Penne and Bruniquel
France > Dordogne > Lot > Aveyron > Penne and Bruniquel
Twenty kilometres downstream of St-Antonin you come to the beautiful ridge-top village of PENNE, once a Cathar stronghold, with its ruined castle impossibly perched on an airy crag. Everything is old and leaning and bulging, but holding together nonetheless, with a harmony that would be impossible to create purposely.Another hilltop castle commands its village at BRUNIQUEL (April, June & Sept Mon–Sat 2–6pm, Sun 10am–12.30pm & 2–6pm; May & Oct Sun only same hours; July & Aug daily 10am–7pm; €2.50, or €3.50 including guided visit), a few kilometres further on. You can also visit a handsome house in the village, the aristocratic Maison des Comtes de Payrol (April–Sept daily 10am–6pm; Oct–March Sat & Sun 10am–6pm; €3). If you want to stay, there's a chambres d'hôte (tel 05.63.67.26.16, fax 06.74.99.01.53; €40–55; meals from €16), whose proprietor is a mountain-biker and will take you out on trips, in the village itself and Le Payssel campsite (tel & fax 05.63.67.25.95; closed Oct–April), about 700m south on the D964 to Albi.
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