Day 4: Conques - Salles-la-Source - Belcastel - Lloret de Mar
The alarm sounds at 6:30 in the morning and after a little work, as we have been doing every day of this trip to Midi-Pyrenees and pick up everything, we go down to the breakfast room of our accommodation in Conques, Au Castellou, where they receive us with a homemade breakfast with which we put on our boots before returning to take the car and go up to the free parking at the entrance of Conques, the most beautiful village in France.
But first we approached the Romanesque bridge over the Dourdou, proclaimed heritage, which is right in front of the hotel and we wanted to know.
Romanesque bridge over the Dourdou in Conques
Once in Conques, a kilometer by car from our accommodation, where we were also last night after visiting Rocamadour, one of the most beautiful villages of Midi-Pyrenées and leaving the car in the parking lot we are already at this time in the morning with a pilgrimage environment which adds, more if possible, to this town a story atmosphere.
Conques
Conques is one of the busiest stages of the famous Camino de Santiago that starts from Puy en Velay, where almost everything seems to be designed for pilgrims. One of the most prominent places is its church, with beautiful towers, which have become part of the landscape of Conques.
Conques, one of the most beautiful villages in France
As in the previous villages we visited, here it is also best to get lost in its impressive streets, each one more remarkable than the previous one, without a fixed direction, hoping to find more story images at every step. This is one of the villages to see in France, without any doubt.
Conques
Conques Square
As we go through streets, we think that this route would be great to do it with more time, but at the same time we believe that with more days, just as it has happened to other countries such as Italy, perhaps the saturation incredible places would not let us taste it just as if we make small getaways, which allow us to taste it in small doses and give us room to assimilate everything we have lived.
Details of the houses of Conques
Approximately 100 people reside in Conques, but it is visited by more than half a million people, many of them pilgrims, so as we commented with Cordes-sur-Ciel or Saint-Cirq-Lapopie, we believe that the best option is to come to this area from France outside the high season, to enjoy these magnificent enclaves without the company of dozens of coaches.
Conques, the most beautiful village in France
Conques
It's almost 10:30 in the morning when we return to the car, to start the way back home stopping at a couple of locations that we don't want to miss, but before we leave we approach a viewpoint in the upper part of Conques, from where there is a beautiful perspective of the town, highlighting the church surrounded by the houses of gray roofs, which make Conques a spectacle for all the senses.
Conques, the most beautiful village in France
Conques
We resume the path of Salles-la-Source, a town whose waterfall stands out that stands out between the town, where we arrive in about 30 minutes, crossing again some beautiful roads, surrounded by vegetation.
We arrived at 11 in the morning and we just need to follow the sign panorama-cascade, to find the point where a waterfall makes its way through the rock.
Salles-la-Source
We have really stopped at Salles-la-Source because we are passing through Belcastel, which is the next stop today before returning home, if not the truth is that it is not an essential point in this area of France. While it is true that if you pass through the area, the stop will not take more than 30 minutes and at least it is curious.
Since Salles-la-Source to Belcastel We have another 25 minutes drive. We arrived around 11:30 in the morning, a perfect time to enjoy another of the most beautiful villages in France.
We parked the car at the entrance, in front of the Tourist Office (in high season you can not), and just walk a few meters we are in front of another of the most beautiful villages We have never seen.
Belcastel
Belcastel is one of the most beautiful villages in France and he has the great luck to enjoy a great medieval heritage.
As we move along the driveway, the first thing we find is its fantastic bridge, from which you have some breathtaking views of Belcastel and the church of the 15th century, Sainte Madeleine.
Sainte Madeleine Church
Views of Belcastel from the bridge
From here we also have privileged views of the Belcastel Castle, an impressive medieval building, built on top of a rocky area that constitutes one of the emblems of the town.
Belcastel Castle dominating the landscape
After spending a good time in this area of the town, we decided that the time has come to enter its streets, something we do during the next hour getting lost in every corner that we can, without crossing with anyone, under a fine rain that does not Stop joining us throughout the tour.
Belcastel streets
When the rain begins to become more evident, it seems to warn us that the time has come to head home, we return to the parking lot to take the car again. We have about 4:45 hours on the road, so it's time to take it easy.
On the way we pass through the Millau viaduct, where we pay 7.50 euros in the first toll of the return home, under a fairly gray sky that does not stop threatening rain.
Midi-Pirénées roads
A few kilometers past the viaduct we stop at a service area to eat, that not everything is going to be driving and we eat a menu that really passes with more pain than glory for our stomachs, but at least gives us enough energy to follow the couple of hours we have left until we get home.
Without a doubt, this trip to Midi-Pyrenees has been a true discovery and one of the most beautiful areas of France that we have been lucky enough to meet.
