A short drive from our hotel was the rather stunning Saint-Bertrand de Comminges, a town so pretty it is a member of the Le Plus Beaux Villages de France (also known as ‘The Most Beautiful Villages in France’). That was a good enough reason for me to want to visit! On a scorching morning we took the kids along with the promise of a visit to a swimming pool on the way home.
The former Cathedral and the main part of the town is built on top of a large rocky outcrop standing proud of the surrounding area. Pulling into the car park an eagle eyed Alex spotted a road train that drives people up and down to the town, from that moment we had no option but to go and wait for its next trip. Given the fact it was just shy of 40 degrees we didn’t complain too much. Once at the top we took a brief stroll through a photography exhibition before heading on to the Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges Cathedral. A UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France, it is quite a stunning building that dominates the local view, unfortunately photography inside was not allowed.
After a short tour of the Cathedral we took the kids back outside again to have a walk around the town before heading back down the hill to the blissful air conditioning of the car and the previously promised trip to a swimming pool. On the route down there are still remains from the Roman colony that once stood here. Although I am sure they would have enjoyed it, I am not convinced that Isabelle was correct in her idea that the ancient theatre may once have hosted performances of Bugsy Malone.
If you are in the area, it is certainly worth a trip to have a look around the town, the views alone are pretty spectacular.
by Chris Legg