Conques

This was sent from our friends, Linda and Kay visiting France:

The village of Conques is one of the most stunning surprises we've had. Dating from circa 800, it continues to cling to it's miniscule but fierce independence on a steep hillside where it is the guardian of the gold and jewel-encrusted reliquary of a saint, and has been for a thousand years. But who's counting? It's as if time has forgotten this ancient place.

The village of Conques is located at the confluence of the Dourdou de Conques and the Ouche. It is built on a hillside and has classic narrow medieval streets. As a result, large vehicles such as buses cannot enter the historic town centre but must park outside. Consequently, most day visitors enter on foot. The town was largely passed by in the nineteenth century, and was saved from oblivion by the efforts of a small number of dedicated people. As a result, the historic core of the town has very little construction dating from between 1800 and 1950, leaving the medieval structures remarkably intact. The roads have been paved, and modern-day utility lines are buried.

The town is situated in a valley. Its name originates from from Old French conche, meaning 'basin', which is derived from Latin concha, meaning 'shell'.