SAINT-ANTONIN-NOBLE-VAL

St Antonin borders the river Aveyron and the Grésigne Forest, the largest oak wood in the South-West of France. From the town, you have a magnificent view on the limestone cliffs, the Roc d'Anglars. Saint-Antonin-noble-val is proud of its Roman roots roots: the name “Nobilis Vallis” means “noble valley”. In the 8th century, an abbey was founded near the small settlement; it was named after Antonin, an early christian missionary. When Antonin was canonised, the town got his name. In the middle-ages, it was a prosperous town: commerce of wine, saffron and dried plums was booming, as were cloth weaving and tanneries. In 1144 Saint-Antonin was one of the first towns in feudal France to receive a charter with the rights to organise its own government, and to erect walls around.

In 13th century the Cathar religion was developing in southern France; the Pope and French king called for a crusade against the Albigenses. In 1212 the crusaders besiege Saint-Antonin, take it and destroy both city and abbey. Under royal protection, commerce and industry were restored until the Hundred Years War started in the 14th century. Saint-Antonin borders the English possessions, and becomes a battlefield: occupation by the English in 1344, 1351, again French after a 2 years siege, again English after the Brétigny treaty in 1369: a long series of disasters due to war, looting, famine, black death... A new prosperous time has come in the 16th century, the population counts 6000 persons, new houses are built. Alas, not for long. The Religon Wars arrive. In 1562 Antonin becomes a “protestant republic”, the abbey and the church are dismantled, the ramparts fortified. Louis XIII besieges the city in 1622, takes it and demolishes the fortifications. At the revocation of the “Edict of Nantes”, that granted the Huguenot minority in France some rights, protestants are persecuted again. The heyday of St Antonin is definitively over. Mid 19th century brings some hope: a railway is built, thermal baths opened in 1924, but all that is not able to stop the decline. By the way, the railway is dismantled in 1956.

Nowadays, St Antonin is still a medieval town, with its narrow streets and small squares, it is like an open-air museum, with nice buildings from the middle-ages and from 18th and 19th centuries. The Sunday market is one of the nicest from the entire region, where only local products are sold: fresh vegetables and fruits, dried fruits and spices, bread and pastries, goose liver and delicatessen, wine, products from organic farming... like those of our neighbour, an organic farmer and baker.

Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val is a good starting point for discovering the Aveyron canyon, by car or motorbike, cycling or walking. In the summer, you can rent a kayak, and follow the gorges de l'Aveyron: quite a different view on the cliffs. It is a nice place to walk in the valley and on the plateau; there are a variety of signposted walks for families, and some for more experienced people, climbing from the valley to the plateau. You will find romantic places for a picnic, you will find bread, fruits and cheese on the market.

Bed and Breakfast Artichaud is not far from Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val. We organise walking holiday for discovering the bastides around Albi and the gorges de l'Aveyron.