Culture and sightseeing
Villages
35 minutes away :
- East of Toulouse, on the way to Albi, stroll around Rabastens, Lisle-sur-Tarn (13th century 'bastide') and Gaillac, charming villages of the Gaillac AOC vineyards.
www.tourisme-tarn.com/en
40 minutes away :
- South of Toulouse, on the way to Saint Gaudens, there is a succession of beautiful villages : Rieux-Volvestre (medieval town), Cazères, Palaminy and Martres-Tolosane.
www.hautegaronnetourisme.com
Châteaux
35 minutes away :
-
Château de Merville: a very stylish 18th century château famous for its boxwood maze unique in Europe. Tél. 05 61 85 32 34 – www.chateau-merville.com
55 minutes away :
-
Château de Laréole : a fine example of Renaissance architecture, this impeccably restored château is surrounded by French-style formal gardens which are worth the trip by themselves. Tél. 05 61 06 33 58 –
www.hautegaronnetourisme.com
Vineyards
40 minutes away:
-
Fronton Vineyards: follow lovely little country roads to explore the Fronton AOC vineyards (lien vers rubrique Tourisme viticole) between Toulouse and Montauban. A tourist map with details of the different wine estates and opening hours is available from the Maison des Vins de Fronton. Tél. 05 61 82 46 33 – www.vins-de-fronton.com
Museums
35 minutes away :
-
Musée Européen d’Art Campanaire, L’Isle-Jourdain : the only museum of its kind in France, dedicated to bells through the ages from different civilisations. Tél. 05 62 07 30 01 – www.mairie-islejourdain.com
45 minutes away :
-
Musée Ingres, Montauban: one of the great museums of Midi-Pyrénées, featuring the works that the artist Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres bequeathed to his birthplace. Tél : 05 63 22 12 91 –
http://en.montauban-tourisme.com/
Know-how
45 minutes away :
-
Faïences de Martres-Tolosane : the three-century-old tradition of earthenware manufacture is still alive and kicking here, perpetuated by the amazing skills of craftsmen and women working in several village workshops.
www.tourisme-martres-tolosane.fr
Other Great Tourist Sites in Occitania / Pyrenees-Mediterranean
45 minutes away :
- The Ariège Collection, 14,000 years of history : a special case in the family of Great Tourist Sites in Midi-Pyrénées, made up of 7 remarkable attractions including the Château de Foix.
55 minutes away :
- Albi and its Cité Épiscopale, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A must-see : the Musée Toulouse-Lautrec.
55 minutes away :
- Moissac, a centre of Romanesque art and the birthplace of the Chasselas AOC grape.
1 hour away :
-
Sorèze / Revel / Saint Ferréol : three attractions within a radius of less than 10 km that take you from the source of knowledge (Sorèze Abbey School) to the source of the Canal du Midi (Lac de Saint Ferréol).
www.auxsourcesducanaldumidi.com
Outdoor and family activities
Walking
30 minutes away :
- « Entre Ariège et coteaux », Clermont-le-Fort : a pretty 12km walk (yellow waymarkings) from the hilltop village of Clermont-le-Fort down to the banks of the River Ariège.
Route description (in French) in the walking guide Midi-Pyrénées à pied (published by the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre).
Cycling
From Toulouse :
- Canal du Midi voie verte : this traffic-free cycle path follows the towpath along the Canal du Midi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- South of Toulouse, you can cycle to the Seuil de Naurouze canal feature (48 km).
- North of Toulouse, you can link up with the voie verte along the Canal de Garonne in the direction of Moissac.
Theme parks
45 minutes away :
-
Le Village Gaulois, Rieux : in an area of shady countryside on the banks of the River Garonne a Gaulish village has been recreated, with careful attention paid to authenticity. Events, demonstrations of Gaulish crafts, etc.
Tél : 05 61 87 16 38 – www.archeosite-gaulois.asso.fr
Treetop adventure trail
50 minutes away :
-
Agrip’Aventure, Montech : in the vast Forêt d’Agre, in the Montech State Forest, a fantastic aerial adventure trail in the trees accessible to anyone aged 3 and over. www.agrip-aventure.fr
Festivals
55 minutes away :
- Pause Guitare, Albi: a celebration of the thriving French-language popular song in the heart of Albi. In July.
On the banks of the Canal du Midi :
- Convivencia, a travelling world music festival that follows the course of the Canal. In July.