Sainte-Enimie Village, Gorges du Tarn Causses, France

Sainte-Enimie is a former commune founded in the 7th century by Énimie (according a legend a daughter of the Merovingian king Clothar II), who started a convent there after being cured of leprosy in the surrounding waters. It was the site of several monasteries, some of which still remain. Located in the Gorges du Tarn, it is a member of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France (“the most beautiful villages of France”) association.

Two monasteries, one male and one female, were built in the area but destroyed by invasions. Stephen, Bishop of Mende, requested that a Benedictine monastery be built there, and it was completed in 951. It became a popular pilgrimage destination due to the miraculous story surrounding its founding.

During the French Revolution in 1798, the monastery was destroyed and the town renamed 'Puy Roc'; however, this lasted only a short time.

In 1905, a road was built along the Tarn, giving the village greater commercial exposure. Starting in the 1950s, tourism became a major part of Sainte-Enimie's economy.

References:

Wikipedia

User Reviews

Phil Gibbs (2 months ago)
Just driving thru is magical, beautiful and peaceful. Must return and spend time there.

Fnd Slamet (5 months ago)
We entered this place by coincidentally.. not really our destination.. but this is certainly great place to be passed

Yo Pen (12 months ago)
Vignes on Gorges du Tarn Small village on the edge of the Tarn, with amazing scenery and lovely welcoming people. There's kayaking to do and a great shop for local cold meat, cheese and wine which will not disappoint you.

D Green (12 months ago)
Fantastic place. Climbing zones are easy to reach, rock texture is awesome.

MoTo JoJo (17 months ago)
Biking heaven! Some fast flowing sections which turn into tight twisty parts. Beware awesome views most of the way (and locals cutting blind corners, especially the kayak transporters). If you're not on a motorbike then plenty of places to stop and marvel at the views, plus kayaking etc

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Apart from the castle itself, the entire complex includes a park which has no precise boundaries and includes nearby fields, meadows and a forest. Only the main axis of the park can be characterised as geometrical. Starting from the gate, it leads along the oak and then horse-chestnut avenues, towards the castle. Further on, the park passes into an avenue of lime trees with symmetrical canals running along both sides of the path, lined with a few varieties of rhododendrons. The axis of the park terminates at the base of a former monument of Hubert von Tiele-Winckler. On the eastern side of the avenue there is a pond with an islet referred to by the owners as Easter Island. The islet is planted with needle-leaved shrubs and can be reached by a Chinese-styled bridge. The garden, as part of the whole park complex was restored slightly earlier than the castle itself. Preserved documents of 1868 state that the improvement in the garden's aesthetic quality was undertaken by Hubert von Tiele-Winckler.

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