Cordes Travel Guide

  Two Heads Are Better Than One
by hquittner
  • Two Heads Are Better Than One
      Two Heads Are Better Than One
    by hquittner
  • Cordes-sur-Ciel (a la Francaise)
      Cordes-sur-Ciel (a la Francaise)
    by hquittner
  • Ground Level Arcade
      Ground Level Arcade
    by hquittner
  • Building #2
      Building #2
    by hquittner
  • Ground Floor Arcade (Bldg #2)
      Ground Floor Arcade (Bldg #2)
    by hquittner

Pro

Klod5 profile photo

 Très belle Bastide, très bien entretenue 


Con

pigletsmom profile photo

 Too many tourists in the high season! 


In a nutshell

rinnywee profile photo

 Cordes sur Ciel - Cordes on the Sky and so close to heaven. 

 

Explore Cordes

Things to Do  

Other Sights Seen While Walking the Town

Other Sights Seen While Walking the Town, Cordes

 hquittner Says:  Near the Halle we found a Terrasse de la Bride which had fine views out over the valley and surrounding countryside. In some places pieces of the old ramparts were visible and even used as decorative elements for the adjacent homes. We sam an occasional half-timbered house... 

Examine the Covered Market (Les Halles)

Examine the Covered Market (Les Halles), Cordes

 hquittner Says:  At the center of all 13C bastides there was originally a covered market (Halles). (See our Tips on Aquitaine, where there are several:Read Aquitaine (General) and among others the typical one, Monpazier). The wood covered one of Cordes is a sturdy one supported by unusual... 

Enter the Church of St.-Michel

Enter the Church of St.-Michel, Cordes

 hquittner Says:  The interior of the church is rather dark. It has tetrapartite vaulting with a broken pointed arch at the head of the choir, evidencing the changes of the 13C. The Rose and many other windows have crisply colored glass that does not look very old and we had information on... 

Visit the Church of St.-Michel

Visit the Church of St.-Michel, Cordes

 hquittner Says:  The church of St.-Michel has a combined belfry and watchtower which can be seen from the town gate. However it was built as the last part of the church in 1460-85 along with the present nave with internal buttressing like Albi Cathedral, while the watch tower addition... 

Ancient Homes: Two More

Ancient Homes: Two More, Cordes

 hquittner Says:  We saw two other “grand maisons” like the others but did not learn their names. They were in the Halle area and had two floors of windows with similar treatment to the others. They had round arched windows in pairs with colonettes and decorated capitals and a pointed arched... 

Ancient Homes: The Maison du Grand Fauconnier

Ancient Homes: The Maison du Grand Fauconnier, Cordes

 hquittner Says:  Similar to the Maison du G. Veneur, the Maison du Grand Fauconnier also has twp levels of traceried double or triple windows in ogival pairs, but without another dormer level above.At one time the projecting roof was decorated with images of falcons, from which its name... 

Ancient Homes: The Maison du Grand Veneur

Ancient Homes: The Maison du Grand Veneur, Cordes

 hquittner Says:  Continuing up the Grand Rue, still on the right is another fine building. Like the Maison du G. Ecuyer, the Maison du Grand Veneur (Master of the Hounds), has two levels of double or triple windows above the arcade ground floor arcades, but the windows are quite different... 

Ancient Homes: The Maison du Grand Ecuyer

Ancient Homes: The Maison du Grand Ecuyer, Cordes

 hquittner Says:  We entered the Grand-Rue (also called the Rue Droite), which runs frm the gate to the town center (as in all bastides). On the right we encountered the first grand mansion , the early 14C Maison du Grand Ecuyer (Chief Riding Master). The ground level (of three) is arcaded... 

Enter Cordes via the Porte Ormeaux

Enter Cordes via the Porte Ormeaux, Cordes

 hquittner Says:  We parked in the directed place outside the gates; there is no vehicular entry into town. It looked rather shabby 15 years ago. Things have improved since then. This is the easiest way to the town sights. The Gate in the ramparts can be seen at the left of the picture; high... 

Walk the streets

Walk the streets, Cordes

 pigletsmom Says:  Stroll the charming streets, find wonderful stores, and centuries old architecture along cobblestone roads. 

Gorgeous Medieval Architecture

Gorgeous Medieval Architecture, Cordes

 pigletsmom Says:  Truly marvelous buildings with fantistic detail fill Cordes on every street. Very picturesque and charming. 

Country Vistas

Country Vistas, Cordes

 pigletsmom Says:  Once you've climbed to the top of town, you'll be treated to lovely scenic views at the place de la Bride. It's a square that doubles as a wonderful lookout point just past the Market Hall. People relax, take a drink, and play with their dogs in this relaxed atmosphere. 

Restaurants  

Château de Laborde: Luxuous

Château de Laborde: Luxuous, Cordes

 Klod5 Says:  Au pied de la cité médiévale de Cordes-sur-Ciel, le Château de Laborde vous accueille dans un parc séculaire de trois hectares avec jardins et allées bordées de buis, pour la réussite de vos réceptions, séminaires, formations, séjours découverte... Cette luxueuse demeure... 

Hôtel du Grand Ecuyer: Itinéraire d'un grand chef

Hôtel du Grand Ecuyer: Itinéraire d'un grand chef, Cordes

 Klod5 Says:  Yves Thuriès est né le 5 juin 1938 dans la petite boulangerie du village de Lempaut dans le Tarn. A 14 ans, il fait son apprentissage à la pâtisserie Benoît Barné de Castres et obtient son CAP à 17 ans à Toulouse. Il commence alors son Tour de France. Il part en 1958 en... 

Shopping  

Ignored: Wooden statues
GUYON profile photo
GUYON 1558 reviews
Wooden statue

One cannot stay like a piece of wood in face of the beauty who is spying the pedestrians walking by the street.

Updated May 3, 2003

Related to:
 Family Travel

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Local Customs  

Exterior Decorations of the "Grand Maisons"

Exterior Decorations of the "Grand Maisons", Cordes

 hquittner Says:  On the facades of the famous Maisons of Cordes one finds two rather unusual features that experts really cannot explain with certainty. The first are projecting carved stones that look like gargoyles but are not located in places of water run-off and do not have channeled... 

Medieval Festivals and Fairs

Medieval Festivals and Fairs, Cordes

 pigletsmom Says:  Every month Cordes puts on traditional festivasl to celebrate their rich history. I accidentally came upon an event taking place at the Place de la Bride, with regional costumes, dancing and music. Demonstrations of medieval cooking and pastry making, along with artisans... 

Off The Beaten Path  

Visit Nearby Albi
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2.5 out of 5 starsHelpfulness

pigletsmom 433 reviews
The Palais du le Berbie

Much larger in scale, but equally as beautiful.
Take a day and explore the lovely city of Albi.
Only a 20 minute drive on lovely country roads.

Updated Feb 24, 2010

Website: http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/69457/22031/

Related to:
 Historical Travel
 Architecture
 Road Trip

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Favorites  

By the streets of Cordes

By the streets of Cordes, Cordes

 GUYON Says:  Have a look to the shops. Generally, the owner is a handcraft maker. On the left of the picture there is the market place (la Halle) set up during the 15e century.The roof is beared by 24 standstone pillars and it shelters the terrasse of a restaurant. 

The main door

The main door, Cordes

 GUYON Says:  We visited Cordes during the last days of April. So the streets were empty and the shops and restaurants closed for their major part.But in Summer the city which did not surrender to the crusaders is invaded by the tourists.Outside the walls, the parking places are numerous... 

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Map of Cordes