La Couvertoirade - Templar City

LE CHEMIN DE RONDE. La Couvertoirade is a medieval fortified village located at the confines of the Larzac plateau. The village has played an important role in this part of the Midi-Pyrenees since the 13th century when the castle was built by a chapter of the medieval Knights Templar located here which played a key role in the development of La Couvertoirade.

By the 15th century the village was in the hands of the Hospitaliers who took over the Templar when they were banned in 1312. The Knights of Saint John of Jerusalem built the ramparts between 1439 and 1450, and La Couvertoirade continued to be an important local center until the 17th century. The ramparts and the incorporated towers, some square and some round, still encircle the city.

Although the castle was constructed by the Templar Knights at the end of the 12th century, the Saint-Christophe church dates was built by the Hospitaliers Knights in the 14th century opposite the castle. Take a look at the church cemetery which is cut in two by the fortifications that were built subsequently - part of the cemetery is inside the walls and part outside. The small cemetery is certainly one of the interesting sites of the city with is steles discoidal. The stone crosses craved with Templar signs mark old graves forgotten in the soil.

The remainder of La Couvertoirade and the fortifications were then built a few decades later. The walk around the top of the ramparts is unmissable for views it provides both across the rooftops of the city and the countryside. You can access the walk, called "Le Chemin de Ronde", via one of the grandest houses in the village. This is the 15th century Maison de la Scipione, built against the ramparts and once home to an important nobleman.

Back down in the village itself there are numerous very picturesque stone houses date from the 15th to 17th centuries. One particular feature you will see as you explore the village within the walls is the number of houses that have an external stone staircase leading to the first floor, originally used for habitation, while the ground floor was kept for livestock.

La Couvertoirade is one of the most beautiful village in France (un des plus beaux villages) and it is one of the finest medieval fortified villages that can be found in this country.