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Inspiring travel through photography

Home » Travel » Europe » Western Europe » Saint Bertrand de Comminges: Charming French Village

Saint Bertrand de Comminges: Charming French Village

Last Updated: December 25, 2022 // by Rhonda Albom // 45 Comments
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Cloisters of St Bertrand de Comminges Cathedral France
The 12th century cloisters of St Bertrand de Comminges Cathedral
St. Bertrand de Comminges. Read the article for more images of this town listed as one of the most beautiful villages in France

Perched on a hill at the base of the Pyrenees mountains in southern France, Saint Bertrand de Comminges appears from the ground as a gateway to the heavens.

Once at the top, it takes only a few moments after passing through one of the village’s three gates to understand why it is amongst the most beautiful villages in France.

Importantly, there are two key sights to see here. In addition to the village of Saint Bertrand de Comminges upon the hill, you will want to see the Roman ruins of Lugdunum Convenarum at ground level.

It’s so lovely that even on a cloudy day, the area is beautiful.

Roman ruins of Lugdunum Convenarum

At the base of the hill leading to the village, we stopped to examine some of the remains of the ancient Gallo-Roman city of Lugdunum Convenarum, which once extended over the territory of several municipalities.

This Roman city was founded in 1 BC; however, its ruins were discovered in 1913.

Looking up on the hill, we got our first glimpse of Saint Bertrand de Comminges as it towers over the archaeological site of the Roman Ruins of Lugdunum Convenarum. The massive and imposing cathedral dominates the view of the village on the hill.

The archeological site of the Roman ruins of Lugdunum, France
Archaeological site of Lugdunum Convenarum with Saint Bertrand de Comminges up the hill
Archeological site of Saint Bertrand de Comminges, France (Roman Ruins)
This is believed to have been the thermal baths of the forum.

From the comments at the bottom of the page (comment by Off Grid Life):

“I spent 2 summers working on the Archaeological dig of the Forum and Theatre there … 1991, 1992 … Part of a team from the University of Ottawa and Carleton from Canada. St Bertrand de Comminges (Roman: Lugdunum Convenarum).

While we were there, we learned that the Cathedral was built on top of much earlier churches and even Roman Temples that were part of a much more ancient water Temple… supposedly a pool or large Bath complex.

King Herod was exiled to this place after he crucified Jesus the Nazarene, Yeshu ha Notzri, so there were many Treasure Hunters that would visit the area looking for the lost Treasure of King Herod, perhaps the Holy Grail and other Gold artifacts from Israel, that might be hidden here.

One time a group of archaeologists from Paris claimed to have found a stash of Gold coins far beneath the Catherdral, in what they called an ancient pool … and maybe the Holy Grail as well.”

Saint Bertrand de Comminges

When we visited, a shuttle took people up and down the hill for a nominal fee. The driver was on his lunch break when we arrived, so we walked. On a cooler day, it would have been a lovely walk with a gentle upward slope.

Steps aid in the steeper parts, thus creating a relatively easy walk. We opted to take the tram back down after our visit.

Charming narrow roads greeted us, many paved over the original cobblestones. The medieval and half-timbered 15th and 16th-century houses are a reminder that this was a wealthy town as well as a pilgrimage centre.

It was easy to understand how St Bertrand de Comminges was listed amongst the Les Plus Beaux Villages de France (“The Most Beautiful Villages of France 2020”).

Narrow cobblestone road in Saint Bertrand de Comminges, France
St Bertrand de Comminges, France
Saint Bertrand de Comminges, France

Cathedral of Sainte Marie of Saint Bertrand de Comminges

The romanesque-gothic architecture of the 11th – 12th-century Cathedral of Sainte Marie dominates the town’s picturesque skyline. The cathedral is the main site to visit. The area around the entrance door was my favourite feature of this masterpiece.

Inside the cathedral, we find renaissance stained glass windows, hand-carved choir stalls, the tomb of Bishop Bertrand de l’Isle, who was canonised in 1671, a 16th-century organ, a peaceful Romanesque cloister, and a seemingly out-of-place taxidermied crocodile hanging on the wall.

The cathedral is home to the former seat of the ancient Diocese of Comminges.

Saint Bertrand de Comminges Cathedral entrance in France
The 16th-century organ in France
The 16th-century organ
Renaissance stained glass windows in the Saint Bertrand de Comminges Cathedral in France
Cloisters of St Bertrand de Comminges Cathedral France
The 12th-century cathedral cloisters are peaceful.

