Cordes and Najec
We drove in as far as we could and were on 'park alert' for something as high up as possible to save us the steep walk. We found something not quite half way up, donned our raincoats, it was our first rainy weekend, and started walking up the steep cobbled lanes.
We were back in medieval times already. I find it hard to understand that this is a place where people still live and work, some work from home, and I guess there are some who work on the surrounding farms or in town. 
The higher we walked the more vast the view, on the way up we past little businesses, jewellers, sculptors, painters, embroiders and sewers of beautiful table cloths, etc. pretty gardens and hanging flowers and baskets.
Closer to the top we passed battlements, sculpted facades and surprises around hidden corners.
and in the centre were rows of tables and chairs, all with white table cloths and a flower centre piece.
There was a large contingent of people dressed in medieval costumes who were walking around chatting to each other and of course the locals, they posed obligingly for photos.
We were in two minds whether to sit at one of the tables, until the musicians began to play medieval music and it was too loud for us! However not too loud for the 'group' who must be members of a club preserving the history of the Crusades and Cordes sur Ceil, and they began dancing for the diners. All a bit mind blowing really!
Such a big bonfire heating up the stones, I presume, and by the time we left it was in the ground with mats over the top - hangi style!
To follow, Rachel persuaded me to have a coffee gourmands, which is a coffee with an assortments of petit fours and one of the little cakes was called a "croquants aux amandes" cookies baked with sugar, egg whites and grilled almonds which is a speciality of the area. Delicious.
We then went wandering around the shops looking at jewellery, pottery etc, then, because you can't have too much medieval history we went back to the car and headed for Najec. 
On the way down the hill Jasper noticed a tiny humming bird, we must have taken at least 20 photos in quick succession trying to track it, it didn't seem at all scared of us, just concentrating on getting more nectar!
the town centre had a sort of grassy strip with flowers and seats and the road went either side with shops and houses. 
It was a Sunday so only the cafe/pub seemed to be open and there was quite a jolly crowd of locals enjoying themselves.
towards the top we got to the ramparts of the castle. 
Again the views were amazing and it makes me understand the meaning of 'location, location, location'.
No enemy will get up there without being noticed. It also begs the question again, how did they do it in,those days?
By this time David and I had had enough walking uphill on cobbled stones, so intriguing though the castle looked, 
we decided to call it a day and James went back to the road to pick the car up and met us at the other end of Najec.
Slow start, after great meal last night, we were heading for some more 'medieval experiences' today. After about an hour and a half drive we spotted Cordes sur Ceil high up on the rocky hill ahead.
Wikipedia: "Cordes sur Ceil. In 1222, Cordes received its charter to become a "bastide" from the Count of Toulouse. It is generally considered to be the first of the bastides of SW france. Bastides were "new towns" originally conceived to resettle and pacify people caught up in the Albigensian Crusade. "
But the biggest surprise of all was when we reached the village square, there was a celebration of 'degustation' the square was decked out with tables groaning under the weight of food for a feast
There were many restaurants around the square (who didn't do too much business that day!), and we chose one a bit further away from the celebrations, but not too far that we couldn't keep an eye on the biggest Apple Strudel being baked in the open air oven.
We had a lovely lunch under the umbrellas and the view was to die for.
Najec
Wikipedia : "Najac stretches out along a single street. The village is perched on an exceptionally long rocky ridge. Right at the end, the imposing château fort. Below, the meanderings of the river Aveyron. The château royal in Najac built in the mid 13th century is the work of Alphonse de Poitiers, brother of Saint-Louis. Classed as a Historic".
We parked by the river and climbed up the steep cobbled streets,
We walked down this very long street
and then started uphill again
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