We'll be visiting our exchange studentfrom last summer in Toulouse, but will probably take a day trip on the train (maybe an hour or so away.) We'll probably go on the 9th of April. We're leaning towards Carcassonne, but Albi looks interesting,as well as Arles and Nimes. Maybe other possibilities, even going into Spain, although it does not look like there's too much worthwhile within our time frame. Any suggestions?

Carcassonne is more than worth the visit. More than Albi, Arles and Nimes.

Albi is a very attractive town and one of our favorite places to go. The cathedral alone is worth the trip. Close by is the charming hill town of Cordes sur Ceil.

The Toulouse Lautrec Museum in Albi is extraordinary. The surrounding area offers lots of interesting shops and restaurants. Can't comment on Carcassone but did visit Albi for a day last summer and found it to be a bit crowded and touristy (compared to other, more rural towns I was visiting such as Lautrec, Lavaur, Puylaurens, etc) - but worth the effort to view the collection at the museum. I'd expect Albi to be less busy in April.

Albi is a must, for both the cathedral and the Toulouse Lautrec museum. It is reachable by train. I don't know if Montauban is still on the train line (some lines have been discontinued), but it has a lovely early 17th century square and an Ingres museum. Moissac is definitely on the train line, and it has a church and cloister that is definitely worth a visit.