Olivetains (information centre)

The former monastery of Saint Bertrand de Comminges is now the local tourist centre. It provides traveller information, guided tours, a bookshop, and interesting artefacts from the region, including a 6th-century stone altar table.

Les Olivetains, a former 19th-century convent in France.
Les Olivetains is a former 19th-century convent.

Cultural centre

In a modern contrast to the rest of the town, this artwork sat outside the cultural centre when we visited.

Artwork at the cultural center of Saint Bertrand de Comminges, France

Getting to Saint Bertrand de Comminges

For us, the charming medieval village of Saint Bertrand de Comminges was a stop as we drove from Lourdes to Toulouse in France.

  • Self-driving is definitely the easiest way to get to Saint Bertrand de Comminges.
  • If you are travelling Europe by Eurail, a local train from Toulouse will get you near Saint Bertrand, and then you will need to take a taxi or walk.
  • Historically, it was a pilgrim stopover on one of the paths to Santiago de Compostela.

Where to stay

There is no shortage of places to stay in the Midi-Pyrenees region, with over 4,000 accommodation options covering the full gambit of hospitality.

However, there is only one in Saint Bertrand de Comminges. We visited as a half-day trip staying the night before in Lourdes and the night of our visit in Toulouse. We spent only a few hours between the two sites, and that included our walk up the hill.

Saint Bertrand de Comminges, France
The cheese store and the man in a beret; a classic French small-town image.

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View of a cart on a street in St Bertrand de Comminges in France
St. Bertrand de Comminges. Read the article for more images of this town listed as one of the most beautiful villages in France

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Category: Western EuropeTag: Cathedrals, France, Medieval Town, Ruins

About Rhonda Albom

Capturing the essence of travel through photography, Rhonda Albom is the primary author and photographer at Albom Adventures. She is an American expat based in New Zealand. She travels the world with her husband.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Trekking with Becky

    October 20, 2017 at 6:13 pm

    How charming! One day was enough for everything?

    Reply
    • Rhonda Albom

      October 21, 2017 at 8:50 am

      Depending on your definition of “everything” we did it all in a few hours.

      Reply
  2. Elisa

    October 18, 2017 at 10:58 am

    Never heard about Saint Bertrand de Commiges before but it is really beautiful! Well, actually there are many beautiful villages in that area in the Pyrénnées. Weird to find Roman remains in that area but I am sure it was a plus in your visit. Beautiful pictures, by the way!

    Reply
  3. Elisa

    October 18, 2017 at 12:46 am

    No, I’ve never been to Saint Bertrand de Comminges or France for that matter. It certainly looks like a charming village.

    Reply
  4. Michelle

    October 17, 2017 at 10:14 pm

    Your photos blew me away – I almost feel like I’ve already been to Saint Bertrand de Comminges just looking at them! I’ve been to Santander but didn’t make it to Altamira, which is doable as day-trip I think – would you say it’s worth the trip?

    Reply
  5. Lara Dunning

    October 17, 2017 at 4:12 pm

    I haven’t been to France yet, but touring its small town and villages is on my list! This looks like a great stop with lots of history and interesting sites. Love the photos, and I’m glad you rediscovered them.

    Reply
    • Offgridlife

      December 25, 2022 at 1:32 am

      Yes… I spent 2 summers working on the Archaeological dig of the Forum and Theatre there … 1991, 1992 … Part of a team from the University of Ottawa and Carleton from Canada. St Bertrand de Comminges (Roman : Lugdunum Convenarum) . While we were there we learned that the Cathedral was built on top of much earlier churches and even Roman Temples that were part of a much more ancient water Temple… supposedly a pool or large Bath complex. King Herod was exiled to this place after he crucified Jesus the Nazarene, Yeshu ha Notzri, so there were many Treasure Hunters that would visit the area looking for the lost Treasure of King Herod , perhaps the Holy Grail and other Gold artifacts from Israel, that might be hidden here. One time a group of archaeologists from Paris claimed to have found a stash of Gold coins far beneath the Catherdral , in what they called an ancient pool … and maybe the Holy Grail as well.

      Reply
  6. Mei

    October 17, 2017 at 8:47 am

    We’ve always wanted to drive down to southern France to visit the Roman site of Lugdunum (for an archaeologist I should be ashamed that I still haven’t been there! Haha..), and of course also all the little French villages, like the medieval walled city of Saint Bernard de Comminges. Visiting the caves would also be awesome! Thanks for this great post!

