking aroundthe narrow streets will give you a good feelfor how the town would have been in the13th century, when it vehemently defendedthe cause of the Cathars.Montsgur is 30km away from Foix andwas the last bastion of the Cathar religion.The fortress remains open out onto apanoramic view, which together with themajestic beauty of Montsgur from theapproach, is highly moving.

Together with the Niaux cave paintings, themedieval village of Saint-Lizier, the city ofFoix and the Cathar chteau-fortress ofMontsgur, the Mas dAzil belongs toArige's collection of Great Sites.www.ariegepyrenees.comwww.tourisme-midi- renees.com

Admire the Pyrenees from Domaine du Palais in Saint-Lizier.Saint-Lizier boasts a number of listed world heritage monuments alongthe Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle pilgrimage route: St-Lizier church withits frescos and Romanesque cloister, Notre-Dame de la Sde church andof course the Palais des Evques dating from the 17th century. Recentlyrestored, the latter now houses a 3-star tourist residence designed byarchitect Jean-Michel Wilmotte: le Domaine du Palais. Girdled by third-

century Gallo-Roman ramparts, the Domaine du Palais overlooks the cityof Saint-Lizier, and its terraces offer south-facing scenic views over theCouserans Mountains, a perfect spot for walking and hiking.www.domainedupalais.fr- Phone +33 (0)5 34 14 49 49.

Follow the footsteps of the weavers along the chemin des Tisserands toMontsgurClimb up to the chteau de Montsgur, leaving your car at the foot ofthe "pog" - a rocky outcrop at 1,207m altitude - on which the castle wasbuilt. This important site in the history of the Cathars can also be reachedvia the Chemin des Tisserands, which starts in the centre of Lavelanet,not far from Montsgur.

For centuries, this was the only path used by the inhabitants of Castrumde Montsgur to reach their eyrie in Lavelanet. There were manyweavers among the Cathar population, who would take their wool downby mule to Lavelanet, Arige's historical textile centre. This 5hr30 returnhike is described in the topographical guide LArige pied, dupimont aux Pyrenees.

Don't miss the sound and light show in FoixEvery summer from the 1st to 16th August, Foix puts on a large-scalesound and light spectacle for the public. In the Thtre de Verdure delEspinet, at the foot of the castle, over 200 actors, acrobats, singers,

musicians and jugglers perform against giant images and pyrotechniceffects, re-enacting the great episodes of Arige's history.www.ariegeaufildutemps.fr

Fte de la figue in Mas dAzilEvery year, on the first weekend of October, the fte de la figue revivesthe history of Mas dAzil, formerly a major centre for the Arige figindustry. In the 18th century, Mas dAzil figs were plentiful, even in theToulouse markets. In 2003, a fig orchard was created, makingcultivation ofdifferent fig varieties possible once again.. Run by the Confrrie desTindoulets de la Figo (Occitan for "Brotherhood of Fig Lovers"), the Fte

de la Figue takes over the whole village. On the programme: a gourmetmarketwith fresh figs and fig-based produce, jam making in copper cauldrons,special fig menus at the restaurants, traditional dance and song, streetentertainment, etc.Information is available from Toulouse tourist office - Phone: +33 (0)5 61 69 9990.



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C o n q u e s ( A v e y r o n )

ConquesIn the north of the Aveyron, theescarpments of the high Lot

valley hide a village that used tobe a Mecca for Christianity.Conques, tucked away in anatural cirque with lushvegetation. Since the 12thcentury, this village has been amajor resting-point along theSaint-Jacques-de-Compostelle pilgrimage route.Its importance on this pilgrimageroute led to the inclusion of twoof its monuments in the UNESCOlist of world heritage sites:the Sainte-Foy AbbeyChurch, and the Pont desPlerins which crosses theDourdou River.For Conques, it all started in the11th century when a greatAbbey Church was built bymonks on the foundations of aformer retreat. This buildingbecame a depository for therelics of Sainte-Foy, a youngChristian martyr. From then on,

a long series of miraclesoccurred, attracting hoards ofpilgrims.The fame of Conques reached itspeak in the 11th and 12thcenturies. Its wealth followed thesame upwards curve,materialised in the form of theTrsor de Sainte-Foy: atreasure of goldsmithery, uniquein Europe, exhibited in theAbbey Church.

