Date: 17th September 2023
Travelled: 70 kms from Albi to Bruniquel ย
Visited: Puycelsi and Bruniquel ย
Stayed: Bruniquel Aire CC, free, N44.05370, E01.66010ย ย
Budget: 118 days @ โฌ97 per day
Our second night in the aire at Albi was not as restful as the first. There was a noisy group in a caravan just across the way who got more noisy as the evening progressed. Awoken from our sleep about 12.30 by the sound of gunfire was a little disconcerting. It was Pamโs turn to go out and confront the trouble makers, so I rolled over and went back to sleep.
Shortly after there was a second round of gunfire and I thought well Pam sorted that out.
We are soon out the gate with the GPS set for Puycelsi, less than a thirty minute drive.
Puycelsi, Albi, Tarn, Occitania, Metropolitan France, 81140, France
From our guide book the Most Beautiful Villages of France youโll find Puycelsi on page 234. The village stands on the crest of hill overlooking the valley and the Grรฉsigne forest beyond. Our guide book tells us the area has been occupied since pre-historic time with the Celts and the Romans taking possession at one time or another before finally coming under the control of the Counts of Toulouse and therefore France.
Donโt mind admitting itโs a steep walk up the hill from the car-park to the lower gate. Once through that gate and guard house we get a view across the valley, which is a good opportunity to catch our breath.
Puycelsi is a very pretty village, itโs clean and tidy with lots of half-timbered houses scattered amongst well preserved stone cottages.
Pictured above the รglise Saint-Corneille. It was built in the 14th century on the the ruins of an 11th century church built by the Benedictinesโ.
Pictured below the tiny Chapelle Saint-Roch. According to the panel it was built in the 17th century as thanks for sparing the village from the plague. Which seems as good a reason as any. Itโs now a local art gallery.
Our visit to Puycelsi is done the walk down to the Hymer which was much easier than the walk up. Best of all we found a tiny tabac/supermarket and a litre of long-life milk which we desperately need for a second coffee.
Itโs only 20 minutes on to Bruniquel which has a free aire. The GPS is set and we continue on across the valley passing the odd village. The aire is obviously popular but we score a spot with shade at the top level, which we appreciate as it gets the breeze.
From our guide book the Most Beautiful Villages of France youโll find Bruniquel on page 177. Standing on a ridge top over looking the confluence of the Aveyron and Vรฉre Rivers Bruniquel displays little of its past as a defensive fortress come chateau of the Counts of Toulouse (busy family so it seems). Itโs another steep walk up the hill even less enjoyable in the mid-afternoon.
Bruniquel, Montauban, Tarn-et-Garonne, Occitania, Metropolitan France, 82800, France
Picture above, the รglise Saint-Maffre is the first thing we find as we walk up the hill, bit unusual as the village church is more often than not at the top of the hill. From the photos below youโll note the streets all lead up or down.
Bruniquel has a feeling of affluents about it, the stone cottages are craftsmen built the stone work particularly around the doors and windows could not have been thrown together by using whatever was convenient.
We continue to the top of the hill and the chateau. Our luck has held out, the chateau museum has closed early today as there is a function tonight, saving us โฌ12. I couldnโt help but tell the young lady we have driven all the way from Sydney, Australia !
From here all streets are downhill so we wander as we head back towards the aire.
We stop at a small tabac just out of the village, despite having several signs advertising Heineken they only serve Leffe, which I frankly find a little fruity. But where here, so a Leffe it is and a glass of rosรฉ which wasnโt cold. Other than that it been a wonderful day.
Back in the Hymer, lightning proceeds a thunderstorm which belts down rain for perhaps two hours, maybe more because we were asleep by then.
Michael + Pam
2 thoughts on “Bruniquel, France ๐ซ๐ท 2023”
Hi Guys, glad Pam had it all under control…… Don’t mess with our Pam!!! ๐
How do these places remain standing???? Must have been a nightmare putting modern day connections – like electricity & TV’s into these centuries old homes!
What a lovely village – hope that the neighbours were quieter as it is clearly a better class hood.