    Reply
  7. Efthimis K.

    October 17, 2017 at 2:30 am

    This is so cute! I love how French pay attention to details especially with all the flowers in the houses. Saint Bertrand de Comminges reminds me of Yvoire, another amazing French village belonging to the most beautiful villages in France association. You should check it out as well for future escapes near lake Geneva!

    Reply
  8. knycx.journyeing

    October 16, 2017 at 11:02 pm

    Thanks for the post as I didn’t hear about the town before, the cathedral is really striking as a first impression, and it’s nice to know that it is stunning inside as well!

    Reply
  9. Megan Jerrard

    October 16, 2017 at 9:45 pm

    I can definitely see why St Bertrand de Comminges is listed amongst the most beautiful villages in France. I love the medieval charm, and am fascinated by history and archaeology, so the Roman ruins of Lugdunum would be my first stop.

    The cathedral is stunning, love the cloisters. And I’m so excited by the idea that you can see Prehistoric cave art! France has some incredible caves which have a lot to say about history. Very cool!

    Reply
  10. Drew

    October 16, 2017 at 7:06 pm

    I love stumbling upon these adorable villages in Europe. The sheer number of places like St Bertrand de Comminges that are off the typical tourist route makes them so much special. Plus, the classic French village also has a Roman ruin site! That’s amazing. I’ve done a few driving trips through Italy, France, and the Balkans, and it is great when you find little towns that you’ve never heard of before.

    Reply
    • Rhonda Albom

      October 16, 2017 at 9:31 pm

      I would love to do a driving trip like this through Italy sometime.

      Reply
  11. CHLOE LIN

    October 16, 2017 at 4:05 pm

    This little town is so charming. I always want to go to France but I only know about Paris. Now I know it’s full of other charming towns around. Cathedral is really impressive, reminds of the churches I went back in Eastern Germany. Can’t wait to visit it by myself. 🙂

    Reply
  12. Priya Vin

    October 16, 2017 at 9:49 am

    Pyrenees is such a gorgeous area. We love the Southern France and visiting some of the beautiful villages that is part of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France was the highlight of our road trip there one summer. Saint Bertrand de Comminges is so charming little village and you have captured it beautifully.

    Reply
  13. Kate

    October 16, 2017 at 9:22 am

    Another place I need to visit in France. What a beautiful medieval village! This kind of place is right up my street. I loved Bayeux and other places in Normandy because of the history and stunning architecture. I would definitely do a day trip here. You have a wonderful eye for photography. I love the slight moodiness of the first photo with clouds overhead. Great post

    Reply
  14. Simon

    October 16, 2017 at 8:26 am

    You are correct. Saint Bertrand de Comminges is indeed a charming little village. The lush greenery and the beautiful medieval architecture definitely adds to the charm of the village.

    Reply
  15. Ashley

    October 16, 2017 at 7:58 am

    There are so many beautiful little villages in France! We haven’t been to the Pyrenees, but would love to visit. Have heard great things about Toulouse too! Thanks for the tip. 🙂

    Reply
  16. budget jan

    October 15, 2017 at 5:03 pm

    What an awesome town. I am an outdoorsy person – maybe that’s why I always enjoy Church Cloisters – it’s amazing to think this particular one being around since the 12th century. Gorgeous.

    Reply
  17. Jill

    October 15, 2017 at 7:53 am

    Beautiful photos! On my trips to France I’ve found that I love the small towns more than the big cities. I would love to do a tour of several small villages there someday and take my time.

    Reply
  18. Sarah Ebner

    October 15, 2017 at 7:37 am

    I haven’t been, but it looks really charming, as you say. Your pictures are beautiful (they always are!) and I’d love to see those Roman ruins. Really a lovely place to visit.

    Reply
  19. Ruth

    October 15, 2017 at 7:02 am

    First time I hear about this town! Like you mentioned, some of the scenes in here look like the classic French scenes we have in our minds. I enjoy discovering small towns so much.

    Reply
  20. Lolo

    October 15, 2017 at 5:52 am

    Looks like a really lovely little village! The kind I too would totally make a stop in!

    Reply
  21. Kavita Favelle | Kavey Eats

    October 15, 2017 at 5:35 am

    The Pyrenees is one of the areas in France I’ve not yet explored, but your photos of the beautiful Saint Bertrand de Comminges really make me want to head there soon. I love a place that has history, culture, charming local architecture, natural landscape and of course there is always great food!