www.tourisme-conques.frwww.tourisme-aveyron.com


Decipher the message of the Conques tympanumThe typanum in Conques' Abbey Church is considered a masterpiece of EuropeanRoman sculpture. It was completed in 1125 and depicts the scene of the Last Judgement, with 124 figures portrayed around Christ in Majesty. To his right:paradise. To his left: hell. Order and serenity permeate the depiction of paradise,with well-aligned figures turned towards Christ. The depiction of hell is heavy withdread, terror and violence and portrays a great jumble of damned souls anddemons. The colours have now faded - blue for paradise and red for hell,accentuating the contrast between the two. This typanum is loyal to the religioustexts and reveals sharp narration skills. It would have had significant impact on thepilgrims, stimulating their devoutness and preventing them from deviating off thepath.

Take a break at the La Lumire du Roman festivalThe village of Conques is still intact after a thousand years, with its harmoniousgrey-blue schiste, ochre limestone and red sandstone, roses, wisteria and wood-shuttered faades. This setting is even more enjoyable when set to music, as is thecase during the La Lumire du Roman Festival. Throughout July and August,Conques hosts a series of concerts in the Sainte-Foy Abbey Church.Programmed concerts range from medieval music to contemporary repertoires. Theconcerts benefit from the exceptional acoustics of the Abbey Church, lit by thestained-glass windows created by Pierre Soulages. Pierre Soulages was born in Rodezin 1919 and is considered as being one of France's greatest contemporary artists.His discovery of the Abbey Church, was a revelation to the 12 year old boy who

decided to dedicate his life to art. He became the specialist of black-light and wascommissioned to create the stained glass windows for the Abbey Church in 1994.www.tourisme-conques.fr

A former mill converted into a hotelNear Conquest, on the banks of the Dourdou, this 18th century mill has beenconverted into a Htel de Charme run by Dominique and Herv Busset, with 1Michelin star. The Moulin de Cambelong establishment is founded on elegance,simplicity and gourmet dining.The hotel's 10 rooms are each decorated in an individual style with warm, naturalcolours, wood and stone. Some of the rooms have a river view. The pool overlooksthe gardens and will be much appreciated during the warm summer months or after

a hike along the St-Jacques-de-Compostelle route. Savour dishes conjured up by thechef, who sets off in the morning to collect flowers and plants providing inspirationfor his original creations: Fario dEstaing trout with elderflower, or home-made ice-cream flavoured with ivy.Price for 2 days / 1 night in half-board: 240 per person Information and bookings: Midi-Pyrnes Vacances Loisirs - Phone: +33 (0)5 34 25 05 05 - www.tourism-midi-pyrenees.co.uk



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M a r c i a c ( G e r s )

MarciacMarciac is a village in the Gers,famous for itsJazz in Marciac

festival.A 13th century bastide town,tucked away in the dips of theGers valleys, amidst fields ofsunflowers and vines. Theatmosphere, architecture andspirit of this 13th century bastideare typical of DArtagnansGascony. Food is takenseriously here, with famous localproduce such as free-range foiegras and Armagnac.

Jazz in Marciac was startedover thirty years ago by a groupof friends and has now becomeone of Europe's topfestivals. Every August, some200,000 spectators come toapplaud the stars of jazz.Diana Krall, Bireli Lagrene,Didier Lockwood, Keith Jarrett,Sonny Rollins, WyntonMarsalis: all artists who havecontributed to making Marciac ahome base for jazz. Artists who

perform at the Marciac Jazzfestival say so themselves:"playing in the Marciac Jazzfestival is an unforgettableexperience".Sharing a passion for jazz andhanding down knowledge: thisnotion is fostered throughoutMarciac, where the high schooleven runs a jazz module forpupils.

www.marciactourisme.com

www.tourisme-gers.com


Jazz in Marciac: festival encoreEvery year, from the 1st to 15th August, evening Jazz concerts are held in Marciacunder a giant marquee. Booking well ahead for these popular concerts is stronglyadvised. During this period, music and festivities overflow across the town.Marciac's fringe festival for example, with a series of free concerts given by someof the best contemporary musicians on the main square surrounded by medievalarches.Other concerts are scheduled in the countryside setting of Marciac's Lake, 500mwalk from a village with art galleries, shops and restaurants. Learn all about jazzand its multiple forms in the Territoires du Jazz museum which is open to the publicin July and August. Album dedication sessions are also on the agenda, as well as

jazz master classes bringing together jazz musicians and the public.www.jazzinmarciac.com

