Toulouse - Tell Me All ! St. Cirq, Rex, Cingletara are you there?
Sep 25th, 2004, 03:50 AM
#1
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Toulouse - Tell Me All ! St. Cirq, Rex, Cingletara are you there?
My husband has just informed me that he has to go to Toulouse next month for a meeting and I will be able to go along. We will be in Toulouse for 3 days and then he has asked me to plan for 5 more days in the area. We have never been to this part of France and we will have a rental car. We love great food, shopping, beautiful countryside. Can anyone help me with this region?
Thank you
Thank you
Sep 25th, 2004, 04:25 AM
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Hi jan,
I'm currently planning a visit to that region for next year.
First: Go to www.viamichelin.com and look up Toulouse.
You will see that you are close to both Albi and Carcassone.
See http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34439845
Also, St Cirq recommended this route between Carcassone and Albi:
From Carcassone take the N113 to the intersection with the D629. Go N through Saissac to Revel.
Take the D84 North to Graulhet.
Take the D964 N to the intersection with the A68 (just S of Gaillac where you can do a dégustation and pick up some wine)
Go East to Albi.
OR
Continue on D964 for abt 5 mi to St Cécilé and turn Rt at D18 abt 4 mi to D964. Go left 6.5 mi to Castelnau-de-Montmiral. See the town and have lunch at the restaurant in the
Hotel Les Brasseries des Consuls.
From Albi, you can go East through the Gorges du Tarn to St Chely du Tarn. It's about a 3-4 hr drive through some of the best scenery in the region.
From there it is about 4-5 hr to Cahors.
From Cahors it is about 5 hr along the valley of the Cele river to Figeac.
You can return to Toulouse in about 2 hr by highway.
Enjoy your visit. Cepes and truffles will be in season.
I'm currently planning a visit to that region for next year.
First: Go to www.viamichelin.com and look up Toulouse.
You will see that you are close to both Albi and Carcassone.
See http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34439845
Also, St Cirq recommended this route between Carcassone and Albi:
From Carcassone take the N113 to the intersection with the D629. Go N through Saissac to Revel.
Take the D84 North to Graulhet.
Take the D964 N to the intersection with the A68 (just S of Gaillac where you can do a dégustation and pick up some wine)
Go East to Albi.
OR
Continue on D964 for abt 5 mi to St Cécilé and turn Rt at D18 abt 4 mi to D964. Go left 6.5 mi to Castelnau-de-Montmiral. See the town and have lunch at the restaurant in the
Hotel Les Brasseries des Consuls.
From Albi, you can go East through the Gorges du Tarn to St Chely du Tarn. It's about a 3-4 hr drive through some of the best scenery in the region.
From there it is about 4-5 hr to Cahors.
From Cahors it is about 5 hr along the valley of the Cele river to Figeac.
You can return to Toulouse in about 2 hr by highway.
Enjoy your visit. Cepes and truffles will be in season.
Sep 25th, 2004, 04:35 AM
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PS
You will need Michelin maps No. 337, 338, 343 and 344.
I got mine from http://www.languagequest.com/travele...map_select.htm
You will need Michelin maps No. 337, 338, 343 and 344.
I got mine from http://www.languagequest.com/travele...map_select.htm
Sep 25th, 2004, 05:19 AM
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Ira...from research for our recent trip..highly recommended. We did this from Albi, one of our favorite towns:
"For something a whole lot less touristy than Cordes, you could stop at the beautiful, unspoiled hilltown of Castelnau-le-Montmiral. Every bit as beautiful as Cordes, but minus the hordes and the shops selling Made in China items. Absolutely delightful, unspoiled hilltown with full ramparts and an arcaded central square."
"Take the D964 north towards Castelnau-de-Montmiral. This drive will become very scenic at this point. Castelnau-de-Montmiral is one of my 3 favorite Bastide towns in southern France. Visit this town. Perhaps have breakfast/coffee there in the central square (take plenty of film).
"Continue on the very beautiful D964 north towards Brunique. Along the way you will pass the town of Larroque. We have driven this route several times & always wanted to stop here, but we didn't - it seemed like a cute spot.
When you get to Brunique, get out & explore this very lovely town. You are now in the Gorges de l' Aveyron. Take the D1/D87/D9 to Penne (the road numbers change on the same road because you pass from one department into another & they like to change the number on the same road to make it confusing for us tourists). Penne is another interesting place to visit with an old castle ruin sticking up into the sky. Good place to take some pictures. We usually take this route in the opposite direction from what I'm describing here, so you may have to look back to get this very nice view of the ruined castle. There is a tourist office along the way with a restaurant with outside dining across the street. This place was packed at lunch time when we were there once, so it might be good.
