The charm of the Tarn

Avenues of cypress trees, hillsides planted with vines, narrow streets paved in pink and pale gold… From Cordes-sur-ciel to Monestiés passing through Albi on the way, the Albigeois area has an air of Florence about it.

Your Albi holiday starts here...

Sometimes called ‘Albi the Red’ – ‘Albi la rouge’ because of the colour of its bricks, the town of Albi has nothing to fear from comparisons with Tuscany.

Albi is bathed in a subtle rose-coloured hue and has some extraordinary treasures to show to the visitor. It has one of the largest brick cathedrals in the world. Its museum, the former Bishop’s Palace, holds more than 1,000 works by the renowned painter Henri de TOULOUSE LAUTREC. And we mustn’t forget the picturesque little streets of the old town of Viel Alby ....

Just to the north, a short distance from Albi, the vast stretches of the Ségala plateaus rise up as you emerge from the hidden valleys of the Tarn and the Viaur Gorge ( Gorges du Viaur). This is the realm of the natural world but, for those walkers and ramblersprepared to respect it, it will deliver up all its secrets.
This little-known Ségala area offers an unreserved welcome to places such as Carmaux, the homeland of Jean Jaurès, Monestiès, one of the most beautiful villages in France, Cordes-sur-Ciel, one of the most perfect examples of Gothic urban architecture, or The Tarn Bastides.

When autumn comes, you might prefer to head for the Upper Tarn Valley to prolong your enjoyment of the invigorating freshness of the river and to see the Alban mountains. A visit to the church is a good idea too: the Byzantine-style frescoes alone, by the Estonian artist, Nicolaï Greschny, will make your visit worthwhile.

And last but not least, there’s the outdoor life and the sporting and cultural activities on offer at the first European Multi-Leisure Park at Cap'Découverte.

The Albigeois has a wide variety of attractions to offer. Its heritage derives from its centuries of history and from man’s understanding of his world…