Artistic Heritage in the South West

Toulouse
Toulouse

3* hotels

FALC-AH

5 days / 4 nights

South West

As specified below:
B: Breakfast; L: Lunch; D: Dinner

Visit of the fortified citadel of Carcassonne which dominates the old town. It's a town within a town, a maze of narrow cobbled streets within severe ramparts of thick walls and turreted towers, but bustling with life and colour. Traffic-free, you will be able to look around at your leisure. At the centre of the Citadel lies the Chateau Comtal, a fearsome castle where the lords of Carcassonne lived and ruled. Through the vineyards of Cabardes, route to Revel, in the lea of the Montagne Noire (40 minutes). Settle into your room in the 3* Abbey-hotel and take a look around the tiny mediaeval village before a champagne welcome and gourmet dinner of regional specialities.
Overnight in Abbey.
 

Depart through the Gaillac vineyards to Albi, magnificent pinkbricked town on the banks of the Tarn. Admire the fortified cathedral of Ste Cecile before touring the Toulouse-Lautrec museum in the old Bishop's Palace.
Lunch where you will in one of the many restaurants in Albi. After lunch a thirty-minute run through the Tarn countryside brings you to Castres - the Midi's best-kept secret. This unpretentious weaver's town over-looking the river Agout abounds with interesting corners and sights. Above all it houses a museum devoted to the works of Goya among which: Self-portrait with glasses, c. 1800, The portrait of Francisco del Mazo, 1815-1820, The Phillipine Junta, 1815 Return to Soreze (25 km).
Dinner & Overnight in Abbey.
 

Day 4: Soreze /Revel – Lac de Saint Ferreol / Soreze (B,D)

Guided tour of the Abbey's buildings and estate. Visit to Revel, mediaeval bastide founded in 1342 by Philippe VI de Valois at the foot of the Black Mountain. With its octagonal shape and geometric design Revel is the perfect example of a Bastide and is nearly unique in France. In the centre of the central square, surrounded by fine town-houses and half-timbered arcades, lies the XIVth century market hall – an impressive structure of beams and tiles topped by a bell-tower. The Saturday morning market which is held in the hall and under the surrounding arcades is one of the finest in southern France. Since the XIXth century joiners, carpenters, sculptors and woodworkers of all sorts have made Revel the capital of hand-made furniture in France. See the exhibition space "Revel Art et Meuble".
The lake of Saint-Ferreol: The lake was created in the XVIIth century by Pierre Paul Riquet as the key element in his life's work – the Canal du Midi. By an ingenious system of irrigation channels Riquet insured that rainwater running off the Black Mountain would first fill the lake at St Ferreol before being diverted into the Canal at its highest point – the watershed between Atlantic and Mediterranean basins. In this way the canal, even in the warmest of summers, was provided with enough water to ensure the continuation of shipping activities. Today the lake still serves its original purpose while providing a delightful site for locals and tourists alike to enjoy its water- sports, fishing and 80 hectare park.
Dinner & Overnight in Abbey.
 

Return to Toulouse after breakfast. 2 hours walking tour “Discovering Toulouse”: this tour offers a comprehensive overview of the main sites and monuments. During the tour, you will be able to admire the Capitole city hall and Saint-Sernin basilica, as well as many churches and private mansions, and appreciate wonderful views along the Garonne River. Transfer to airport.