More Bastide Villages - Puycelsi & Casrelnau-de-Montmiral

A cooler morning this morning as we left Bruniquel after three days in these relaxing environs. The excitement of Le Tour has now been replaced by continuing to visit some of the bastide (fortified) villages of the region.

In this mountainous terrain these villages tended to be built on hilltops, providing better security for a number of reasons. 

The first stop was at the village of Puycelsi. The village is nestle inside a ramparts of 800 metres, with towers and fortified gates. These ramparts are in pristine condition given that they have seen numerous seiges; those of the crusaders, then later the Protestant Huguenots, and also the English during the Hundred Years War. 

We were keen to get a good walk in before the day heated up - yesterday was a lot of sitting around - waiting. So we covered some territory here at Puycelsi whilst enjoying the interesting half timbered and stone house. 

After much wandering, and the day was still relatively cool, we decided to travel on a few kilometres to Castelnau-de-Montmiral which is another typical bastide town of the south west, the square is surround by covered walkways and located in the centre of the village. The town was found in 1228. 

The village was setting up for a three day music festival. All these villages seem to be a part of  a very vital festival program. 

There were many interesting dwellings around the village. 

The view from the ramparts are quite sensational with many artists taking advantage of this idealic setting. 

Enough of the village tours - we needed to restock the fridge so a short stop in Gaillac was required. From here we continued on to Albi where we had planned to spend the rest of the day and this evening.