I may be in Toulouse on business and would like to add 3 or 4 days for sight-seeing. I have been to Paris ,Provence, Loire Valley, and Burgundy so I am not interested in areas more than a couple hour train ride from Toulouse. Considering an extra day in Toulouse to see the sights there, then perhaps a night (or two ) in Carcassonne and a night in Albi? Any comments or better suggestions? As I don't plan to get a car I am looking to stay in the center of interesting towns with good restaurants and sightseeing.

Albi is fine for a half-day or a little more - but Carcassonne is about a 3 hr visit, IMO. Montauban is close by - but we were underwhelmed with it.

Perhaps a good plan would be to visit Toulouse in the morning (one of our top 5 cities in France). Then take the 2:50 train to Carcassonne arriving at 3:30, visit, and stay overnight. Then next day, take the 11:27 train to Montpellier arriving at 12:53 and stay 2 nights.

The Dordogne is just 2 hrs away - but you'll need a car.

Stu Dudley

Thanks for your suggestion on Montpelier. I will look into it.

I think Stu's plan is about as good as it gets without a car. Auch is a lovely place, but probably not big enough to keep you occupied for three days. Same with Cahors. Montauban should definitely be missed.

I must say, I do like Albi, and it would be a shame to miss it. Montauban is a perfectly pleasant business town but it's not worth a detour IMHO.

I was underwhelmed by Carcassonne, myself. Definitely worth seeing, but not worth hanging around in.

I think Stu, well known doyen of the south west, has got it spot on.

I would head for Albi and visit Cordes sur Ciel and some of the "plus beaux villages de France" in the area : Castelnau de Montmiral, Puycelsi, Bruniquel, Rabastens. Castres is a nice town, so are Conques, Lavaur and Lautrec.

It may be worth researching other places with rail access.

Collioure, Perpignan, Narbonne, Sete, Montpellier, Nimes, etc.

Peter