Cycling Holiday Pays deBastides Albi - Cordes sur Ciel

Light Cycling Holiday Bastides Albigeois from Plaisance

Plaisance, Albi, Bruniquel, Cordes sur Ciel, Plaisance.

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

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.

Gaillac

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.

Light tour : 28 - 48 km a day. (longer distances up to 70 km a day are possible).

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 **/*** 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.

Albi Market

For booking please complete our booking form .