Around Cordes sur Ciel

Other top tourist destination in Occitania / Pyrenees-Mediterranean

26 minutes away :

• Albi : visit the Toulouse-Lautrec Museum and the Cathedral of Sainte Cécile, both of which are part of Albi's Cité Épiscopale, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. www.albi-tourisme.fr

45 minutes away :

• Villefranche de Rouergue and Najac : two 'bastide' towns 22 km apart founded by Alphonse de Poitiers : two very different and unmissable beauties. www.tourisme-villefranche-najac.com

Villages

23 minutes away :

• Castelnau de Montmiral, a 13th century 'bastide' officially recognised as one of the most beautiful villages in France. Its arcaded square is a real gem. www.castelnaudemontmiral.com

25 minutes away:

• Bruniquel : a charming village with steep streets and medieval houses. See the village's two castles, built on the edge of cliffs towering over the Aveyron Gorge. www.bruniquel.fr

27 minutes away:

• Gaillac : see old Gaillac with its fine town houses and also the Abbey of Saint Michel which is home to the Maison des Vins de Gaillac wine outlet and museum of vineyards and wine. www.tourisme-vignobles-bastides.com

41 minutes away:

• Puycelci : houses dating from the 15th century, semi-enclosed gardens and pretty, narrow passageways are all features of this fortified village overlooking the vast Forêt de la Grésigne. www.puycelsi.fr
  
  
  

Vineyards

10 minutes away :

• The Gaillac vineyards : these vineyards on the Cordes Plateau produce some of the excellent Gaillac AOC wines. The different wine estates are signposted (tours, wine tastings). Contact : Maison des Vins de Gaillac – Tél. 05 63 57 15 40.

Châteaux

13 minutes :

• Château Musée du Cayla, Andillac : residence of the poets Maurice and Eugénie de Guérin (19th century). The château, the atmosphere, the grounds: everything here is wonderfully romantic. Tél. 05 63 33 90 30.

25 minutes away:

• Château de Penne, Penne : an eyrie overlooking the Aveyron Gorge. Ruined in the course of its turbulent history, this château now has a new lease of life and hosts various events over the summer. Tél. 05 63 55 71 90 - www.chateaudepenne.com

Museums

22 minutes away :

• Musée de la Mine de Carmaux : a contemporary museum telling the story of Carmaux's mining past through realistic and original recreated scenes. Tél. 05 63 53 91 70.

Outdoor activities

Walking

5 minutes away :

• The sentier du causse : a 12km walk with lots of viewpoints of the 'bastide' town of Cordes sur Ciel, perched on the Puech de Mordagne.

Swimming

23 minutes away:

• Vère-Grésigne outdoor activities centre: a lovely swimming area (with lifeguard), beach and canoe hire, 3 km from Castelnau-de-Montmiral. Tél. 05 63 33 16 00 - www.castelnaudemontmiral-tourisme.com

Site of outstanding natural beauty

30 minutes away :

• The Aveyron Gorge : this cliff-lined gorge cuts a wonderfully unspoilt winding course through the countryside. You can explore it by river in a canoe or by road, at least the section between Bruniquel and Saint Antonin-Noble-Val, two gorgeous towns with adorable backstreets. http://tourisme-saint-antonin-noble-val.com

Leisure park

22 minutes away :

• Cap Découverte, Le Garric : very near Carmaux there is a vast recreational and sports park where you can enjoy a whole range of exciting activities (skateboarding, rollerblading, cable skiing, dévalkarting, a giant zip wire, and more). Tél. 05 63 80 15 15 – www.vert-marine.com

Fairs and festivals

18 minutes away :

• L’été de Vaour : a festival of circus and street arts in the village of Vaour, where humour and comedy are the order of the day. In August.

26 minutes away :

• Pause Guitare à Albi : a festival of French-language popular songs in the heart of Albi's Cité Épiscopale – In July.

27 minutes away :

• Cinéfeuille, Gaillac, an interesting festival of documentary films about gardens and landscapes. In May/June.