Tarn, Pays de Bastides

Cycling Holiday Pays de Bastides , Albi - Cordes sur Ciel

La Ligne Verte

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Light Cycling Holiday Bastides Albigeois from Albi

Albi, Salettes, Puycelsi, Najac, Cordes sur Ciel, Villefranche-de-Rouergue, St. Antonin Noble Val.

We propose a plus, superior or a luxury version of this light cycling tour in département Tarn.
You can start these packages in Albi or in Plaisance. For all details see the links below.

Start in Albi, plus packages   .....or.....   Start in Plaisance, plus packages.


Start in Albi, superior packages   .....or.....   Start in Plaisance, superior packages.


Start in Albi, luxury packages   .....or.....   Start in Plaisance, luxury packages.



On this page all details ofthe superior *** packages


Itineraries Day stages Pricing

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
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 colors, 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 by the quiet roads of the Gaillac vineyards

Tarn at Gaillac
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.

Click here for some pictures of this cycling tour in Tarn, Albi & Bastides

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.
Cycling Tour Albi and Bastides cycling around Albi
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 **** BnB 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.


Albi market


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.
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.




For booking please complete our booking form .

Planning a tour with us


Medieval Cathar city Cordes-sur-Ciel
Cordes sur Ciel


About us Booking a trip contact

Home            Biking France            Light cycling tours         B07A-sup  

We propose a plus, superior or a luxury version of this light cycling tour in département Tarn.
You can start these packages in Albi or in Plaisance. For all details see the links below.

Start in Albi, plus packages   .....or.....   Start in Plaisance, plus packages.


Start in Albi, superior packages   .....or.....   Start in Plaisance, superior packages.


Start in Albi, luxury packages   .....or.....   Start in Plaisance, luxury packages.












Itineraries Day stages Pricing

`
B07A superior packages Bags transfers included in basic rate. Basic rate: in p.p. double room, sharing.
2024 BnB Dinners  Basic rate
p.p.
Suppl.
July - Aug.
p.p.
Suppl.
single room
Bike
rental
e-Bike
rental
5 days 4 1 728 10 330 100 137
6 days 5 2 985 18 438 114 160
7 days 6 2 1112 18 503 143 200
8 days 7 3 1350 34 611 172 240
9 days 8 4 1518 34 683 200 281

You can book this trip here.

Extra nights BnB   Dinner Basic rate
p.p.
Suppl.
July - Aug.
p.p.
Suppl.
single room
Bike
rental
e-Bike
rental
Albi Saint Antoine **** yes no 74 0 73 29 40
Puycelsi *** Ancienne Auberge yes yes 109 0 69 29 40
Najac **/*** l'Oustal del Barry yes yes 107 0 64 29 40
Cordes
*** Hostellerie du Vieux Cordes
yes yes 89 0 77 29 40
  • Take-away lunches are not included. You can order them at the hotel or the host the evening before departure.

  • Supplements. Per night in July or August : 8,- per room.

  • Solo all-in: add 80 % at basic rate + Suppl. HS. Supplement single room included, bike rental not included.

  • For a package with e-bike rental you best start in Plaisance .


Currency Converter

Discount on basic rate p.p. for small groups and families
See terms and conditions of group discounts
Parties van 3 personen :   4% p.p.
Parties van 4 personen :   8% p.p.
Parties van 5 personen : 11% p.p.
Parties van 6 personen :   9% p.p.
Parties van 7 personen : 11% p.p.
Parties van 8 personen : 14 % p.p.



Itineraries Day stages Pricing

B07A sup: Program 5 days
4 nights
6 days
5 nights
7 days
6 nights
8 days
7 nights
9 days
8 nights
Albi **** Hostellerie St. Antoine Day 1
Day 1
Day 1
Day 1
Day 1
Puycelsi *** Day 2
53 km
Day 2
53 km
Day 2
53 km
Day 2
53 km
Day 2
53 km
St. Antonin Noble Val
Gîte *** de charme Résidence
    Day 3
31 or 47 km
Day 3
31 or 47 km
Day 3
31 or 47 km
Najac *** l'Oustal del Barry
pool
    Day 4
48 km
Day 4
43 km
Day 4
43 km
Najac *** pool
circuit
to Villefranche
de Rouergue
        Day 5
44 km
Cordes sur Ciel
*** Hotel du Vieux Cordes
Day 3
40 km
Day 3
40 km
Day 5
40, 48 or 61 km
Day 5
40, 48 or 61 km
Day 6
40, 48 ofr61 km
Chateau de Salettes **** pool   Day 4
33 or 47 km
  Day 6
33 or 47 km
Day 7
33 or 47 km
Albi **** Day 4
25 km
Day 5
25or 38 km
Day 6
25km
Day 7
25 or 38 km
Day 8
25 or 38km
Leave after breakfast Day 5 Day 6 Day 7 Day 8 Day 9

Itineraries Day stages Pricing


La Ligne Verte


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 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 attractive assembly of Gothic houses has survived the centuries. One of the larger bastides is Villefranche-de-Rouergue.



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Very light
Cycling Holiday

Max 40 km almost flat
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Cycling Tours in France

80-100 km Challenging


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Thanx to the CDT-TARN for use of the phototheque.
The background image of this webpage is pix 23 Vue-d-ensemble Cordes -CRT -©- MP by D.Viet