The former stronghold of the earldom of Carladez and fiefdom of the princes de Monaco from 1643 to 1791, Mur-de-Barrez has kept many architectural reminders of its rich past. Take a walk and discover the Monaco Door, the emblem of the town, old houses made of black basalt, Church of St Thomas of Canterbury, consular house and more. Also don't forget to pay a visit to the charming Marie Garden, a medieval-inspired public park with a pretty view of the surrounding landscape.
In the heart of Aveyron, in Occitania, nestles the small village of Mur-de-Barrez. It takes place in the arrondissement of Rodez, south of the Massif Central. It takes its name from an old enclosure wall that once encircled it.
Small town in the Merovingian period, Mur-de-Barrez has a castle and a fortress since the eleventh century. In the middle of the seventeenth century, the village became the stronghold of the Grimaldi, monarchs of Monaco, following the treaty of Péronne by Louis XIII. The latter regained French sovereignty shortly after the French Revolution.
Today, Mur-de-Barrez is known for being a high place of Aveyron tourism, thanks to its important architectural heritage, as well as its preserved landscapes. Labeled Village gourmand, it also seduces by its gastronomy and its many specialties.
Former south gate of the fortified village, the Monaco tower is a vestige of the sovereignty of the Grimaldi on Mur-de-Barrez. Classified as Historical Monuments, it is in the form of a porch tower which was formerly connected to the fortifications. On the first floor, you can discover a small exhibition on the Princes of Grimaldi. Other vestiges of the ramparts are also visible in the village.
Also listed as a Historic Monument, the Church of St. Thomas de Canterbury dates back to the 12th and 13th centuries. Demolished almost entirely at the end of the sixteenth century by Calvinists, it was rebuilt in the course of the seventeenth century. Of its many radiant chapels, only that of Saint Francis, detached from the main building. It takes place in the garden of Mary, a pleasant place of rest. A small peculiarity of the monument and the only example in France, the church unveils a lying key in the keystone, just above the grandstand.
The castle of Venzac is a former stronghold of the seventeenth century. Partially registered in the inventory of Historic Monuments, the building is today a private property that can be admired from the outside.
As you walk through Mur-de-Barrez, you can also admire the Saint-Martin church of Bromme, listed as a Historic Monument, or the Monastery of St. Clair. Still in operation, the latter was rebuilt in the course of the 19th century following a fire. Spiritual stays are possible.
16th century residence, the consular house now serves as a town hall in Mur-de-Barrez. In late Renaissance style, it served as a convent until 2000. You will not miss the Fualdes house, former property of a king's prosecutor murdered under mysterious conditions in 1817.
Do not miss to go through The ruins of the old castle destroyed under the orders of Henri IV, or the Renaissance houses that take place around the Monaco tower.
The Berque district also deserves your attention. A former medieval quarter, it was rebuilt between the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
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The weekly market is held every Thursday morning.
The patronal celebration takes place every year in mid-July with many animations of all kinds.
In July, the folk festival is an opportunity to witness many traditional dance demonstrations.
The Hirondelle festival is a real musical journey that takes place every year in August. On the program, diverse and varied concerts under a theme that changes with each edition.
