A few hours' paddle from Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val on the heights of the Aveyron gorges, the castle of Penne, suspended above you, seems to float in the sky. 30 minutes from Cordes sur Ciel and 1 hour from Toulouse, the arrival in Penne by road is just as impressive: the ruins of the castle clinging to a rocky peak are the emblem of the village.
Visit the village nicknamed “The Eagle’s Nest”
Nestled in unspoiled nature, the first thing you see when you arrive is the ruins of the castle, a picture of striking beauty. Reaching the rocky spur is worth it, and this jewel of medieval military architecture will not fail to captivate informed medievalists or the simply curious.
As you take the winding streets that lead to the fortress, you pass by the Church. A first church was built in 580 under the leadership of the Bishop of Albi, Saint-Salvy. Then a second was built in the 12e and 13e centuries. It was partially destroyed during the Wars of Religion before being restored in the Occitan Gothic style. By going around the outside, the most observant among you will find in a niche, a statuette and a slate sign where is written "Alexandre Viguier dit Le Terrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrible de Penne 30.06.1835 – 12.10.1911"
But who is the terrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrible Penne?
This character is first of all a respected man in the village: Alexandre Viguier was a surveyor and legal advisor. Moreover, he won a lot of business, hence his nickname. He married late in life at 39 with a young girl from a wealthy family, Marie-Justine Roussel, then aged 17. Alexandre's management of the family fortune pushed the young woman to request the separation of property, ten years later.
It was then that he changed radically. Deeply republican, his life would henceforth be devoted to the fight against injustice and poverty. He stood several times in the legislative elections. Despite his failures, he went to Paris to continue the fight against Tsar Nicholas II: he wanted to ask him to abolish slavery in Russia. His fervent ardor and his physical appearance would lead him to the psychiatric hospital of Saint-Anne before being sent back to Penne. Indeed, his commitment to politics was accompanied by a physical change: he no longer cut his beard or his hair, and this, until his death.
Back in his native village, he lived a small life and found refuge in a corner of the castle. Marginalized, he died in 1911. Symbolizing the light illuminating "justice, the nation and the world", Le Terrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrible de Penne is represented, a lantern in his hand.
He wrote pamphlets like judgments beginning with: "Whereas..." Behind this legal jargon, he had very modern ideas, well ahead of his time and still relevant today. He was for disarmament, peace and a political system where voters could, if they were not happy with them, dismiss the rulers every year, who would be paid no more than a minor civil servant to curb their arrogance.
The stones of the castle in the village
The archives reveal the existence of a castle as early as 825. At the heart of the Albigensian Crusade, the castle was alternately in the hands of Catholics and heretics. In 1271, Penne was finally attached to the crown. Then the village suffered from the Hundred Years' War, tossed between the English and French crowns until 1451. In 1586, the castle was dismantled: its stones were used to build the houses and buildings that we know today.
For the love of old stones
The restoration of the fortress
Reborn from the ashes
After four and a half centuries of abandonment, the Penne fortress is still there, proud on its rock, watching over the Grésigne forest. It was in 2006 that the castle began to rise from its ashes: Axel and Sophie Letellier, architects by trade, bought the building with the crazy project of renovating it.
It is a titanic project: four years are needed to secure the site before opening to the public in 2010. Every year, new spaces are opened, giving access to a new slice of History. In the summer of 2024, a museum space opened to exhibit the results of the archaeological excavations. The different phases of work are financed up to 15% by the Region and the Department.
The oven chimney is smoking again
Thanks to the will of the inhabitants, the old communal oven has also been restored. As in a time not so long ago, four bakers take turns to bake their breads and other delicacies. The baking is done with wood and when the batch is finished, they sometimes cook a chicken to take advantage of the remaining heat. If you pass by on a Friday at the end of the day, you might be lucky enough to find the last hot brioche waiting for you on the stall. Otherwise, go to the market on Thursday evening!
A preserved natural environment
The Grésigne forest
From the fortress, you can admire this green sea of more than 27 hectares that constitutes the Grésigne forest. Refuge of the Grand Duke of Europe and Peregrine Falcon, the forest is part of the Natura 2000 network as well as two other sites in the commune. A trip to Penne is therefore an excellent opportunity to explore the surrounding area. The Gorges of the Aveyron are offered below, while hiking or mountain biking allow you to enjoy the exceptional environment.
Tip: don't forget the picnic, with a piece of cheese from the local cheese shop, Peak, and some local products, offered by the village grocery store. Everything is there to spend a great day!
Practical information
Where to park?
Disabled
A suitable parking space is located 15m from the Tourist Office. Toilets are accessible under the village hall 230m from the office – with the possibility of parking right in front.
In other cases
Park along the ramparts on the way up.
| Opening hours from July 01 to August 31, 2025 | |
|---|---|
| Monday | Open from 10 p.m. to 12 p.m. and from 30 p.m. to 14 p.m. |
| Tuesday | Open from 10 p.m. to 12 p.m. and from 30 p.m. to 14 p.m. |
| Wednesday | Open from 10 p.m. to 12 p.m. and from 30 p.m. to 14 p.m. |
| Thursday | Open from 10 p.m. to 12 p.m. and from 30 p.m. to 14 p.m. |
| Friday | Open from 10 p.m. to 12 p.m. and from 30 p.m. to 14 p.m. |
| Open on Saturday | Open from 10 p.m. to 12 p.m. and from 30 p.m. to 14 p.m. |
| Sunday | Open from 10 p.m. to 12 p.m. and from 30 p.m. to 14 p.m. |
10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. and 14 p.m. – 18 p.m.
