Conques stole my heart. I've been reluctant to blog about this village until I could figure out whether posts belonged in this blog or in Dona Nobis Pacem. I've decided they belong both places, and that Conques deserves more than one post. Today let me introduce you to this lovely village. Nestled in the mountains of the Aveyron, Conques has been a holy site since at least the 7th century when a religious hermit withdrew from the world and settled there. The village grew up around the 12th century Romanesque abbey built to venerate the remains of the village's patron saint, Sainte Foy. Its stone and half-timbered houses line the parvis in front of the Abbey and wind up the steep streets of the protective hillsides. While Conques' population at its height is unknown, in 1341 it was estimated that 3000 people lived in what had become a major pilgrimage site. Most inhabitants were involved in agriculture or the 'pilgrim trade,' providing food, housing, and souvenirs for pilgrims. Not a lot different than how the village supports itself today! Over the centuries, Conques suffered from religious wars, the plague, and the French Revolution.
Designated as a French historic site in 1838, Conques is also an UNESCO World Heritage Site. Today, it owes its exsistence to tourism in the form of visitors as well as pilgrims walking the road of St. Jacques de Compostela. 
Conques is a lovely village, its quiet beauty whispered to my heart and drew me back for another visit. I'll share more of this later....
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