Gite Le Combal: Activities & Local Area

Medieval villages to explore nearby

Fortresse Royal at Najac, 10 minutes drive

Lagarde-Viaur in the valley below

Gite Le Combal is situated just 5miles (8km) from the picturesque village of Najac and its medieval hill-top castle. The surrounding area is rural with meadows, rolling hills, wooded valleys and small twisting rivers. An ideal spot for nature walking and exploring ancient French villages. Not to be missed is a trip to one of the many bustling French markets selling local produce.

The holiday property is on the outskirts of the small village of St-André-de-Najac which has a very good restaurant and café (Relais Mont Le Viaur), a general grocer's shop, post office, tennis courts and a bar (Le St-Andre) with live music & summer terrace. All within an easy 15 minute stroll from the property.

20 minutes walk down the lane at La Capélanie, Nadia Robert offers relaxing massages from her tranquil retreat to help you unwind and de-stress.

The hamlet of Lagarde-Viaur is just over a mile (2km) from the holiday cottage, great for: swimming in the river Viaur, fishing and rock-climbing. During summer evenings, on the banks of the river, there is a welcoming café/organic creperie/restaurant with live Jazz called La Chataigneraie.

Najac, 10 mins drive and awarded 'one of the most beautiful villages in France'. Explore the medieval cobbled streets, old buildings, boutique shops, organic grocers store, bars and restaurants. The climb up to its church and ancient fortress is well worth the effort! Najac has excellent canoeing, fishing, a tree top zip-wire adventure course, rock-climbing, horse riding and mountain bike rental including electric mountain bike hire!

La Fouillade village is less than 10 minutes drive from the property with a good bakery, grocers, chemists and tabac/newsagents. There is also a reasonably sized Intermarché supermarket with petrol station. It has a quaint village square with a cafe and grocers store. Pop into the 'Mairie' opposite for local tourist info. or stroll round the village fishing lake.

La Fouillade Lake

Laguepie & River Viaur

Laguepie river bathing and castle

Nearby Laguépie village has a spectacular summer bathing spot on the river Viaur below it's castle ruins and pretty bridge. Laguépie also has a campsite with cafe-bar, children's playgrounds, water-slide and crazy golf -all open to the public. There is a small selection of shops, butchers, bakery, bars and restaurants in the village. In Autumn, Laguépie has it's famous chestnut festival where locally collected chestnuts are roasted over flaming barrels.

Strolling around Najac village

Enjoying a drink near Najac castle

Twisting cobbled streets

More about the region. Located in the County of Aveyron, this mostly undiscovered region is known as the Quercy Rouergue. Timeless medieval towns, fortified villages, castles and abbeys can all testify to the changing fortunes of this wild and beautiful area. The region is famous for its cattle, beef, Roquefort cheese, cepes mushrooms (porchini) and steel Laguiole knives.

Other historic sites near Le Combal include: Cordes-Sur-Ciel, Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val, Villefranche-de-Rouergue as well as the Aveyron Gorges (Castles of Bruniquel and Penne). Also nearby, the vineyards of Gaillac stretching south down to the large town of Albi with it's impressive brick cathedral and ancient bridges across the tarn river.

Saint-Antonin is a beautiful little town and was the location for 2 films: 'The One Hundred Foot Journey' staring Helen Mirren & Manish Dayal and 'Charlotte Gray' staring Cate Blanchett.