What to see in La Couvertoirade, a Templar village in the South of France

Sometimes the reference to a town or city that “takes you back to medieval times".

In many cases it is a true statement, and I will only cite as an example medieval towns as Najac o Ropes on Sky for the Occitania region al South of France.

But in my most recent trip to Occitania I have discovered The Couvertoirade, a town whose first walk through its streets raised the following question: how is it possible that it has been preserved so well? authentic?

At the outset I will tell you that The Couvertoirade It is a very small town that was founded at the beginning of the 12th century from a Templar castle.

Curiosities history of La Couvertoirade

By then The Couvertoirade It depended on another nearby Templar town, Saint Eulalia de Cernon.

When the Order of the Templars It was suspended in 1313 by the Pope Clement V due to pressure from King France, The Couvertoirade passed into the hands of the Order of the Hospitallers, now known as the order of maltese.

Completely walled, currently only 25 inhabitants reside in the interior of the wall, which was built by the Hospitallers in the 15th century during the Hundred Years War.

Its uniform stone houses, with wooden windows and roofs with red tiles or slate, extend through narrow streets and small squares, and in The Couvertoirade There is no lack of a church or the remains of the aforementioned castle.

Furthermore, the town has not extended outside the wall.

In its surroundings you will only see a few country houses, as well as the isolated town hall building, located in front of the portico of the main entrance to the walled enclosure.

You won't be able to get there with your vehicle, as you will have to leave it in a large parking area payment system enabled for the very numerous visitors (3 euros per full day) that this town receives every day, especially on weekends and holiday periods.

The Couvertoirade you will find it near the small town of Millau, now known for its impressive viaduct, in the department of Aveyron.

It is located in the Lazac karst plateau, in the natural park of the Grandes Causses (plateaus).

What to see and do in La Couvertoirade, a Templar village in the south of France

When during your visit you access the inside the wall, you must walk through its narrow streets looking for beautiful corners.

This way you will see buildings and corners that date back to the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries.

For example, you can see an old medieval oven which has now been revived and works as a bread oven on weekends.

You will also find several artisan shops and small restaurants, which in the summer months and on weekends have a great atmosphere, since it is a town frequently visited by tourists.

Of course, at other times of the year I imagine it to be completely empty...even after 18 p.m. on any day of the year.

Saint Christophe Church

On your walk you will reach the Saint-Christophe church, which was built in the 14th century next to the castle, already within the walls, since since the 11th century there was a small church outside the walls.

With a unique ship Gothic style, it will catch your attention cemetery attached, where you can see some stone steles with Templar crosses, replicas of the originals that are preserved in a museum.

La Couvertoirade Castle

El La Couvertoirade castle It is privately owned.

If you are curious, and coinciding with your excursion the owner is there, you can visit (5 euros) her small enclosure and see a room with panels that tell the story. history of the Templars and the Hospitallers in that region.

Walls of La Couvertoirade

And, of course, you should not stop climb the wall to tour part of it.

To do this you have to access through the Scipio House, where is the La Couvertoirade Tourist Office, which opens in the months of July and August, from 10 a.m. to 19 p.m.

El price of free visit to the wall It is 3 euros for adults and 2 euros for children from 6 to 18 years old.

If you prefer, you can also sign up for the guided tours of La Couvertoirade, whose price is 76,50 euros, which lasts an hour and a half and already includes the walk along the wall, and you can reserve by email tourisme@lacouvertoirade.com.

And you also have the option of a tour of the town and walls with an audio guide, whose price is 5 euros.

In sum, a medieval corner truly surprising whose visit I recommend as essential in a car route through Occitania.

Best Photos of La Couvertoirade in the south of France

Here you have more photos of the Templar village of La Couvertoirade, to visit in the department of Aveyron in the region of Occitania, south of France.

Map: how to get to La Couvertoirade

You find The Couvertoirade one hour by car northwest of Montepellier, south of France.