Tarn, Pays de Bastides

Albi and Pays de Bastides, Cycling in Tarn Albi, Cordes sur Ciel

La Ligne Verte 

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Light Cycling Holiday in Tarn Bastides Albigeois from Albi.

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


Itineraries Day stages Pricing

B07Albi        Light cycling tour in South-West France      Luxury Package


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.

Albi Cathedral
Cathedraal 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 in Tarn starts on the quiet roads of the Gaillac vineyards

Gaillac aan de Tarn
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 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.

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 of Toulouse and (UK travellers Ryanair) the Airport of Rodez.

gaillac
Cathedral of Albi and Museum Toulouse Lautrec

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

Some pictures of this cycling tour in Tarn, Albi & Bastides



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Itineraries Stages Pricing

B07A luxury packages Bags transfers included in basic rate. Basic rate: in p.p. double room, sharing.
2024 BnB Dinners Basic rate
p.p.
Max. Suppl.
July-August
p.p.
Suppl.
single room
Bike
rental
e-Bike
rental
5 days 4 1 970 54 518 100 137
6 days 5 1 1167 65 632 114 160
7 days 6 2 1363 79 725 143 200
8 days 7 2 1552 95 822 172 240
9 days 8 2 1795 112 919 200 281

You can book this trip here.

Extra nights BnB   Dinner Basic rate
p.p.
Suppl.
July-August
p.p.
Suppl.
single room
Bike
rental
e-Bike
rental
Albi Mercure hotel **** yes no 136 16 112 29 39
Château de Salettes **** pool yes yes 207 21 115 29 39
Cordes *** Maison Bakea yes yes 115 0 115 29 39
  • 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 start in Plaisance .





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


Itineraries Stages Pricing

B07Albi: Luxury ****/*** Program 5 days 6 days
7 days
8 days
9 days
Albi Hotel Mercure **** Day 1
Day 1
Day 1
Day 1
Day 1
Chateau de Salettes **** Cahuzac sur Vère Day 2
44 km
Day 2
44 km
Day 2
44 km
Day 2
44 km
Day 2
44 km
Cordes sur Ciel *** Maison Bakéa Day 3
62km
Day 3
44 km
Day 3
62 km
Day 3
62 km
Day 3
62 km
St.Antonin Noble Val, La Résidence ***   Day 4
44 km
Day 4
44 km
Day 4
39km
Najac Chateau de Longcol****    Day 5
47km
Day 5
47km
Najac Chateau de Longcol****         Day 6
Circuit to Villeneuve
de Rouergue

Bruniquel Cornelia****  Day 4
52 km
Day 5
52 km
Day 6
57 km
Day 7
47 km
Albi Hotel Mercure **** Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Day 8
Leave after breakfast Day 5 Day 6 Day 7 Day 8 Day 9




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 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 Bastides are attractivebecause 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.


Itineraries Stages Pricing

La Ligne Verte

ALL LUXURY CYCLING TOURS IN SOUTH OF FRANCE



Cycling in South of France with La Ligne Verte
Very light
Cycling Holiday

Max 40 km almost flat
Challenging
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