Nestled along the Hers river, at the border of Ariège and Aude, lies Camon, a small village in the Ariège department of southern France. Camon is the only village in the area labeled Plus Beaux Villages de France, a designation reserved for the most beautiful villages in the country. The village is surrounded by arched doors and stone walls that tell the story of its origins, which date back to a Benedictine abbey founded in the 10th century. This abbey was later connected to the influential abbey of Lagrasse in neighboring Aude. While local legends suggest the area might have been used as early as the time of Charlemagne, the village as it is today grew around the medieval monastery. Over time, Camon became a fortified priory, adapting to the challenges of the Middle Ages. The Hundred Years' War and later the Wars of Religion forced the people of Camon to build walls to protect their homes and resources. Unlike many villages that have lost most of their defensive structures, Camon has preserved much of its original fortification. Visitors can still walk along the fortified path, entering through an ancient arched gate with a small bell tower, which remains the village’s only historical entrance. The well-preserved walls, especially on the north side where vines climb the stone, offer a glimpse into the village’s past. Nearby, a tall house stands out as a former defensive tower that was converted into a noble residence in the 17th century, retaining its fortified look. Historical documents, such as one from 1356, show that the villagers funded the walls through a special tax, demonstrating that the fortification was a shared effort. The most striking feature of Camon is the abbey-château, a large and impressive building that now serves as a private guest house and restaurant. While the interior is not open to the public without a guided tour, visitors can admire its architecture from outside. The tourism office offers guided tours of the abbey-château, the local church, and the village as a whole. For those traveling from Toulouse, the journey to Camon takes about one hour and thirty minutes by car, following the A66 to Pamiers and then heading towards Mirepoix. Once there, it's just a short fifteen-minute drive to reach the village. Visiting Camon is especially enjoyable outside of the summer months, when the narrow alleys are quieter and the fortifications can be appreciated without the crowds. Parking is available at the base of the village, and the visit itself can be completed in about an hour, allowing time to also explore nearby Mirepoix, just fifteen minutes away by car. Be sure to take a walk along the north side of the village, where the views of the Ariège countryside, framed by hills and the distant Pyrenees, are at their most scenic.