Milhars can be explored through its medieval village layout and several distinct cultural themes. The historic centre lies on the hillside below the feudal castle; there is also a church at the village entrance, dovecotes along the Route des Pigeonniers and an annual basket-weaving festival. If you are planning a stay in Milhars, these different points of interest can help shape the focus of your visit.
The Medieval Village and Its Buildings
The medieval old village is laid out in a spiral on the hillside of a rocky outcrop below the feudal castle and is known as the “Village des Murs”. Its location and layout define the historic centre: the hillside setting and individual buildings form a unified village landscape. Visible architectural features include horseshoe-shaped defensive walls, arcades, terraces and squares. Former fortified gates are also part of the village centre, including the Porte du Ravelin and the Porte Haute. The combination of walls, open squares and arcades offers several different ways to explore the village’s history, rather than reducing it to a single building.
The Château de Milhars was rebuilt in 1630, probably on the foundations of a 13th-century castrum. For planning your visit, it is important to note that the castle is privately owned and closed to visitors. Its history is therefore part of the village’s architectural and historical context, not an opportunity to visit an accessible castle. The Church of Saint Pierre aux Liens, a building in the Flamboyant Gothic style dating from the 12th or 13th century, stands at the village entrance. The castle and the church offer different historical points of reference: the Château is notable for its 1630 reconstruction and earlier foundations, while the church is notable for its architecture and date.
Milhars is also on the Route des Pigeonniers. The route’s dovecotes are considered important cultural heritage for their architecture and history, and can be viewed from the public road. This offers a different kind of cultural interest from the village layout, focusing on individual buildings and their place along a route. Being able to view them from the public road is a useful guide when planning your visit.
Events, Visits and Getting There
One recurring event in the village is the Fête de l’osier. It takes place every year in mid-February at the Saulaie Jean-Pierre Barrau. If you would like to plan your trip around the festival, check the dates for the current edition before travelling. Guided tours of the old village are also available for groups of 20 or more, by reservation. Group visits therefore require taking both the minimum group size and advance booking into account; check the conditions before your visit. The festival and group tour call for different kinds of planning: mid-February is the key date for the Fête, while group size and reservation matter for the tour.
For travel, Lexos SNCF railway station is a useful point of reference. It is 2 km from Milhars and lies on the Toulouse–Capdenac railway line. Milhars’s tourist information and post office offers tourist brochures and information. If you are planning a stay focused on village history and architecture, you can combine these interests with the festival or a guided group tour. Visiting the Château itself is not an option, as it is closed to visitors.
Discover more destinations: Montagudet, Monbéqui, Varennes, Lafrançaise, Cazals, Saint-Projet, Montjoi, Génébrières.
For the regional travel overview: Tarn-Et-Garonne.
