Najac - Aveyron, Midi-Pyrenees, France travel

Visitez Najac : gites | hotels | location des voitures | explore Massif Central

Najac ('most beautiful villages of France') is about 20 kilometres south of Villefranche-de-Rouergue in the Aveyron department

Tourist Information

Najac is an unusual village - it has just one main street running along the top of a ridge, and is towered over by the Najac fortress at the highest point on the ridge - needless to say there are fine views over the Aveyron countryside and the village of Najac.

The castle was built in the 13th century around an earlier tower, as a strategic defence for Villefranche-de-Rouergue. The strategic importance came to the fore during the Hundred Years War and the Albigensian Crusade, during which it became a key strategic cathar stronghold - the cathars were of course defeated, and in Najac they were forced to build a church as punishment - now considered to be one of the finest gothic churches in the region.

The castle is well worh a visit, and has several interesting military features and very good views across the village and countryside.

Small as it is, the village of Najac is a lovely village to explore, with the quaint medieval houses with their lauze rooves so typical of this region.