Najac

Occupying the most strategic point in the valley, Najac sits on top of its hill, surrounded by the Aveyron. It only has one road going to it, and historically it was much sought after by the kings of England and France, as well as by the counts of Toulouse, and Catholics and Protestants… everyone had a go at securing Najac for their own! The traces of this violent history remain, in the form of three successive defensive walls around the town, and of course, its castle.

The castle is a jewel of military architecture. The whole structure is designed to prevent attack. At the foot of the castle is the church of Saint-Jean, which was constructed in the 13th century, and paid for by the local inhabitants. The church has a unique feature: have a careful look at the way the windows close. Besides the medieval town centre, suburbs sprung up in the 15th century, along the only road to the village. Pretty little houses perched on pillars sprung up along the road. Today there is a flower merchant there, which makes a worthwhile visit on a Sunday morning.

The Najac matchstick art museum is an unusual display of models made of matches by a very patient master of his art, Jean-Claude Flaujac.

Information: +33 (0) 5 65 29 75 29
Tourist Office: +33 (0) 5 65 29 72 05

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