Jazz sessions in spring, autumn and winterOutside the month of August and the great excitement of its festival, Marciac livesand breathes jazz all year long. From October to June, jazz sessions areorganised once a month, presenting the public with an eclectic programme ofconcerts of an excellent level, in the more intimate venue of Marciac's communityhall. Musicians of the likes of Eric Bibb, Mark Whitfield, the Brown Sisters andInspirational Charms have played here in the past.www.jazzinmarciac.com

Around Marciac, vineyards and guest-housesMarciac is located at the crossroads of 4 Gascon vineyards. Saint-Mont vineyard(with the Vin Dlimit de Qualit Suprieure seal of approval) produces red, whiteand ros wines characterised by their finesse, fullness and bouquet. The smallvillage of Lupiac sits amid these vineyards, near the birthplace of DArtagnan. TheCtes de Gascogne vineyard (local wine) is also near Marciac starring the white

Cte de Gascogne wine.The two other vineyards are AOC certified: with the prestigious Armagnacvineyard which will be celebrating its 700 years in 2010, as well as the Floc deGascogne vineyard. This aperitif, white or red, is born from a marriage betweenArmagnac and grape juice. Tours of estates and wine and spirits storehouses,meetings with producers with tastings, wine-related events and fine dining, makeMarciac an excellent holiday destination all year long, with privately-run charmingguest-houses providing warm Gascon hospitality.For unique accommodation in Marciac and around, contact Midi-Pyrnes Vacances Loisirson +33 (0)5 34 25 05 00, or visit the website www.tourism-midi-pyrenees.co.uk



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R o c a m a d o u r ( L o t )

RocamadourHeading towards the Lot, to the

Causses du Quercy RegionalNature Park. Here we are rightby the Dordogne valley, alsojust by the Gouffre de Padiracchasm. After a bend in the road,Rocamadour suddenly emerges:the medieval village is built in aseries of platforms on thecliffside, clinging 120m abovethe Alzou canyon.In the 12th century, pilgrimswould cross the whole of Europe

just to pray here, in a villageholding the remains of Saint-Amadour. It was also thesanctuary of the Black Madonnaand was an essential stage alongthe St-Jacques-de-Compostellepilgrimage route.Enter Rocamadour through theFiguier gate, then follow Rue dela Couronnerie: the only street inRocamadour, lively andbordered with boutiques andexquisite 13th-17th century

houses.This street leads to a monumentalstairway with 233 steps. This runsup to the parvis of thesanctuaries with its 7 squaresand chapels. Amongst these,Saint-Sauveur Church and theSaint-Amadour Crypt are listedUnesco world heritage sites,along the Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle pilgrimage route.

www.rocamadour.comwww.tourisme-lot.comwww.tourism-midi-pyrenees.co.uk

Delve right into the heart of the sacred cityNotre-Dame Chapel emerges on the parvis of the sanctuaries, sheltered by the72m cliff. Semi-troglodytic in structure, it is considered as being the spiritual heartof de Rocamadour. It houses the mysterious Black Madonna, an object of worshipfrom the 12th century onwards, source of the great fame of Rocamadour inWestern Christian Europe in the Middle Ages.The Black Madonna is a 69cm Roman statuettein silver and gold-plated walnut. Its frail outlineradiates a spiritual aura felt by many visitorsthroughout the ages. In 1936, composerFrancis Poulenc was struck by faith whencontemplating the statue, inspiring hiscomposition of the Litanies de la Vierge Noire.The museum of sacred art in Rocamadourwas subsequently named after the composer.The museum is housed in the former episcopalpalace and exhibits 200 pieces from the siteand other churches of Quercy.

The Easter Sportelle huntThe Easter bells ring out in Rocamadour, announcing the Easter sportelle huntrather than a traditional Easter egg hunt. The sportelle is the medallion which, inthe Middle Ages, acted as a safe-conduct for the pilgrimages on the St-Jaques-de-

Compostelle route.The Rocamadour sportelle was made of lead or tin and bore the effigy of the BlackMadonna. On Easter morning, families are invited to discover the 1,000 chocolatesportelles which will be hidden in and around the site.Information: Rocamadour Tourist Office - Phone: +33 (0)5 65 33 22 00.

