Najac, France
Self Catering Najac Holiday Rental Homes in France
Najac is a commune in the Aveyron department in the Midi-Pyrenees region of southern France. 68 Km east of Rodez, Najac looks out over the gorges of the Aveyron. When you rent holiday accommodation in Najac you’re staying in a town which is listed as one of the most beautiful villages in France.
Najac originated as a castelnau, or small château, which was extended to a bastide in the 13th century, under the efforts of Alphonse de Poitiers, brother of Saint-Louis.
Today when you stay in self-catering Najac holiday rental homes – you can enjoy a picturesque village set along a ridge above a bend in the Aveyron River. When you visit Najac you’ll be immersed in history: the village is known for historic buildings and its apparent medieval character. Even today the partly ruined château dominates Najac. The 13th century Eglise Saint-Jean, overlooks the lower village. In 1258, the Inquisition ordered the villagers, accused of Cathar heresy, to build it at their own cost in order to break their independence. Today at the other end of the village, the faubourg has the typical architecture of many bastide villages with timber-framed houses and commercial arcades around an open area.
Najac is an unique village – situated as it is on two hills. It has just one main street running along the top of a ridge. When you stay in self-catering accommodation in Najac you can enjoy fine views over the Aveyron countryside.
The castle was built in the 13th century around an earlier tower, as a strategic defence for Villefranche-de-Rouergue. The strategic importance came to the fore during the Hundred Years War and the Albigensian Crusade, during which it became a key strategic cathar stronghold - the cathars were of course defeated, and in Najac they were forced to build a church as punishment - now considered to be one of the finest gothic churches in the region.
Places to visit in the area include: Cordes-sur-Ciel, the Parc naturel regional des Causses du Quercy and Montauban.
Travelling to your holiday rental property in Najac, Aveyron; Rodez is the nearest airport with flights to and from the UK with Ryanair. The A20 is 55 kilometres away, allow a day’s drive if you are travelling form France’s northern ferry ports. Najac itself has a railway station. Take a train to Figeac where you can get a regular service to Paris Austerlitz.
Najac enjoys a climate that is much like the majority of the south-west of France which is mild with short winters, longer summers and no real temperature extremes.