Moderate Luxury Cycling Holiday Albi-Rodez-Albi in Occitanie

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Moderate Luxury Cycling Holiday Albi-Rodez-Albi
Albi, Najac, Cordes sur Ciel, Rodez, Millau, Plaisance, Albi.

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

Rodez: Musée Soulages, Cathedral Notre Dame de Rodez

Millau: Viaduc de Millau

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.

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

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.

Rodez, Cathedral and Musée Soulages

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) 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 a ChâteauHotel near Najac ("L'un des plus beau villages de France").

In Rodez (Hostellerie *** Fontanges) you stay at the 18 holes golf-hotel.

In Millau you will stay at Château de Creissels from where you will ride back through the valley of the Tarn and the Raspes du Tarn to Albi.

For booking please complete our booking form.

Cordes sur Ciel