Bruniquel, medieval town

Dominating the Aveyron river of nearly 100m, the castles of Bruniquel are the first to captivate the eye. The enchantment continues as one strolls through the fortified village built on terraces and classified “Les plus beaux villages de France”. Founded, it is said, by Queen Brunehaut, daughter of the King of the Visigoths, Bruniquel feels like a journey through time, with its limestone facades, its climbing roses and wild gardens, its steep cobbled streets, and its beautiful houses dating from the 15th, 16th, and 17th centuries. The castles crowning the rocky outcrop are made up of the ‘Young’ Castle with its labyrinth of rooms, the tower of Queen Brunehaut (dungeon of the 12th century), the Hall of the Knights, but also the ‘Old’ Castle. The latter offers an unparalleled panorama of the Aveyron Gorges, from the top of its Renaissance-style gallery overlooking the river. This historical site also served as the setting for the film ‘Le vieux fusil’ with Philippe Noiret and Romy Schneider. One of the rooms now hosts an exhibition of photographs taken during the filming. Bruniquel Tourist Office documentation and reception offered in English and Spanish.