Montbrun-les-Bains

Montbrun-les-Bains has the honour of being one of the most attractive villages of France and can be explored by way of its fountains, narrow streets (‘calades’) and monuments. Montbrun is a thermal resort for the treatment of respiratory conditions and also offers wellbeing courses.

The tall village houses, rising to six or seven stories, are supported by foundations built on living rock and massive relieving arches. They are piled against one another like so many organ pipes and are dominated by the ruined towers of the Renaissance château belonging to the Dupuy-Montbrun family.
The 12th century church possesses rich wood panelling and a very attractive 17th century altar piece by Bernus with, as a centre piece, a painting by Pierre Parrocel representing a virgin protecting a poor man and a soldier.
The ‘porte de l'Horloge’ or Belfry, an elegant tower featuring crenellations and machicolations, was one of the four fortified gates built in the 14th century to defend the town. Flanked by a very fine fountain, it today leads to the highest houses of the village, the church and the ruins of the château.