32 Enchanting Medieval Towns That Feel Frozen in Time

28. Conques, France

Hidden in a remote valley in rural France, Conques is a tiny, perfectly preserved medieval village on the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route. Its centerpiece is the magnificent Sainte-Foy Abbey Church, a Romanesque masterpiece famous for its tympanum sculpture depicting the Last Judgment and its precious gold reliquary. With its cobbled lanes, half-timbered houses, and profound spiritual history, Conques feels utterly untouched by time, offering a serene and deeply authentic glimpse into medieval monastic life and pilgrimage.