Rocamadour's Fte des FromagesThe sacred city is the birthplace of Rocamadour AOC: this little goats cheesewhich tastes of butter and herbs has been produced in the Causses du Quercysince the 15th century. Every year, on Pentecost Sunday, Rocamadour organises amost enjoyable and lively celebration in honour of this cheese.With participation from 40 producers from the Great South, the celebration begins

with a Fruit of the Earth mass and ends with a competition of farm cheeses. Theday's events include free tastings, presentation of Rocamadour's caprine livestock,picnic in the countryside and live music. This festival is one of the rare celebrationsexclusively dedicated to cheese in the South of France, starring an AOC guest ofhonour every year. http://fromages.rocamadour.free.fr/

A hotel befitting the Causses du QuercyOn the heights of Rocamadour, Htel des Esclargies is in the Causses du QuercyRegional Nature Park.This 3* Htel de Charme was built in the middle of an oak grove, from stone andwood with loft-style architecture.The 16 rooms combine refined, natural materials and reflect the natural spirit ofthe site, typical of the Causses de Quercy: oak, low dry-stone walls, hedges andclumps of boxtrees. The hotel is a member of the Htels au Naturel charter andtherefore respects eco-responsible practices. Example of prices: from 150 per personfor 5 days/4 nights, breakfast included. Information and bookings: Midi-Pyrnes VacancesLoisirs - Phone: +33 (0)5 34 25 05 05 - www.tourism-midi-pyrenees.co.uk



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S a i n t - C i r q - L a p o p i e ( L o t )

Saint-Cirq-LapopieLeaving Cahors, a roadwinds along the cliffs of theLot valley towards Saint-Cirq-Lapopie.This medieval villagemarries the rocky faces100 metres above theriver, opening onto acascade of narrow cobbledstreets, Gothic faades andfortified doors.Formerly witness to

flourishing waterwayactivity and famous for itsboxwood turning, Saint-Cirq-Lapopie is a listed siteboasting 13 historicalmonuments. The villagehas successfully kept itsheritage intact as well as itscharm.From the start of the 20thcentury, Saint-Cirq-Lapopieattracted artists andParisian gallery owners,

then a number of artistsfrom the Surrealistmovement, includingAndr Breton who set upresidence here. The artisticdimension of Saint-Cirq-Lapopie still persists today,permeating the village'scontemporary art sceneand the international artist'sresidence in the MaisonDaura.

www.saint-cirqlapopie.comwww.tourisme-lot.comwww.tourism-midi-pyrenees.co.uk

Catch the best view over Saint-Cirq-LapopieA hotel built by Eric Vivens is due to open in March 2010, opposite the extraordinarycliff-side village of Saint-Cirq-Lapopie. The hotel has been designed to emulate a typicalQuercy hamlet, with its different buildings housing a total of 20 rooms and a receptionbuilding built in wood and modelled on the old tobacco-drying barns. This building willbe used for hosting cookery workshops run by designer Rosi and Pierre Larapidie, astar-rated chef from the Georges V in Paris. Information: +33 (0)5 65 31 21 20.

Visit the jewel of the Lot valley on a June morning It is only outside of the summer months, when the caf terraces are calm and theworkshops open up in the refreshing shade of the high-arched Gothic doors, that one

can catch a glimpse of the real character of Saint-Cirq-Lapopie. The Gothic refinement ofthe houses, the hollyhock that St-Cirq has adopted for its emblem and the site's harmonyas a whole take on a particular form: one can seize upon the spirit of a village that hasbarely changed since the time when cabcou cheese (a small goat cheese from the Lot)was used as currency.The harmony of Saint-Cirq-Lapopie is essentially due to the fact that the houses, whichwere built in symbiosis with the cliff, make use of only three materials, all found within a10km radius.All the roofs are lined with "tuilot" - thin terracotta tiles from the Lot (made from the localblood-coloured clay. Each wall is built from amber-coloured limestone taken from thesurrounding prairies. Each door and wooden shutter is cut from brown oak from theCausse, which is as hard as steel. This results in a vibrant fusion of textures and colours,

nature and architecture.

