The Cliffside Village and the Land of Sleeping Memories

As I wandered along the Gorges du Tarn, I couldn’t help but be amazed by the beauty of the ancient villages, built centuries ago and clinging to the cliffs. On one side, these houses rest against the rugged mountains, while on the other, they face the Tarn River, whose emerald-green waters glisten like a giant mirror. Perched precariously on towering limestone cliffs, some reaching heights of 500 meters, these villages create a breathtaking and majestic natural landscape.

However, amidst this beauty lies a quiet sorrow. Many of these villages are now almost abandoned, with only a handful of residents remaining. Life here is harsh, with narrow, treacherous paths and poor accessibility, making farming and trade nearly impossible. Some villages lack even the most basic infrastructure—no electricity, no running water—leaving them disconnected from the modern world.

Over the years, nature has slowly reclaimed these forgotten places. Trees and vegetation have overtaken the old stone houses, and moss-covered walls now stand as silent reminders of a past rich with history—one that lingers only in the memories of those who once called these