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Walking
Historic Sites of the Cathars
 In the Langue d’Oc dialect a Bastide is a new town, and so were the Albigensian Bastides in the thirteenth century. Here the heretic Cathars built the splendid fortifications and castles that are a major attraction of this beautiful part of France. This is a walking holiday that explores some of the best of these
Bastides and the picturesque countryside in between.
The start and end point of this tour, through the departments of Tarn and Aveyron, is Cordes sur Ciel, the first and most important of the
Bastides founded in 1222 by Raymond VII, Count of Toulouse. It is an impressive construction, a jumble of buildings and fortifications perched on the hilltop. Cordes features along with three other settlements on our route (Puycelci, Castelnau de Montmiral and Bruniquel) in a list of the most beautiful villages in France. The route itself winds between these
Bastides (fortified towns) that sprung up during the Wars of Religion. They are situated in spectacular settings on rocky promontories and are rich in history. Penne was inhabited by Romans and Celts and looks now much as it did in the middle ages, still dominated by the C12th castle. Monks of Aurillac Abbey founded Puycelci over a millennium ago. Every stop has a tangle of narrow medieval streets to wander and sweeping views from the rocky hilltops or ancient walls.
A network of well waymarked footpaths links the historic and often sleepy villages passing through the splendid scenery of the Tarn. It is a sparsely populated area of rolling hills full of variety: the Aveyron gorge provides more dramatic scenery, the forest of Gresigne provides welcome shade in the summer months and the vineyards of Gaillac produce some very palatable wines. The walking is well within the capability of any reasonably active person and is ideal for first time walkers or those wanting a gentler route with places of character along the way.
On this circular walking route each night's stop is unique, adding immeasurably to the experience. This trip is a little different from our other hotel treks in that for a couple of nights the accommodation is in Chambres d'Hotes, the French equivalent of bed and breakfast. You really can enjoy a sense of being part of the family rather than a hotel guest. If our client feedback is anything to go by, you will enjoy the warm hospitality.
At the end of your walk an optional extra night or two can be spent in the beautiful town of Albi on the banks of the Tarn. This was home to Toulouse Lautrec and now hosts the biggest collection of his work in the former bishops' palace. Albi also has a magnificent and most imposing red brick cathedral.
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Your Accommodation
6
nights/7 days - Our first and last night at Cordes sur Ciel are in a comfortable 2* hotel, with a charming courtyard. At
Les Clauzels we lodge in an old farmhouse, where horses are reared, with very hospitable English-speaking hosts. In Penne we have homely accommodation by the ruins of the castle. Then we stay at the splendid Bastide of
Puycelci, in a 3* hotel that was built in the 18th century. In
Castelnau de Montmiral, the accommodation is a small hotel in the arcaded medieval square.
The
hotel for our optional night at Albi is a ten minute walk
from the cathedral and convenient for the train station.
Sherpa Notes
Waymarking
The trail is well waymarked, partly with white and red GR waymarks, partly yellow PR (local) waymarks
Accommodation
and Meals
Dinner, bed and breakfast 3 nights, bed and breakfast 3 nights, in 2 chambres d’hotes and 4 hotels.
Picnic lunch on 1 day is also included in the tour cost.
Travel
Return train Toulouse/Cordes-Vindrac approx 1 hour.
via Rail: Eurostar St Pancras to Paris, then return train to Toulouse and on to Cordes-Vindrac. Optional return Albi to Toulouse. Details on application.
Extra night in Albi: On bed and breakfast basis, including taxi between Cordes and Albi
61 Euros pp.
Single rate from 118 Euros. |
vacations
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