Bruniquel
| Bruniquel | ||
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The main road in Bruniquel
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 Bruniquel
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Location within Occitanie region
Bruniquel
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| Coordinates: 44°03′24″N 1°39′59″E / 44.0567°N 1.6664°ECoordinates: 44°03′24″N 1°39′59″E / 44.0567°N 1.6664°E | ||
| Country | France | |
| Region | Occitanie | |
| Department | Tarn-et-Garonne | |
| Arrondissement | Montauban | |
| Canton | Monclar-de-Quercy | |
| Intercommunality | Terrasses et Vallée de l'Aveyron | |
| Government | ||
| • Mayor (2001–2008) | Michel Montet | |
| Area1 | 33.2 km2 (12.8 sq mi) | |
| Population (2012)2 | 616 | |
| • Density | 19/km2 (48/sq mi) | |
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | |
| • Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | |
| INSEE/Postal code | 82026 / 82800 | |
| Elevation | 90–382 m (295–1,253 ft) (avg. 130 m or 430 ft) |
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1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. 2Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once. |
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1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.
Bruniquel (Bruniquèth in Occitan) is a commune in the Tarn-et-Garonne department in the Occitanie region in southern France.
The tiny fortified village of 561 inhabitants is at an altitude of 250 metres by the river Aveyron.
The river Vère flows northward through the commune, then flows into the Aveyron, which forms most of the commune's northern border.
The village is a picturesque mixture of old pink stone and red tile with a dramatic belfry, medieval gateways and defensive walls. Two feudal medieval castles dominate the village and the valley, one of which is the Château de Bruniquel.
The 'old' castle was built in the 12th century on the ruins of an earlier fortress said to have been founded by Queen Brunehaut in the 6th century and remained occupied until the 20th century. It was the home of William of Tudela who wrote the first part of La Chanson de la Croisade Albigeoise, an account of the Albigensian Crusade against the Cathars. The castle is notable for a gallery 20 metres long in Renaissance style overhanging the valley of which it offers steep views that many visitors find alarming.
The 'young' castle was built in the 15th century and occupied for about 200 years. It now houses a museum of prehistory exhibiting "treasures of Bruniquel" found in several caves near the castles.
These caves include the Cave of Mayrière supérieure which contains ancient wall paintings that were damaged by overenthusiastic graffiti cleaners in 1991 and the Bruniquel abris that includes evidence of Neanderthal activity, as well as the Bruniquel Cave.
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Wikipedia