Cathar Route

ABOUT THE DESTINATION: At the heart of the South, Toulouse has always occupied a prominent place in the Southwest of France. The reflections of golden light on the pink-brick walls, used in many of its buildings, have earned the city the designation of 'La Ville Rose', the Pink City. As the region’s largest city, Toulouse combines medieval architecture with bohemian music, delicious food and constant innovation, sustained by the city’s cutting-edge aerospace industry. The old town of Toulouse hides great treasures. The Basilica of St. Sernin is considered the city’s most beautiful religious monument. It is also the world’s largest church built in the Romanesque style. Feel free to wander through its cobbled streets to discover its splendid Renaissance courtyards and magnificent houses that hide behind the heavy gates. The Augustinian Museum exhibits a rich collection of paintings and sculptures. Here you will find works of either medieval masters or contemporary artists and painters. Toulouse is active and bustling, fuelled by the energy of its student population. There’s nothing like strolling through the historical center, walking along the banks of the Garonne and the Canal du Midi, or stopping in one of the many bars and restaurants to eat or have a drink under the open sky.

ABOUT THE DESTINATION: Albi is a delightful small town in the Southwest of France. There are lots of shops and nice places to eat in the area. This Episcopal City is listed as one of France's sites on UNESCO's World Heritage List. Situated in the Midi-Pyrénées region, along the river Tarn, the city of Albi offers the Episcopal City, home to Sainte-Cécile cathedral, the biggest brick cathedral in the world, and the fortified Berbie Palace. With the red brick architecture, the banks of the Tarn, the relaxed rhythm of life in the South West, the distant memory of the Cathars, or even that of the famous painter Toulouse-Lautrec. Albi is a magnificent city. MAIN TOURIST ATTRACTIONS Albi Cathedral Albi Cathedral, formally the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Cecilia, is the most important religious building in Albi, France, and the seat of the Archbishop of Albi. First built as a fortress begun in 1287 and under construction for 200 years, it is claimed to be the largest brick building in the world. In 2010 the cathedral was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Palais de la Berbie In the second half of the 13th century, the Bishops of Albi undertook the construction of the Palais de la Berbie close to the cathedral of Sainte-Cécile and the banks of the Tarn. A true fortress, the palace is a testimony to the bygone power of the Bishops of Albi. This medieval architecture, with its walls of extraordinary height and thickness, encloses a court of honour and a keep. The prelates who followed from the Renaissance to the 18th century transformed and enlarged it into a stately palace with sumptuous salons and French style formal gardens. Situated in the very heart of the city’s historical centre, the Palais de la Berbie, listed as a historical monument, is one of France’s best preserved episcopal residences. It forms part of Albi’s episcopal citadel, a candidate for World Heritage of humanity status. Museum of Toulousse Lautrec The Toulouse-Lautrec galleries were inaugurated at the Palais de la Berbie in 1922 with the help of an exceptional bequest from the Count and Countess of Toulouse-Lautrec. The Toulouse-Lautrec Museum is today an ambassador for the city of Albi and draws nearly 160,000 visitors annually, which places it among the top museums outside of Paris Begun in 2001, the renovation work includes redesigning the entrance to the museum now relocated to the Court of Honour. New areas have been created below the palace. Now the museum has an auditorium with 156 seats for conferences and lectures, two films on the life and works of Toulouse-Lautrecare shown there every day, a room for educational workshops and presentations for children and school groups.

ABOUT THE DESTINATION: Carcassonne is a city in south-west France that is best known for its UNESCO World Heritage listed walled city. Carcassonne’s medieval fortress-city is a child’s toy castle grown to lifesize proportions. The Cité, with its bristling towers and battlements, was begun in Gallo-roman times. It played an important role in Languedoc’s unsuccessful effort to remain independent of northern France. The exterior wall was completed under Louis IX. By the mid-19th century, villagers had so thoroughly pillaged the walls for building materials that only truncated ruins remained. But rising interest in medieval France spurred the rebuilding of the Cité. For the best castle-roving, visit the Cité in early morning or at night. The Basilique St-Nazaire, on the south side of the Cité, is an exceptional church, combining a northern Gothic transept and apse with much older Romanesque nave. The stained glass is generally considered among the finest in southern France. Near the Basilique, an amphitheatre built to provide entertainment during the town’s long sieges host many events. Located in a stunning and diversified region, Carcassonne is home to a fascinating cultural and historical past. Moreover, it offers delicious traditional dishes, some of the best vineyards in the south of France and very friendly locals.

ABOUT THE DESTINATION: At the heart of the South, Toulouse has always occupied a prominent place in the Southwest of France. The reflections of golden light on the pink-brick walls, used in many of its buildings, have earned the city the designation of 'La Ville Rose', the Pink City. As the region’s largest city, Toulouse combines medieval architecture with bohemian music, delicious food and constant innovation, sustained by the city’s cutting-edge aerospace industry. The old town of Toulouse hides great treasures. The Basilica of St. Sernin is considered the city’s most beautiful religious monument. It is also the world’s largest church built in the Romanesque style. Feel free to wander through its cobbled streets to discover its splendid Renaissance courtyards and magnificent houses that hide behind the heavy gates. The Augustinian Museum exhibits a rich collection of paintings and sculptures. Here you will find works of either medieval masters or contemporary artists and painters. Toulouse is active and bustling, fuelled by the energy of its student population. There’s nothing like strolling through the historical center, walking along the banks of the Garonne and the Canal du Midi, or stopping in one of the many bars and restaurants to eat or have a drink under the open sky.