Landscape The Tarn landscape is amongst France's finest: wooded hills and valleys, lakes and gorges of the Tarn, Aveyron and Agout, the granite rocks of the Sidobre, the beech forests of the Black Mountain; and everywhere traditional old family farms with a mixture of cattle, sheep, goats, poultry, sunflowers and cereal crops. Meadows and copses filled with wild flowers - swathes of sky - blue chicory, splashes of red poppies and yellow broom.
The right to roam is the norm in France, avoiding crops and grazing herds of course,
and you can walk in all directions directly from La Bastide. There is a variety
of walks and mountain biking routes flagged up throughout the Tarn. (Bikes can be hired in Lautrec.)
Guests especially enjoy 'Cri de Tarzan' and the L'Aubépine quad-biking course 20 minutes away at Puylaurens. Also the St Pierre de Trevisy Adventure Parc and 'Cap Découverte' at Carmaux (sky-rides, Devil karts, water-skiiing, mountain biking).
We are so fortunate to have this small park built for and by the 10 communes of
Lautrec (open mid June to September). Inexpensive, spotlessly clean. Kids clamour
to go back to it.
The lake is now a leisure facility but still fulfils the purpose for which Paul Riquet created it in the 17th Century: to maintain an adequate water supply for the Canal du Midi to which it is linked by a 20kms waterway. To walk along the Midi's tow-path under the huge plane trees, and around its port in Castelnaudary after lunch at Le Tirou restaurant, is to experience the best of France.
"La rouge" Albi is one of the most beautiful and charming cities in France,
dominated by the huge fortified cathedral towering above the 11th Century Pont Vieux
across the River Tarn. Fine formal gardens attached to the Toulouse-Lautrec museum.
Château du Bosc
There are of course many historic properties in our region, but this is a captivating
charmer: the summer haunt of the young Toulouse-Lautrec, his great-niece escorts
people around her home.
Sadly overshadowed by its world-famous neighbour, but another charming riverside
town (the birth-place of Jean Jaurès) with good restaurants. The former bishop's
palace houses the Goya Museum but the old merchants' houses opening directly onto
the River Agout along the Quai des Jacobins form Castres show-piece.
Cordes-en-Ciel Over-restored tourist honey-trap for many, but the Gothic streets
and wonderful view from the leafy square at the top of the town make the steep walk
up well worth-while. Surprisingly uncrowded outside July and August.
Yes the Cité looks like a film-set, the place heaves in peak season and the
many restaurants compete to serve the world's worst cassoulet, but the fortified
walls (and surrounding views from them), gateways and narrow streets are so impressive
that it is one of those places everyone should visit once.
An ignored gem of a fortified hill-top village with a small amphitheatre where musical
events are held throughout the Summer. Panoramic views from the peak above an ancient
windmill, pretty 15th Century Place des Halles, everywhere beautifully maintained
- and empty, except during the Pink Garlic and Bread Festivals.
To the French, Lautrec reminds them of their cherished pink garlic as much as the
little chap. 4000 tons a year are sold world-wide.
An hour's drive from Puycalvel (or by train from the next village of Vielmur) the
"pink city" is France's sixth largest, the fastest growing and the biggest
academic center after Paris. The capital of the 'Midi Pyrenees' offers the best
shopping and restaurants between Bordeaux and Avignon, with a surprisingly compact
center around the Place du Capitole for such a large city. Mouth-watering indoor
food market; be at the restaurants above it at 12 sharp if you want the best-value
lunch you're likely to find in France, let alone Toulouse. Umpteen noteworthy buildings
but as on the South Bank of Paris, the greatest pleasure in Toulouse is just to
amble around its ancient streets and squares or along by the river. There's an 'Aerospace
Centre' for small boys or wet days.
Open markets remain a vibrant part of the French economy and those in The Tarn are
for the locals not tourists. Largest are at Realmont, Puylaurens, Revel and Lavaur.
Even the smallest French village will have its own annual fête between May
and September, Puycalvel’s is the last weekend in July, whilst Castres and
Albi have a programme of ‘animations’ for July and August. Lautrec has
a variety of musical events in its ancient amphitheatre. Crowds come to Lautrec’s
Bread and Garlic festivals (August) and to Gaillac’s Wine Fair (first weekend
in August). Castres’ Bastille Day firework display is spectacular.
Designed by a British architect, this attractive 18 hole par 71 course (5810 metres) lies on the Lavaur plane 15 minutes from La Bastide. Its restaurant is good enough to attract non-golfers and the lunch is extraordinary value.
Golfing guests have also spoken well of the municipal riverside course (9 holes) in Castres, an 18 hole course between Castres and Mazamet and ‘Le Golf de Téoula’ (18 holes) near Toulouse.
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