Cordes sur Ciel, France

From the history of Cordes

Cordes throughout the history grew quite rapidly, and by the end of the thirteen century  it had more than 5500 inhabitants.

A true industrial, commercial and financial center of the area.

Wealthy and noble families, in that golden era of the city’s development, built nowadays famous Gothic houses.

This walled city is often regarded as the stronghold of the Albigensians, at one point was a favorite place of the Huguenots.

Unfortunately the population was reduced by epidemics of plague in 14th century, and the events that reduced the importance of the trade and commerce.

It reduced Cordes sur Ciel to only 2500 inhabitants by the 17th century.

In last two hundred years, the village gained some of the importance that it had in earlier history, but in an other area – tourism.

With the artistic revival that was followed by a group of artists who came to the city.

It all happened during the WWII, when artists gathered around the painter Yves Brayer decided to awake the city with their creations and talents.

That produced new art studios, galleries, museums and exhibitions.

Cordes became the city of all art forms.