Pick your own Saffron in QuercyQuercy Saffron is a spice obtained from a bluish-mauve coloured flower with acontrasting deep red stigma. The spice, considered a luxury product, is obtained by

removing the stigma. Saffron has been grown in Quercy since the Middle Ages,particularly around Saint-Cirq-Lapopie and Cajarc. It was grown in kitchen gardens bymany families for their own consumption. Now, around 80 growers produce between sixand eight kilograms of saffron a year. In October, when the saffron is in flower, growersorganise visits to their farms and visitors are invited to learn about the secrets behind theexclusively manual production techniques and purchase saffron stigma on-site.Quercy Saffron can also be purchased from the Codeval cooperative in Cajarc. Thissmall town, twenty minutes away from Saint-Cirq-Lapopie, organises the Fte du Safranevery year on the last weekend of October.Information: Cajarc tourist office.Phone: +33 (0)5 65 40 72 89.



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C o r d e s - s u r - C i e l ( T a r n )

Cordes-sur-Ciel

30 minutes from Albi, in the Tarn,Cordes-sur-Ciel is one of Albi'smain fortified bastide towns,adjoining the Gaillac AOCvineyards. Founded in 1222 byRaimond VII, count of Toulouse,it experienced great prosperity inthe Middle Ages thanks todrapery, silk and leather trading.In the 13th and 14th centuries,

luxury homes were built: theMaison du Grand Ecuyer,Maison du Grand Veneur,Maison du Grand Fauconnier,and other Gothic palacesprotected by the city'ssurrounding fortification system.The steep narrow streets ofCordes-sur-Ciel are pepperedwith workshops where residentcraftsmen and artists work allyear round: painters, sculptors,ceramists, leather craftsmen,

stained glass workers, artistblacksmiths, designers, etc. Alsoto be visited: the Muse dArtModerne et Contemporain,Ferie de lart du Sucre, notforgetting the Jardin des Paradiswhich is set against the rampartsand hosts a different theme eachyear.

www.cordesurciel.eu

www.tourisme-tarn.com


Explore Cordes-sur-Ciel through its legends and mysteriesIn the 13th century, Cordes-sur-Ciel was a bastion of the Cathar religion. Threeinquisitors are said to have fallen to the bottom of the wells in the Halle: thedepths of these wells (112m) remains the source of enigma. Cordes is also thoughtto have been a home for alchemists.Between history, esotericism and unsolved mysteries, Cordes sur Ciel invites one todecipher its codes, and a good place to begin is with the sculptures adorning itshouses. One such sculpture can be found on the Maison du Grand Veneur, wherea finely detailed hunting scene is depicted. In light of the symbolism in use at thattime, the scene can be interpreted as dogs (the inquisitors) hunting wild boar (theCathars, holders of true spirituality). In doing so, the inquisitors lose track of the

deer (symbol of Christ) but follow the figure reaching towards the apple tree (thetree of knowledge).Numerous other discoveries are to be found, such as the recurring image of thedragon which runs throughout the sculptures on the faades and is inherent in thevery shape of the town itself, coiled around its rocky hill.Ask for the "Legends and mysteries" trail description at the tourist office and learn about thetown's hidden secrets. Phone: +33 (0)5 63 56 00 52. www.cordesurciel.eu

Watch Cordes-sur-Ciel emerge from a sea of cloudsAfter a night in Cordes, meet at dawn at "Pied haut", a high point of the village

from where, on some mornings, the medieval city can be seen emerging from asea of clouds. This phenomenon is more common in spring and autumn. The touristoffice will provide you with information on how to get to Pied Haut. Phone: +33(0)5 63 56 00 52.

A weekend in the heights of the medieval city, with wine-tasting initiationThis weekend trip, two days/one night, is offered by one of Cordes-sur-Ciel's mostbeautiful hotels, right at the top of the walled medieval city: lHostellerie du VieuxCordes. First evening: local produce and AOC Gaillac wine tasting, learningabout the history of grape varieties and an initiation in oenology. Next, enjoy atleisure the elegant setting of this 3* hotel with rooms overlooking the Crouvalley, the covered indoor courtyard with its bicentenary wisteria, or one of theoldest cobbled streets of the fortified bastide town. Yves Thuris presides in the

kitchen, Michelin star chef and Midi-Pyrnes' celebrated chocolate maker.Two days / one night deal, half-board in double room: 102/person. Information andbookings: Midi-Pyrnes Vacances Loisirs - Phone: +33 (0)5 34 25 05 05www.tourism-midi-pyrenees.co.uk


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