Built on a rocky outcrop, Najac, one of France's most beautiful villages, is best known for its fortress.
But Najac is also known for its long, unique street that winds its way along the rocky spur, with half-timbered houses with slate roofs on either side.
This long street, which connects the Place du Faubourg to the Pause district, where burdens were laid before climbing up to the village, is sometimes intersected by an alleyway leading to the old “chemin de ronde”.
Among Najac's treasures are the 13th-century church of Saint-Jean L'Evangéliste, typical of medieval Gothic architecture; the chapel of Saint-Barthélémy, now a dwelling; the Porte de la Pique, a fortified gate built by Alphonse de Poitiers; the Maison du Gouverneur; the Maison du Sénéchal; and the Fontaine des Consuls, a public fountain carved out of a monumental block of pink granite, erected in 1344.
Also worth seeing is the Place du Barry with its covered market and the Pont Saint-Blaise, where local lords and then consuls acting on behalf of the King of France held toll booths, collecting “tonlieu” taxes on people and goods.
Not forgetting, of course, the fortress. From the castle's terrace, you can enjoy a magnificent panoramic view of the town and the Aveyron.
Najac Town Hall
9 Rue du Bourguet
12270 Najac
Tel.: 05 65 29 71 34
West Aveyron Tourist Office
Najac Office
25, Place du Faubourg
12270 Najac
Tel. : 05 36 16 20 00
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