The beautiful village of Conques lies on the steep side of the Dordou valley which is just south of the valley of the River Lot. The name "Conques" derives from the lie of the land - like a conca or shell.

Conques (Copyright Christophe Finot)

The beautiful medieval village of Conques lies on the steep side of the Dordou valley which is just south of the valley of the River Lot in the Aveyron. The name "Conques" derives from the lie of the land - like a conca or shell.

The town is in a beautiful setting, surrounded by mountains and forests. The streets are narrow and full of timber framed buildings. As the streets are narrow large vehicles cannot enter the village and as a consequence the town has had very little new building, leaving the medieval buildings largely intact.

Apart from the town itself you must visit the Saint Foy Abbey built between the 10th and 12th centuries. The church and cloisters have an international and deserved reputation for their beautiful examples of Roman art. The Saint Foy Abbey is officially designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Conques is a special place and one you shound not miss when visiting South West France.