In the very east of the department of Ariège, the village of Camon, classified among the most beautiful villages of France, is worth a visit.
Situated in the meander formed by the river Hers, its name comes from the Gallo-Roman "cambo dunum", which means the fortress of the meander.
It was in 778 that Charlemagne, on his return from Spain, is said to have ordered the construction of a monastery and a small church.
On 18 June 1279, Camon, like all the villages of the Hers valley, was destroyed by the great flood caused by the rupture of the natural dam holding back Lake Puivert.
Rebuilt between 1280 and 1316, Camon suffered new outrages. In 1494, the church and monastery were largely destroyed and ruined by highwaymen.
It was only in 1502, with the election of Philippe de Lévis, Bishop of Mirepoix, that the buildings visible today were rebuilt.
Camon proposes many subjects of visit like obviously the medieval village but also the ramparts, the church, the abbey, the dry-stone huts...
The village with 400 rose bushes
"Eighteen years ago, we created the Floralies de Camon, very modestly," recalls Mayor Jean Huillet. Today, the Rose Festival has become an unmissable regional event.
Numerous departmental trophies of flowered towns and villages, the "2nd flower" distinction recently obtained, the label "Most beautiful village in France" have already recompensed Camon.
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