The ‘village perché’ of Najac

Standing at the entrance to the Aveyron Gorge, Najac occupies a strategic position that you will have plenty of time to appreciate on this shady walk through the trees.

From the more open ground occupied by Villefranche-de-Rouergue, the loops and meanders of the River Aveyron head south to Najac, once lauded as the “gateway to all the land”. This village of houses clad in schist, sensitively restored by local skilled craftsmen and women, stands proudly here, forever proclaiming its bold “Who goes there?” to passing visitors.

Najac is perched high up on a rocky spur hugged by a sharp bend in the river. Standing on the prow of the promontory is an imposing fortress.

Originally a ‘castelnau’ (castle-enclosure settlement), Najac was enlarged by Alphonse of Poitiers, the last count of Toulouse, into a bastide in the 13th century. The fortress, built in around 1250, is also his work, and rumour has it that it was designed more to show off his power than to defend a key strategic location.

Wild river and ancient buildings

Along the way, history gives way to groves of stunted oaks that stand out around the shrubs and bushes of the maquis. You enter the hidden and quiet realm of the Aveyron Gorge, stretches of which are inaccessible by car.

From Najac as far as Montricoux in the neighbouring département of Tarn-et-Garonne, the gorge winds its way through attractive green and wild countryside. Highlights en route are the wild trees and rocks, the narrow goat trails and towering cliffs, and the boxwood and stones of the riverside villages, worn smooth by the passing of the centuries. And not forgetting the fast-flowing sections of the river here, which are very popular with canoeists.

The last third of the route climbs up to Najac on the old medieval hill road, giving you a whole new set of views and a close-up view of the plethora of architectural details that give this village all its charm: Najac is officially recognised as one of the most beautiful villages in France.

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