Moderate *** Cycling Holiday Albi-Rodez-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.

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.

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

Tarn at 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.

Rodez Musée Soulages and cathedral Notre Dame

Good accessibility (railway) from the airport ofToulouse and (UK travellers Ryanair) the Airport of Rodez.

Albi market and Cathedral

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.
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 you go to our booking form .

Cordes-sur-Ciel

Click here for some pictures of this cycling tour in Tarn, Albi and 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 jenremitting 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.