The Circuit of the Bastides

The Bastides, or bastions, are isolated fortresses-villages built in ancient times on several rocky crags located in the northwest of the department of the Tarn. Originally constructed to protect the lterritories of the Evêques and Counts of the Albigeois from potential invaders, today, they remain as impressive examples of what used to be necessary in order to survive.

The circuit of the Bastides, located between the forest of the Grésigne, the ancient city of Cordes, and the vineyards of Gaillac, is a perfect project for an automobile tour, requiring about 2h30 to complete, not counting all the occasions that present themselves to stop and admire.

Approaching from Gaillac, in the south, taking the D964 road, the visitor encounters, in order:

• Castelnau-de-Montmirail, with its fortifications, ancient doors and arches.

• Puycelsi, dominating the river Vère.

• Bruniquel, perched on a vertical cliff, with its 15th century houses and its famous chateau and bellfrey, also from the 15th century.

• Penne, shown above, with its ancient ruins.

The visitor could then pause in the midaeval village of Saint-Antonin-NobleVal, for lunch, before continuing on to the grandest site of them all, Cordes-sur-Ciel.

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