Cycling Pays de Bastides , Albi - Cordes sur Ciel

Light Cycling Holiday Bastides Albigeois from Albi
Albi, Salettes, Puycelsi, Najac, Cordes sur Ciel, Villefranche-de-Rouergue, St. Antonin Noble Val.

Albi, UNESCO World Heritage Centre.
Albi, Toulouse-Lautrec Museum
Albi, Lapérouse Museum.
Albi, Cathedral Ste Cécile.

On the banks of the Tarn river in south-west France, the old city of Albi reflects the culmination of a medieval architectural and urban ensemble.

Cathedral of Albi

Today the Old Bridge (Pont-Vieux), the Saint-Salvi quarter and its church are testimony to its initial development (10th -11th centuries). Following the Albigensian Crusade against the Cathar heretics (13th century) it became a powerful episcopal city. Built in a unique southern French Gothic style from local brick in characteristic red and orange colours, the lofty fortified Cathedral (late 13th century) dominates the city, demonstrating the power regained by the Roman Catholic clergy. Alongside the Cathedral is the vast bishop's Palais de la Berbie, overlooking the river and surrounded by residential quarters that date back to the Middle Ages. The Episcopal City of Albi forms a coherent and homogeneous ensemble of monuments and quarters that has remained largely unchanged over the centuries.

This cycling holiday starts on the quiet roads of the Gaillac vineyards

Gaillac

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 5 - 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 ofToulouse 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) 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 Cathar 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.

Cordes sur Ciel   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 Cathar. 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 the 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 attractiveassembly of Gothic houses has survived the centuries. One of the larger bastides is Villefranche-de-Rouergue.

A Summary of cycling tours of La Ligne Verte