Located on the Arrigan and overlooking its upper reaches, Tilh has a clear connection to the surrounding landscape; at the same time, its town centre tells the story of several eras. The village is a good choice if, alongside individual sights, you would like to explore the local character, architectural history and a garden during your trip. These themes can be seen at specific places: the old town centre, the Church of Saint-Pierre-ès-Liens, the arenas and Les jardins de Nigelle.

Local character and architectural history

Tilh’s present-day town centre was built on the site of a former château. Centuries-old houses are clustered along the ridge. Together, these features shape the character of a place whose history can be read both in the foundations of today’s centre and in its cluster of houses. The Church of Saint-Pierre-ès-Liens adds its own historical perspective to the architectural story: it dates from the 11th and 12th centuries, while its present appearance dates back to 1638. These two details refer to different aspects of the church—its earlier origins and the later form that defines it today.

Traces of history

Finds of flint, shards, pottery and amphorae at the Cap dou Yert site provide evidence of human settlement in prehistoric times. These types of finds give the site a different historical connection from the church and the town centre built on the site of a former château. The Violon de Tilh is also one of the village’s distinctive cultural features: it is now displayed in an entrance hall, where it can be seen by everyone. Another local story tells of Hector. While imprisoned at the Friedrichsfeld camp, he made a violin with a knife.

Arenas and events

The “Henri Meunier” arenas are used year-round for races, patron saint’s day celebrations and association events. They have 1,000 seats; the track measures 36 × 23 metres. Alongside the historic buildings, this makes the arenas a venue with clearly defined uses at the heart of local life. If you would like to plan your stay around a particular race, patron saint’s day celebration or association event, check the date in advance.

Les jardins de Nigelle

Les jardins de Nigelle is a biodiversity-rich permaculture garden with a park, vegetable garden, orchard and pond. The grounds also include an airial, a traditional open area with hundred-year-old oak trees. Guided tours introduce the principles of permaculture, ground-cover plants and collections of aromatic plants. Visits are by appointment, so arrange your visit in advance. As access conditions may change, check the arrangements before travelling.

The guided tours include tastings of edible flowers, as well as drinks and infusions made from plants in the garden. If these tastings are important to your plans, confirm their availability when booking. The options here also differ in terms of planning: a visit to the garden must be arranged in advance, while the arenas are used year-round for various events. So, if you are looking for a hotel in Tilh, a planned garden visit or a specific event date could be a useful starting point for organising your stay.

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