For all those who are greedy for life and greedy for discovery: Moissac awaits you for your next holiday. In the Tarn-et-Garonne, this small town is in an Epicurean landscape dominated by orchards and Chasselas AOC grape vines. Moissac, a stop on the routes to Santiago de Compostela, is also a beacon of Romanesque art in France.
Moissac grew between the sunny slopes between the flourishing vineyards and the shady banks of the Tarn. The river, spanned by a bridge opened by Napoleon III, is suited to water sports. Its banks are perfect for a stroll.
The slow pace of life in Moissac is coupled with a historic dimension: that of a town at the crossroads of major pedestrian and river traffic routes.
Moissac welcomes the Garonne Canal, an extension of the Canal du Midi as far as Bordeaux. Open to pleasure craft, it crosses the Tarn at a canal-bridge: a remarkable structure that you can best appreciate from the saddle on bike ride along the Canal des Deux Mers Greenway.
Moissac has also been a major stop on the routes to Santiago de Compostela since the Middle Ages, and its reputation strongly endures today. It takes its source from the strength of the Saint-Pierre abbey, a UNESCO world heritage site.
The portal to the abbey church, founded in the seventh century, is embellished by a monumental typanum representing the Last Judgement. This typanum is among the masterpieces of Romanesque sculpture. The abbey is also distinguished by its cloister. Consecrated in the year 1100, it is unique in the world due to its state of conservation and its stylistic perfection. To take in its beauty, its serenity, its galleries decorated with 76 sculpted heads is a pure visual and spiritual delight.
Lastly, take the time to savour a bunch of Chasselas AOP dessert grapes. This white grape of an exquisite finesse has been part of Moissac’s history since the beginning of the 18th century. In France, this was the first grape variety to be awarded an Appellation d’Origine Protégée (AOP), in 1971. Its translucent berries are filled with lots of deliciously fresh juice. Each bunch is picked and treated by hand, with an expertise passed down from generation to generation that the producers will be pleased to explain to you.
Keys to discovery
> After a visit to Moissac abbey, a UNESCO world heritage site, make sure you explore other parts of the town: 18th-century houses, Art Deco architecture, canal bridge, etc.
> Extend your holiday by exploring the Pays de Moissac. Must-sees include the bastide of Lauzerte and the village of Auvillar, both officially recognised as ‘Plus Beaux Villages de France’, plus the Abbaye de Belleperche - Musée des Arts de la Table. In addition, Moissac Tourist Office offers various themed circuits (gourmet excursions, the Dovecote Tour, cycling routes, etc.).
> To soak up the peace and quiet of the Canal des Deux Mers, cycle along the Canal des Deux Mers Greenway from Moissac, in the direction of either Toulouse or Bordeaux.
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