Belcastel, Aveyron

Belcastel (French pronunciation: [bɛlkastɛl]; Occitan: Bèlcastèl) is a commune in the Aveyron department in the Occitania region in Southern France. In 2019, it had a population of 195.

Belcastel Bèlcastèl (Occitan)
Commune
A view of Belcastel
Coat of arms
Location of Belcastel
Belcastel Show map of France Belcastel Show map of Occitanie
Coordinates: 44°23′22″N 2°20′16″E
Country	France
Region	Occitania
Department	Aveyron
Arrondissement	Villefranche-de-Rouergue
Canton	Enne et Alzou
Intercommunality	Pays Rignacois
Government
• Mayor (2020–2026)	Jean-Louis Bessiere[1]
Area 1	10.74 km2 (4.15 sq mi)
Population  (Jan. 2020)[2]	193
• Density	18/km2 (47/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code	12024 /12390
Elevation	391–707 m (1,283–2,320 ft) (avg. 450 m or 1,480 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

The village is medieval in character, with cobbled streets and lauze-roofed (stone tiled) houses. The bulk of the village and the castle (Château de Belcastel) are situated on the steep north bank of the river Aveyron. Several buildings including the 15th-century church are on the south side of the river, with a similarly aged bridge connecting the two.

A ruined fort, the Fort du Lourdou, can also be found about a kilometre west of the village on the south bank of the river at the Roc d'Anglars. Belcastel was nominated as one of the "most beautiful villages of France" (Les Plus Beaux Villages de France) in 1990; the local council regularly hosts watercolour competitions and art exhibitions during the summer.