La Couvertoirade
Route to La Couvertoirade
On Saturday we drove 159 miles across the border and up the A75 to an aire at the fortified medieval village of La Couvertoirade. It is a good spacious aire (N 43.910998 E 3.313492) which is €3 per night.
Walled Town
This is the view of La Couvertoirade from the aire.
By the Aire
Ruined Arch by the aire.
Mavis in the Aire
Templars Castle
The Knights Templars settled here in about 1200 and built a fortress on the solid rock here; on the Larzac plateau of the Aveyron. The village is unusual in that it is the only village in Europe, apparently, without a Spring. All the roofs, gutters and gently sloping streets were designed to funnel rainwater into the ‘Conque’ a large natural subterranean rock pool behind the church.
View from the Ramparts
The narrow streets are now packed with shops selling local foods and other temptations for the tourist, and a good sprinkling of restaurants and cafes.
Ramparts
It is worth taking the tour of the ramparts (€3) for the view of the roof tops and an excellent short film about the history of the village. Spinning wool was a major occupation here for many centuries and the shepherds, each with several dogs, would teach each of them in a different language. So French speaking Fido would move left on the command ‘A gauche!’ but English and Spanish speaking Ted and Miguel would ignore the command. Any commands where all dogs had to respond were done with whistle language. Clever.
Church
The Church
Inside the Church
Oak Gallery in Church
Cemetery with Templars Cross on Headstone
Water Hole
In times of conflict the village doors were barred but passing travellers, once identified as friendly through the larger hole, were given water which was poured through the smaller hole for them. You’d have to be ready with a cup or dish or it would just end up on your head.
Glass Sculpture
There is a modern glass sculpture by the church.
This way to the Windmill
Moulin
Push Here
There is a windmill overlooking the village. You have to push on the long tiller poking out the back to move the sails to face the wind.
So it is a great overnight stop, plenty to see and plenty of wild ground to walk the dogs. We will move a bit further up the road on Sunday.
Rambling about Europe with the Kray Twins (Colin and Penny).
Travels with Mavis 
I like the look of this aire 🙂 will be adding to my list of places to visit! Thanks for a great read
Yes…it was our first time there and its a good ‘un. We’re at an old favourite tonight…Nonancourt. We’re hoping to get a table at a restaurant here called Le Grande Cerf for tonight…last meal of the trip.
Hope you have been practising your French for the Paris visit…….
Oui 🙂
Hope you succeeded – enjoy your last night and safe journey back
No…all restaurants closed. Had to make do with a take away and watched The Wolf of Wall Street back in Mavis, and finished off the last of the Creme Catalan. So not all bad!!
Oui! Not long now!
Have an enjoyable last evening and safe journey back to Blighty
going through your website is like traveling in itself 🙂
Thank you! 🙂