The Golden triangle and Cordes
Standing like an island in a sea of mist, the village of Cordes-sur-ciel is the focal point of the North Tarn, much as it has been since the Middle Ages. Once a fortified village and stronghold of the Cathars, it is still a popular halt on the pilgrims’ trail to Santiago de Compostela. These days it is besieged by tourists rather than by Huguenot invaders.
Voted ‘Village préféré des français’ (France’s favourite village) in 2014, thousands of feet march up the cobbled winding streets to the old citadel every year – or opt for the easier option of the ‘petit train’. Here you can admire its covered market, the deepest well in France (113 metres), and the fine architecture – not to mention spectacular views of the local countryside.
Cordes-sur-Ciel is not only popular with tourists for both its beauty and historical character, but it is also well known for its many artists and traditional craftsmen (painters, sculptors, mosaics, leather workers, art galleries....) its cultural activities ( museums, the Colombier theatre at les Cabannes, Jardin du Paradis....) and its festivals (the highlight being les Fêtes du Grand Fauconnier every July).
If you are looking for a house in a lively village with shops at hand, this could be the place for you. Unusual medieval properties can be found in the old part of the village whereas more recent houses can be found in the lower reaches of the village.
If you would like to be near Cordes rather than in the mêlée and have some land around you, then you could opt for a property in the environs like in theCérou valley where many houses benefit from great views of the village.
Cordes stands at the apex of the so-called ‘golden triangle’ with the historic towns of Albi, a UNESCO world heritage site, and Gaillac, known for its wines, as the other points of this triangle. Between these places lies a rolling plateau of vineyards and fields of sunflowers with the forest of Grésigne cloaking the hills behind. Here you will find fine traditional houses built of local limestone, sometimes old ‘maisons de maître’ or ‘maisons de vigneron’ with character pigeonniers (dovecots) so typical of this area.
