A typical 10 day gentle tourer in the Tarn
Day 1 Ambialet
In a tiny village on the banks of the Tarn, with a terrace restaurant, swimming pool and immaculate facilities and Monsieur Saysset's warm welcome, it provides a wonderful place from which to explore this majestic region of France.
Day 2 Ambialet
As we cycled to Trébas, got caught in a summer storm so shelter under an old gravel hopper. Two retired couples from Lourdes were taking lunch there too and shared their picnic with us setting a standard of hospitality and friendship which was to continue wherever we went. Returned to Ambialet by canoe, having first bought mustard and honey from a local producer, which all came back with the bikes, by road.
Day 3 Ambialet-Albi 25kms
Eventually we set out for Albi, with the makings of a picnic from the boulangerie. We stopped at a cafe at Longeyrou where Madame opened up to serve us drinks to go with our bread and cheese, a splendid buvette. We arrived at Hotel d'Orleans to a delighted cry of welcome, 'Ah les Susis'. Beautiful clean rooms and excellent restaurant.
Day 4 Albi
Spend the day meandering around the medieval city. Narrow streets, red brick buildings, enticing shops, cafes and restaurants galore. The market is all over town, selling the most delicious local fruit and vegetables as well as shoes, clothes and chickens and rabbits. The cathedral is best viewed internally lying on your back, nobody seemed to mind, and next door the Toulouse Lautrec exhibition took our breath away. Managed a quick swim before dinner.
Day 5 Albi-Cahuzac 22ms
Followed the north side of the river taking in the many picturesque hilltop villages. Castelnau de Levis and Labastide de Levis were particularly pretty. The countryside is filled with vineyards and the little white roads edged with a profusion of wild flowers. Overwhelmed by the chateau hotel, discover their own home grown white wine is delicious.
Day 6 Cahuzac
White truffles are considered to be the most exclusive. Last night we had a white truffle salad..talk about living!. Love the little galleries and museums we seem to find in every village, so were quite delighted to discover the interior of the Chateau de Mauriac is filled to bursting with paintings and objets d'art. Actually, not just the walls, but the doors, the ceilings, the cupboards too.
Day 7 Cahuzac-Cordes sur Ciel 17kms
At last we discovered what our 'Susi' bag was for, the patisserie box fits perfectly! But don't buy soft topped ones, as they all slide to the bottom! The route was charming with buzzards and kites wheeling overhead, and empty roads throughout countryside which we had to ourselves. There were so many butterflies and wild flowers we lost count.
Day 8 Cordes sur Ciel
Built on top of a hill, literally piercing the sky, it was obviously built without cycles in mind! As we were so close we could not miss the Gorges d'Aveyron and the easiest way to see them is by train, with the station just 5kms away. Our evening in Cordes is spent listening to a piano and flute concert and eating dinner looking out over the gorgeous panorama.
Day 9 Cordes sur Ciel-Ambialet 45kms
Across the plateau to Arthes, having first bought our lunch as this is not a route with many cafés or even a boulangerie on the way. Then along the north side of the river Tarn on a superb, empty road all the way to Ambialet. Ease our muscles with a splash in the pool before dinner on the terrace with fireflies flashing around us.
Day 10
All in all a great holiday. Would we come again? You bet we would