Cordes-sur-Ciel is a medieval town beautifully situated on a hill. They are surrounded by defensive walls built during the crusades against the Albigenses, and their original stone houses have been preserved.
The village occupies a hill above the Cerou valley. At its highest point is the walled old town. It was fortified in the thirteenth century and was at the beginning of its existence a stronghold of the Albigenses, followers of a dualistic variety of Christianity, against whom the French kings, with the support of the papacy, led crusades.
The town is one of the best preserved in the region and has beautiful medieval buildings. There is a church of St. Michael, whose tower towers over the lower buildings, 14th century stone houses with large windows, the Royal Hunter's House with carved hunting scenes on the facade, a clock tower and a medieval market hall whose roof rests on wooden pillars.
