CORDES-SUR-CIEL

CORDES-SUR-CIEL, OCCITANIE, FRANCE

The medieval hill-top village of Cordes-sur-Ciel (Cordes in the sky) is just over an hours drive north of Toulouse. Or 20 mins from both Albi and Gaillac. The village was founded in 1222 by the Count of Toulouse, Raymond VII as a Bastide town, or area of protection for the displaced peoples of the many religious wars of the time. Although not attacked by the 13th century crusader Simon-de-Montfort, Cordes was nevertheless at the very heart of the Cathar heresies of the 13th century. My wife Jude and I have lived here now since 2016, and is where we run our photo tours from http://www.eyeinthesky.com.au/esp-photo-tours/. The tours take in the Tarn and Aveyron areas and all the history and culture that is abundant in this lovely part of Occitanie. All photographs © Jon Davison 2023.

Cordes, January 2023

Cordes by moonlight, January 2023

Cordes, January 2023

Les Cabannes, January 2023

Balloon launch, Summer 2022

Balloon launch, Summer 2021

6am dawn mists, looking east

7am dawn mists, looking north

Cordes seen from near Roussayrolles

Porte de l'Horloge

September 2018. Sunrise over Cordes with balloon.

Cordes in October at 03.50am by moonlight

Cordes seen from Moulin Cajarc, 2am November

Lightning and storm clouds behind Cordes

Grand Rue de la Barbacane at twilight

Cordes viewed from Malbosc

Cordes at dawn with a photo tour group at La Graine de Sel

Cordes at dawn as viewed from the road to Vedillerie

A panorama of Cordes as viewed from the road to Vedillerie

Cordes and Sunflowers, as viewed from the village Campes

Spring in Cordes viewed from St Jean

Sunset over Cordes, seen from the road to Sarmazes

The top of Cordes, or La Cite, on Rue St Michel

Midnight over the Cerou valley, looking south east. This is the view from our garden

The view of Cordes from the D600

Porte du Vainqueur

La Panoramique restaurant and the view over the north of the Cerou Valley

Summer on the Grande rue Raymond VII

Pigeonnier at Les Cabannes overlooking Cordes

The pigeonniers at Chateau Cazelles, just outside Cordes

Cordes and Chateau Lestar

Cordes at dawn viewed from a balloon

Photo tour group on the Grain de Sel overlooking Cordes at sunrise

Early morning mist clearing

Cordes from the road to Sarmazes

Interior panorama of Musee and Gregoire and the Hackwell Collection

The medieval fortified farm of Malbosc

A pre-dawn panorama of Cordes from Le Grain de Sel

Summer sunset over Cordes from Le Grain de Sel

Panorama of Cordes from Le Grain de Sel

Cordes from Le Grain de Sel.

La Barbacane

The ever-present Hummingbird Hawk Moth at work on the Red Velarians

Mist covered Aurosse Valley, from our house in Cordes

Light snow on the overgrown Calvarie at Livers-Cazelles

Snowscape over Cordes from Grain de Sel

Chateau Cazelles and its pigeonniers

near Les Cabannes

Porte de la Jane

Portail Peint

Le Planol at sunset looking west

Musee Saint Gregoire at dawn

Grand Rue Raymond VII at dusk

Cordes seen from La Vedillerie, 5:00am

Moulin Cajarc by moonlight, 2am

Cordes and balloons seen from La Couronne

Moulin Cajarc, August

Watch tower and the Aurosse valley from Le Planol

Snow covered ruin on Graine de Sel

View of Cordes from St Jean

St Jean

Interior of St Jean chapel

Porte des Ormeaux at twilight

Rue Sous Fenêtre

Porte de la Jane at dusk

Dawn over Cordes, from Les Cabannes

More Cordes