Travel Guide Bassoues

The history of this village is so rich that it has bequeathed wonderful treasures to each era, making it one of the most beautiful in the département today. This exceptional heritage is evident right from the main square, a veritable enchantment with its arcades and surrounding half-timbered houses. The main street runs through a splendid covered market hall, with its impressive roof structure, and to step back in time, you can walk along the edge of the surrounding wall: a moment of grace in itself. However, the most striking feature of all is the unthinkable 43-metre-high keep that watches over the narrow streets. Magnificently preserved, it dates back to 1371. To reach the top, you have to climb 197 steps, but the view is well worth the effort! If you like rarities, don't hesitate to push open the door of the Church of the Nativity, which features a 15th-century stone font that remains an absolute masterpiece. Bassoues is a land where legends have forged town-planning; the legend of its creation dates from between the 7th and 10th centuries, when a castrum already drew on its charm. The forest still bears the name Marsoulès, derived from the Roman god Mars, but if its history is to be linked to a true hero, it is to the legendary Frankish warrior Fris, who planted his banner here in 732. His epic anthology gave birth to a basilica and a particular soul to this village, which, between its flamboyant past and its enchanting setting, has chosen to bring both to life.