It’s cold, wet and miserable this week when we should be basking in wall-to-wall sunshine. So much for the person who said this summer would be hotter than 2003. And the swimming pool has gone green again. So to cheer myself up, I decided to write a post about another of les plus beaux villages de France, Belcastel, in the Aveyron about 50 minutes’ drive from us. You can also read more about it in a more recent post, with photos taken in September rather than November, when we were able to go inside the château.

I mentioned in my post about Najac that the Aveyron Département has the highest concentration of plus beaux villages in the whole of France. They are normally outstanding examples of local architecture, in a beautiful or imposing site and unspoilt by the ravages of modern planning.

The village

Belcastel nestles in a deep valley with the River Aveyron at the bottom. Thick chestnut forests cover the flanks of the slopes. Most of the village is on the steep north, or right, bank. The 15^th-century church is on the left bank.

Belcastel has two main claims to fame: a fairy-tale, if somewhat severe, château; and a Michelin-starred restaurant. It also has a 15^th-century humpbacked bridge over the River Aveyron and a collection of houses built in the local stone with lauze (split-stone) roofs.

The château

The château started life as a chapel in the 9^th century and the Seigneurs of Belcastel expanded it into a fortified building. During the 13^th century, they apparently supported the Cathar heretics and incurred royal displeasure. Then they ruined themselves financially by going on the Crusades in the Holy Land from which they failed to return. The château came into the hands of the Saunhac family in 1390. They restored it and built the bridge and the church.

The Saunhacs abandoned the château at the end of the 16^th century. During the 19^th century stone was pillaged from it, hastening its ruin. It was not until 1973 that a French architect, Fernand Pouillon, discovered the ruins and set about restoring it as authentically as possible. The present owners have opened the château to the public and it serves as a setting for village events as well as containing several contemporary art galleries.

The last time we were in Belcastel, the château was still undergoing restoration, so we have not yet been inside.

The restaurant

There are several restaurants in or around Belcastel but the one I’m talking about is L’Auberge du Vieux Pont, owned by the Fagegaltier sisters. It has one Michelin star. We have eaten there three times. On the first two occasions we ate well. They were the SF’s birthday celebrations: funnily enough, we haven’t been on my birthday. The cuisine uses local ingredients and they serve regional dishes with a modern twist. They also have an excellent cellar and a knowledgeable sommelier. The dining room itself is not particularly atmospheric but is invariably full.

The third occasion was a little disappointing. They were clearly having an off night, which must happen to all restaurants. I’ll draw a veil over that, especially since we have been back twice since then and the restaurant lived up to expectations.

The restaurant also owns a small hotel in a converted barn on the left bank. The rooms are comfortable and well-furnished, if a bit pricey, and they have lovely views over the river and the village. Click here for the restaurant/hotel website.

The village is worth a visit but keep away in the high season when it is no doubt heaving.

An adapted version of this post appears on the Aveyron Tourist Office English-language blogsite.

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