    Reply
  22. Sreekar

    October 15, 2017 at 4:58 am

    Thats a cute little village if there was any. Looks characteristically french too. Loved the long shot of Saint Bertrand de Comminges. Epic!

    Reply
  23. Esther

    October 15, 2017 at 2:11 am

    Lovely! It looks like sĂşch a typical French village. I can’t get over the fact how sleepy French villages are always so appealing, while sleepy villages in The Netherlands are often just… well **yawn** 🙂

    Reply
  24. Agness of eTramping

    October 15, 2017 at 1:11 am

    This village isn’t only charming but also very picturesque and awe-inspiring. It seems like being part of some fairy tale, Rhonda. How many days would be enough to explore this awesome French village?

    Reply
    • Rhonda Albom

      October 15, 2017 at 8:18 am

      We explored this little village in a few hours. It’s small and there are so many places to see along the way. If you wanted to just relax and hang out, you could stay longer.

      Reply
  25. Paige

    October 14, 2017 at 10:27 pm

    I’ve never heard of Saint Bertrand de Comminges, but it looks absolutely beautiful! I am always a sucker for old, walled cites though. I love that in addition to historical sites like the cathedral, there are natural things to explore.

    Reply
  26. Mary {The World Is A Book}

    October 14, 2017 at 8:43 pm

    I haven’t heard of this town before but I want to go now. It’s absolutely beautiful and charming. It’s these kinds of undiscovered European towns that gets put on my travel wish list. Fantastic photo collection.

    Reply
  27. Jackie Smith

    October 14, 2017 at 5:22 pm

    Oh,I adore these types of villages! Loved this post and have another place as result of it, ‘on my list’!

    Reply
  28. Anda

    October 14, 2017 at 4:04 pm

    Saint Bertrand de Comminges exudes charm, indeed. I’ve never been in this part of France, but I’d like the idea of renting a car and driving through the entire country. It’s most likely the only way to enjoy discover and enjoy little villages like this one.

    Reply
  29. Kathy Marris

    October 14, 2017 at 12:44 pm

    The charm just exudes from this village. Don’t you love it when you stumble across these mostly unheard of places in Europe? I would love to travel through France and these types of villages.

    Reply
  30. Leanne @ Deep Fried Fruit

    October 14, 2017 at 11:36 am

    Oh my goodness. You can actually FEEL how old it is.

    Reply
  31. Mapping The Map

    October 14, 2017 at 11:27 am

    This village is really nice! The pictures are amazing. I particularly like the one of the cloister. There is a lot to see in France!

    Reply
  32. Hilary Melton-Butcher

    October 13, 2017 at 7:29 pm

    Hi Rhonda – so French as you comment … brilliant photos and commentary … love seeing it – one day I shall get there … I do enjoy the modern sculpture though – total contrast but so interesting … cheers Hilary

    Reply
  33. Amy

    October 13, 2017 at 6:19 pm

    I like those decorations in front of the door, were they put there for a reason?

    Reply
  34. Tonya

    October 13, 2017 at 1:57 pm

    I have yet to visit France but when I do, I want to visit Saint Bertrand de Comminges! Your photos sold it for me.

    Reply
  35. melody pittman

    October 13, 2017 at 8:15 am

    Nope, I haven’t been to that part of the country yet. Rhonda, are you a professional photographer? I have been a big fan of yours since I started blogging almost three years ago. You have a beautiful style that no other travel writer has through the angles of your pictures. They are stunning!

    Reply
  36. Patrick Weseman

    October 13, 2017 at 7:11 am

    I haven’t but it looks very beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  37. Joyce Lansky

    October 13, 2017 at 7:11 am

    You sure have been to many beautiful places. I’m glad you take photos!

    Reply
  38. Francesca

    October 13, 2017 at 4:03 am

    I so love such medieval towns. They’re so charming! And I’m a sucker for Roman ruins. Seems Saint Bertrand de Comminges is the place for me!

    Reply
  39. L. Diane Wolfe

    October 13, 2017 at 2:55 am

    Gorgeous area. I’ll have to ask one of my best friends if she visited the area during the month she was in France.

    Reply
  40. Alex J. Cavanaugh

    October 13, 2017 at 12:52 am

    The organ is quite impressive.
    Looks like a great area to explore.

    Reply
  41. Tanja (the Red phone box travels)

    October 12, 2017 at 9:35 pm

    very pretty!

    Reply

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