The Tarn, in the heart of the Occitanie region, is an authentic destination surrounded by unspoilt nature and a rich cultural heritage. From Unesco World Heritage Sites to historic monuments and France's most beautiful villages, the Tarn offers a unique experience.
Top 5 Charmhotel
1 - Albi and the Bastides
Discover Old Alby with its winding streets, beautiful town houses and typical Albigensian-style houses. Sainte Cécile Cathedral, in the heart of the Episcopal city, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is an imposing fortress built by the Church in the 13th century to show off its power in the wake of the Crusade against the Albigensians. It is considered to be the largest painted cathedral in Europe.
Les Bastides :
- Cordes sur Ciel: Voted "Favourite Village of the French 2014", and rightly so! A medieval town on a secluded hilltop where you can admire the local crafts and 14th-century houses that make it so charming.
- Castelnau de Montmiral: Like Cordes, this fortified town was founded by Raymond VII. The remains of the fortifications and the old town gate still stand.
- Puycelsi: This village was founded around the year 1000 by the monks of Aurillac Abbey.
43 km - 50 minutes (Albi)
2 - From the Montagne Noire to Carcassonne
The Montagne Noire: This land of character offers you a wild and abundant nature with a remarkable heritage:
- Mazamet : Nestling at the foot of the Montagne Noire, in the heart of the Parc du Haut Languedoc.
- La Passerelle: 70 metres above sea level, this 140-metre-long path links the heights of Mazamet to the small medieval village of Hautpoul.
- The Pic de Nore: This is the highest point in the Montagne Noire, rising to an altitude of 1,211 metres for an exceptional 360° panorama.
Lastours: the Belvedere offers a splendid view of the 4 châteaux: Cabaret, Tour Régine, Surdespine and Quertinheux.
The Cité de Carcassonne: This city has existed for almost 2,500 years. Successively a Roman villa, a medieval viscounty and the victim of a terrible crusade, it was saved in the 19th century and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. Traces of these eras can be admired on the walls of the Cité, a real life-size history book!
67k m - 1h25 (Carcassonne)
3 - Toulouse and the Canal du Midi
Discover the charm of the pink city with its brick monuments. The historic centre boasts a rich cultural heritage, including the Capitole, the Basilique Saint-Sernin, the Jacobins convent, the Hôtel d'Assézat and the banks of the Garonne... Now the aeronautics and space capital of France, visit the skies and space at Airbus or the Aéroscopia museum. Then satellites and rockets at the Cité de l'Espace.
The Canal du Midi: This famous 240km-long waterway linking the Garonne and thus the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean by Pierre Paul Riquet was listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1996. Relax on board a barge for a cruise on the Canal.
73 km - 1h20
4 - Castres and Le Sidobre
Castres: The houses on the banks of the River Agoût, with their bright colours reflected in the water, give the town the air of "Little Venice". The Jardin de l'Evêché, designed by Le Nôtre in 1676, highlights the former Palais Épiscopal, now home to the Goya museum.
Le Sidobre: It's a world apart, an experience that will leave you breathless. But the Sidobre is all about granite, the only granite massif of its kind in Europe. The sight of these gigantic rocks defying the laws of gravity will have young and old alike wondering. Between lakes, waterfalls and forests, this unusual place is sure to catch your eye.
22km - 25min (Le Sidobre)
5 - Our local products
Foie Gras: Foie gras is one of our chef's star recipes. It's a much-loved local product.
Ail Rose de Lautrec : Pink garlic from Lautrec is a variety of pink garlic typical of the Tarn region. In 1966, Ail Rose de Lautrec was one of the first agricultural products to be awarded the Label Rouge.
Charcuterie de Lacaune: Lacaune is renowned for its unique local meat expertise.
Gaillac wines: Known as one of the oldest vineyards in France, the Gaillac vineyards offer a wide variety of wines.
