Bruniquel

Bruniquel

The main road in Bruniquel

Coat of arms
Bruniquel

Coordinates: 44°03′24″N 1°39′59″E / 44.0567°N 1.6664°E / 44.0567; 1.6664Coordinates: 44°03′24″N 1°39′59″E / 44.0567°N 1.6664°E / 44.0567; 1.6664
Country France
Region Occitanie
Department Tarn-et-Garonne
Arrondissement Montauban
Canton Monclar-de-Quercy
Intercommunality Terrasses et Vallée de l'Aveyron
Government
 • Mayor (2001–2008) Michel Montet
Area1 33.2 km2 (12.8 sq mi)
Population (2012)2 616
 • Density 19/km2 (48/sq mi)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
INSEE/Postal code 82026 / 82800
Elevation 90–382 m (295–1,253 ft)
(avg. 130 m or 430 ft)

1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Bruniquel (Bruniquèth in Occitan) is a commune in the Tarn-et-Garonne department in the Occitanie region in southern France.

Geography

The tiny fortified village of 561 inhabitants is at an altitude of 250 metres by the river Aveyron.

The river Vère flows northward through the commune, then flows into the Aveyron, which forms most of the commune's northern border.

Sights

The village is a picturesque mixture of old pink stone and red tile with a dramatic belfry, medieval gateways and defensive walls. Two feudal medieval castles dominate the village and the valley, one of which is the Château de Bruniquel.

The 'old' castle was built in the 12th century on the ruins of an earlier fortress said to have been founded by Queen Brunehaut in the 6th century and remained occupied until the 20th century. It was the home of William of Tudela who wrote the first part of La Chanson de la Croisade Albigeoise, an account of the Albigensian Crusade against the Cathars. The castle is notable for a gallery 20 metres long in Renaissance style overhanging the valley of which it offers steep views that many visitors find alarming.

The 'young' castle was built in the 15th century and occupied for about 200 years. It now houses a museum of prehistory exhibiting "treasures of Bruniquel" found in several caves near the castles.

These caves include the Cave of Mayrière supérieure which contains ancient wall paintings that were damaged by overenthusiastic graffiti cleaners in 1991 and the Bruniquel abris that includes evidence of Neanderthal activity, as well as the Bruniquel Cave.

Miscellaneous

The commune's shield depicts a red chevron above a ram's head on a green ground.

Since 1997 the castles have been the venue of an annual arts festival celebrating the works of Jacques Offenbach.

The village, including the Château de Bruniquel, and its surroundings feature in the 1975 film Le Vieux Fusil (The Old Rifle) directed by Robert Enrico starring Romy Schneider and Philippe Noiret.

Transportation

There is a scheduled bus service to Montauban.

See also

References

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