Fijak, located in the south of France, in the Iberian region, is very small. About 10 thousand people permanently live here. Tourists here are also not so much, except for religious pilgrims. The town stands on the Selo River and pleases travelers with its modest and quiet appearance, the medieval architecture in the center and the official status of the "city of art and history."

How to get to Fijak

By train from Toulouse in about 2 hours and 20 minutes. Also, SNCF buses from nearby cities (some come to the railway station, and some to the bus station at Geoffra avenue). For example, a bus from Kagor comes to Fijak in 4 hours and 20 minutes

A little history

On the site of the Romans settlement in the 8th century a monastery was founded - and so Fizhak . was established at the monastery, where there were pilgrims who could not stand the burden of traveling on the way of St. Jacob to Spain . In the 9th century the settlement and the monastery were attacked by the Vikings, and in the 16th century, during the confrontation between the Huguenots and Catholics, the city took the side of the Protestants . As a result, after the victory of Catholicism a century later, the city walls were razed . Historically, the residents of Figak Zani are still tattooed, and so far urban architecture has been reflected: over an array of old houses, open galleries with wooden ceilings have been built to dry out the skins. .

Funicular, excursions and attractions. Fijaka

A small tourist train rolls visitors around the city in July and August, and a full circle takes about 40 minutes. But in fact, this option - for the most lazy: in Fijake, you can perfectly examine everything, moving on their own two. Even a bicycle is unlikely to need you here unless you want to go up and down between neighboring villages

In the central square of Vival is the Mint building of the 13th century built, where the tourist office is located . In the same building there is a museum (very modest, frankly speaking) and archeology (similarly) . The square has the shape of a star, from the center of which all the central city streets start: Gambetta, Kavial and ul . Republic . The main beauty of Fijak is concentrated about this rayon not: here you can see and half-timbered, and carved wooden facades with colonnades, and later stone buildings . The old indoor market of Figka is located on Carnot Square, and here it is very nice to sit at a cafe table .The second market is located on the Champollion square .

The Old Town museum is curious, which occupies a beautiful 18th century Gothic building, the Hotel de la Monnae . The most authentic museum of the city is the Champollion house-museum on the same street near the same square . From the square you will go to Butarik street, on which you can walk up the hill of Viguier, to the Romanesque church of Our Lady of Notre-Dame du Puy, surrounded by a beautiful green landscape with old trees and cedar shoots . This is the oldest church in the city that has undergone several changes in the 14th and 17th centuries and today pleases the eye with an elegant molding of cornices and a carved altar from the walnut tree of the 18th century . And standing in front of the church, you can get excellent shots of city roofs .

She is notable for the interior, in which you can admire the fine sculptural carvings of wooden panels made in the 17th century. The church of Saint-Sauveur stands on the bank of the river, and it has been rebuilt so many times that according to some of its architectural details it is possible to trace the entire history of the city - from the Middle Ages and to baroque ornaments.

Surroundings of Fijak

quickly, you will soon want to travel to the neighborhoods . Within 5-15 km from Fijak there are many towns and villages, each in its own way interesting . For example, in 6 km there is Upper Kapdanak (the upper one is in the "main" Kapdanake is nothing interesting), standing on the vertex INE cliff a hundred-odd meters above the river Photo . here, top, obtained amazing; and in the town itself is quite curious - there are a lot of ancient Roman houses, and there is even a Roman source . Or the village of Lakapel-Marival with a castle of the 13th century built, which has been preserved in excellent condition and meets tourists at the entrance to the town . All year on the second and fourth Mondays of the month there are "marivals" - something like street sales shows where you can buy hand-made articles, paintings, handicrafts and other handmade plus local fruits of truck farming .

It is worth looking into the Kardayak located in the mountains, which is listed in the "most beautiful villages of France", or in Feisel, which rises above the valley of Lo. Well, Kazhar, west of Fijak, is famous for its festivals, art galleries and cultural life in general.

Cuisine of the region

Local cuisine does not differ in anything quite exceptional: like its neighbors, the most delicious things here are sheep cheese, truffles, lamb, ducklings and goose meat . Perhaps the only unexpected specialty here is saffron . The former county of Kersey, to which Fidzhak belonged, was famous for this spice in spite of all logic (it is too dry here) . Saffron intensively produced here until the 18th century, but after fr the French Revolution, the scale was reduced only to the cultivation of family gardens . At the end of the 20th century the saffron traditions began to revive, and today several farms are engaged in the production .

Events

In July and August in Fijak there is a theatrical festival. And in nearby Kazhara in July, the festival Afrikzhar is organized with drumming, singing, costumed performances and other ways of expressing love for African culture. In the same Kajar, a meeting of fans of comic strips takes place in the second half of September