Tarn, Albi, Castelnau-de-Montmiral, Puycelsi, Najac,
Cordes sur Ciel, Bruniquel, St. Antonin Noble Val.

• 6 to 9 days self guided cycling hotel-tour with baggage transfer.
• Superior hotels *** and 1 or 2 Chambres d'hotes de charme.
• All dinners (except in Albi) included (entrée, main course, cheese, dessert), beverages not included.
• Optional:  extra nights in any of the hotels of the package for a restday or an extra cycling day.
• Short to medium lenght; light hilly stages in a rolling coutryside with lots of medieval towns  in  .
• You can start this tour any day of the week between March 15^th and October 31^th.

This cycling holiday starts on the quiet roads of the Gaillac vineyards West of Albi. You then head North through rolling countryside, visiting wonderfully preserved fortified villages (Bastides), the most famous of which is hill-top Cordes-sur-Ciel. These walled settlements, with grid-pattern streets and handsome squares, are now beautiful reminders of the great conflicts of the Middle Ages. More to North you will head to Najac the famous fortress in Aveyron where you can even bike to Villefranche de Rouergue in the 10 days trip.

Light tour :  28 - 48 km a day. (longer distances up to 70 km a day are possible).
Tours of  6 - 9 days superior accommodations (*** and one or two ** hotels) and 5 options for an extension in any of the regular hotels of this tour.

In some of the superior hotels of a less known department (Tarn) of France we propose a high quality cycling holiday tour. Medieval villages with famous names and beautiful castles, Gaillac vineyards, and the Gorges de l'Aveyron:  a light cycling tour made up to discover this historically interesting part of France.

Accommodations: *** hotels, one Chambre d'hôtes de Charme with equal standard one **** B&B hotel in Albi. The hotels chosen for this tour are small nicely restored mansions in medieval village of which 4 are labeled (l'un des plus beau villages de France: one of the 100 nicest villages of France).  
 

Good accessibility (railway) from the airport of Toulouse and (UK travellers Ryanair) the Airport of Rodez.

Winding river valleys, empty roads with just the occasional tractor. Gorgeous Gaillac wines,  plus the culture and old city of Albi, with its museums and art galleries, its markets and medieval city centre. Albi is the perfect start of a  holiday. Rolling countryside, with half-timbered houses and the walled 'Bastides' (Najac and Villefranche de Rouergue-9 day trip) that go back to the time of the Plantagenet Kings. Easy to escape down meandering  back roads and not see a soul for hours.
You will stay 2 nights in **** hotel Antoine in Albi,  a night in Puycelsi or Bruniquel with its two castles from where you will go to St. Antonin Noble Val. Najac ("L'un des plus beau villages de France").Villefranche de Rouergue will be your destination if you take an extra day in Najac. Last but not least one or two nights in the tower and highest point of Cathars city Cordes sur Ciel, an unforgettable place to stay. In this small hotel you can buy Le Jacquard Français.

 

For booking please complete our booking form.

Some local links of the area of this tour:

• Gorges du Tarn & Gorges de l'Aveyron
• Albi

Click here to see some pictures of your cycling tour in Tarn, Albi & Bastides

Bastides,

There are hundreds of these remarkable  fortified medieval towns throughout Midi-Pyrénées. Whereas most settlements of the Middle Ages are typified by narrow winding lanes and a disorderly assembly of buildings surrounding a church, Bastides are characterized by evenly proportioned houses and distinct grid patterns of straight streets and connecting alleys laid out at right angles around a central market place.

Bastides were built for a variety of reasons, but most important motivation for these easily defended fortresses was as wartime protection. They sprung specifically from two conflicts. In the 13th century, Catharism, a deviation from Catholic tradition that was eventually ruled heretic, took hold in the region. Rome unleashed a series of unremitting crusades to conquer the Cathars. Later, during the Hundred Years War, the English and French, both outside rival powers to the region's inhabitants at the time, waged fierce competition here for control of neighbouring Aquitanie.
Today Bastides are attractive because they are often far off the beaten track, perched on small hills or rocky outcrops. Peaceful and picturesque in a way that belie their history, they allow travellers to stroll their cobbled streets and gain an immediate insight into life in the Middle Ages.
Cordes, just west of Albi, is anong the most well-preserved. Behind its imposing walls, an attractive assembly of Gothic houses has survived the centuries. One of the larger bastides is Villefranche-de-Rouergue. Its neighbour, Sauveterre-de-Rouergue, is notable for a market square fringed with cobbled arcades. Others worth a detour include Cologne and Mauvezin.