"Just past Penne, cross the river & take the D173 towards Cazals. Just before Cazals, take the road back across the river & take the D115 to St Antonin Noble Val. You will be on the opposite side of the river as you approach St Antonin. If I were driving this route, I would have picked up some picnic provisions along the way & I'd have a picnic at the grassy/plane tree covered picnic areas just across the river from St Antonin, just short of the bridge (it's easy to spot this area). The views of the town across the river are lovely. If you have time, visit St Antonin. There is a great view of the entire gorge area & St Antonin from the D5 heading northwest out of St Antonin. Drive along this road from St Antonin looking back to get the view. As soon as you can't see the view anymore, turn the car around (it's a wide road), and head back to St Antonin to see the view in front of you."
"For something a whole lot less touristy than Cordes, you could stop at the beautiful, unspoiled hilltown of Castelnau-le-Montmiral. Every bit as beautiful as Cordes, but minus the hordes and the shops selling Made in China items. Absolutely delightful, unspoiled hilltown with full ramparts and an arcaded central square."
"Take the D964 north towards Castelnau-de-Montmiral. This drive will become very scenic at this point. Castelnau-de-Montmiral is one of my 3 favorite Bastide towns in southern France. Visit this town. Perhaps have breakfast/coffee there in the central square (take plenty of film).
"Continue on the very beautiful D964 north towards Brunique. Along the way you will pass the town of Larroque. We have driven this route several times & always wanted to stop here, but we didn't - it seemed like a cute spot.
When you get to Brunique, get out & explore this very lovely town. You are now in the Gorges de l' Aveyron. Take the D1/D87/D9 to Penne (the road numbers change on the same road because you pass from one department into another & they like to change the number on the same road to make it confusing for us tourists). Penne is another interesting place to visit with an old castle ruin sticking up into the sky. Good place to take some pictures. We usually take this route in the opposite direction from what I'm describing here, so you may have to look back to get this very nice view of the ruined castle. There is a tourist office along the way with a restaurant with outside dining across the street. This place was packed at lunch time when we were there once, so it might be good.
"Just past Penne, cross the river & take the D173 towards Cazals. Just before Cazals, take the road back across the river & take the D115 to St Antonin Noble Val. You will be on the opposite side of the river as you approach St Antonin. If I were driving this route, I would have picked up some picnic provisions along the way & I'd have a picnic at the grassy/plane tree covered picnic areas just across the river from St Antonin, just short of the bridge (it's easy to spot this area). The views of the town across the river are lovely. If you have time, visit St Antonin. There is a great view of the entire gorge area & St Antonin from the D5 heading northwest out of St Antonin. Drive along this road from St Antonin looking back to get the view. As soon as you can't see the view anymore, turn the car around (it's a wide road), and head back to St Antonin to see the view in front of you."
Sep 25th, 2004, 05:41 AM
#7
We pretty much did the same thing as Ron. We spenta few dasys in Cazals.
Auch has the Cathedral of Sainte-Marie noted for its massivesixth century choir stalls that are masterworks.
In Toulouse, La Ville Rose, because of the red brick is the traditional building material. The university of Toulouse is the largest outside of France. Not a great shopping place, IMO.
Near Cazals is Les Arcs, where the restaurant Le Recreation is in an old schoolhouse. I mentioned this place that is the focus of a book I introduced here, called "From Here You can't See Paris."Albi has the Toulouse-Letrec Museum." Wish I could be of more help.
Auch has the Cathedral of Sainte-Marie noted for its massivesixth century choir stalls that are masterworks.
In Toulouse, La Ville Rose, because of the red brick is the traditional building material. The university of Toulouse is the largest outside of France. Not a great shopping place, IMO.
Near Cazals is Les Arcs, where the restaurant Le Recreation is in an old schoolhouse. I mentioned this place that is the focus of a book I introduced here, called "From Here You can't See Paris."Albi has the Toulouse-Letrec Museum." Wish I could be of more help.
Sep 25th, 2004, 04:53 PM
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Flattered as I am to be asked, I have never been to Toulouse, nor anywhere within 100 miles that I can recall.
I have never been a fan of mentioning a specific person in the message header of a question.
Best wishes,
Rex
I have never been a fan of mentioning a specific person in the message header of a question.
Best wishes,
Rex
Sep 25th, 2004, 08:13 PM
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I was in this area of France last year, during the first two weeks of October. It may not be known as a food mecca, but I'm sure you'll enjoy some wonderful meals. Also, there are very interesting wines in this region. Since you have a car, you will be able to explore the countryside and the many beautiful villages and towns.
I second earlier recommendations for the Toulouse-Lautrec museum in Albi and a drive through the Gorges du Tarn.
I would just caution that in this area, many tourist sites are closed or have limited hours in the late fall through Easter. We noticed this in Cordes-sur-Ciel where we stayed, as well as in other towns in the area.
Diane
I second earlier recommendations for the Toulouse-Lautrec museum in Albi and a drive through the Gorges du Tarn.
I would just caution that in this area, many tourist sites are closed or have limited hours in the late fall through Easter. We noticed this in Cordes-sur-Ciel where we stayed, as well as in other towns in the area.
Diane
