Bruniquel, Tarn, France

The village is a picturesque mixture of old pink stone and red tile with a dramatic belfy, medieval gateways and defensive walls.

Two feudal medieval castles dominate the village and the valley.

The 'old' castle was built in the 12th century on the ruins of an earlier fortress said to have been founded by Queen Brunehaut in the 6th century and remained occupied until the 20th century.

It was the home of William of Tudela who wrote the first part of La Chanson de la Croisade Albigeoise, an account of the Albigensian Crusade against the Cathars.

The castle is notable for a gallery 20 metres long in Renaissance style overhanging the valley of which it offers steep views that many visitors find alarming.

The 'young' castle was built in the 15th century and occupied for about 200 years. It now houses a museum of prehistory exhibiting "treasures of Bruniquel" found in several caves near the castles.

These caves include the Cave of Mayrière supérieure which contains ancient wall paintings that were damaged by overenthusiastic graffiti cleaners in 1991 and the Bruniquel abris that includes evidence of Neanderthal activity.

Miscellaneous

The commune's shield depicts a red chevron above a ram's head on a green ground.

Since 1997 the castles have been the venue of an annual arts festival celebrating the works of Jacques Offenbach.

The village and its surroundings feature in the 1975 film Le Vieux Fusil (The Old Rifle) directed by Robert Enrico starring Romy Schneider and Philippe Noiret.

Source Wikipedia

Bruniquel is listed, deservedly, as one of the Plus beaux villages de France.