THETARN BY Loop of the vines i n between vineyard and forests MOTO Rabastens Mauriac Campagnac LOOP OF Couffouleux Broze Forêt de la Grésigne THE VINES Loupiac Montels St. Martin de l’Espinas in between vineyard Lisle-sur-Tarn Cahuzac-sur-Vère Forêt de Sivens Montans Andillac Les Barrières and forests w Gaillac Vieux Salvagnac THE LOOP OF Senouillac Le Verdier Rabastens THE VINES in between vineyard and forests In between the lowland, the valley of the Tarn and the vineyard of Gaillac on the side of the hills, this loop crosses some very varied landscapes. It follows mainly some calm little roads and it will enlight the tourists of bikers who like to alternate visits and wild nature. Lots of sites invite to a break : browse in the historic heart of a town in red bricks, to admire an old church, visit a winery… env. 140 km Among these multiple places to discover : Rabastens, Lisle-sur-Tarn, www.tourisme-tarn.com Gaillac and the vineyard of Gaillac, the forests of Grésigne and Sivens who in Autumn offer the surprising show of the Roaring Stags. Vineyard - Andillac TOURIST OFFICES & information desk on the circuit Bastides & Vignoble du Gaillac - 81600 ( catégorie II ) Office de tourisme de Pays Abbaye Saint-Michel - Gaillac in local tourist offi e circuits ces : Tel.: +33 (0)5 63 57 14 65 all th Find [email protected] www.tourisme-vignoble-bastides.com Avec Créations,Vent d’Autan - Phovoir. / Office of Rabastens - 81800 Hôtel de la Fite TM 2, rue Amédée de Clausade Tel.: +33 (0)5 63 40 65 65 Follow us : [email protected] www.tourisme-vignoble-bastides.com www.facebook.com/tarntourisme.sudouest Office of Lisle-sur-tarn - 81310 TM RoadTrip, D.Viet / CRTMP, J.L. Pieux Place Paul Saissac / @TourismeTarn Tel.: +33 (0)5 63 40 31 85 Tarn Tourisme [email protected] Tourist information office Most beautiful Village of France Way of the loop www.tourisme-vignoble-bastides.com 41, rue Porta - BP 225 - 81006 ALBI cedex FRANCE Office of Gaillac - 81600 Tel.: +33 (0)5 63 77 32 10 / Fax : +33 (0)5 63 77 32 32 TM Indication of the distance Abbaye Saint-Michel E-Mail : [email protected] Seasonal tourist information office Most beautiful detour of France Tel.: +33 (0)5 63 57 14 65 This brochure is published by theTarn Tourisme Board, and financed by theTarn Country Council. Photo credits : L.Frézouls, E. Corlay on the output card [email protected] www.tourisme-vignoble-bastides.com Office of Cahuzac-sur-Vère - 81140 Mairie Tel.: +33 (0)5 63 33 68 91 [email protected] www.tourisme-vignoble-bastides.com Office of Salvagnac - 81630 Les Sourigous - D999 TM Sivens forest Tel.: +33 (0)5 63 33 57 84 Museum-Castle of Cayla [email protected] Andillac www.tourisme-vignoble-bastides.com LOOP OF VINES THE vineyard Gaillac i n between The wines of Gaillac and forests Square with arcades - Lisle-sur-Tarn Be careful of the twilight prey might be approaching. At the intersection turn left on the D 87 until Saint-Martin D D of the Espinas, road without stabilized shoulders, beware of Church Notre Dame du Bourg - Rabastens 115A Carry on the road further down to join in by going up on the 87 gravel in the turnings. Beautiful forest of oaks. Take on the left direction D 87 junction of Gaillac, straight D 115 A. Turn right, beautiful road with some turnings. right line and some long turnings, go through above the Continue on the sinuous road and which goes down to the RABASTENS D D 968 and cross the bridge on the Tarn to arrive in Gaillac. D Join the D 922 and turn left to arrive in Cahuzac-sur-Vère. 922 Vallée de la Vère. Arrive in Saint-Martin de l’Espinas. Originating from the Wisigoth, Rabastens links itself during 87 the 13 th century to the Cathars, all by constructing the GAILLAC CAHUZAC-SUR-VÈRE D Take the D 964 on the right towards Puycelsi, beautiful road magnificent church made to welcome the Pilgrims towards Founded in 972 around its abbey, Gaillac is the Capital 964 with long turnings. Saint James, thanks to culture and trade of the woad and by Most certainly created by the Celtic, Cahuzac was crossed of the vineyard. The town of red bricks has conserved its After 4,5 km turn left and continue by La Capelle on the its vineyard, Rabastens has lots of various beautiful mansions. by the Roman way of Toulouse-Rodez. This town of more heritage and deserves the label “ the most beautiful detour than one thousand inhabitants owns two restaurants which D 14, by going up until Les Barrières. To discover : The church of Notre-Dame du Bourg ( listed D of France ”. Thanks to the wine producers in Gaillac it’s the one of them is Stared of the Guide Michelin. 14 La Capelle small church with bell tower-wall. UNESCO / Paths of St. James of Compostella) - the medieval starting point of the discovery of the vineyard. neighbourhood of the castle - the ancient battlements - the Gluttony : A meal at the restaurant La Falaise and at the To discover : The neighbourhood of la Portanelle - the Abbey of neighbourhood of the market town. Château de Salette. FORÊT DE SIVENS Saint-Michel - the Square of the Griffoul - the park and the Castle Loop visit of the town ( free leaflet ) - Museum of the Rabastens On the centre of the village take the D 1 on the left on the junction To do : of Foucaud - the Hotel Pierre de Brens - the church of St-Pierre. D This property belonged to the Company of Houillères of country, visit of the wine cellar - the Saturday morning market. 1 of Vieux and at approximately 2 km turn right near Andillac. Carmaux ( coal mines Company ) Regional forest since To do : Loop visit of the town ( free leaflet ) - the Museum Gluttony : The wines of Gaillac. Arrive in Andillac. 1976, Sivens offers family walks, play areas, exhibitions… D of the Abbey, the Vine and Wine - Museum of the Beaux ANDILLAC 12 Leave Rabastens by the D 12 turn left after the bridge on the Arts - Museum of Natural History. D Cross Les Barrières at the intersection with a cross turn Tarn at Couffouleux and follow the D 13 until Loupiac, little This beautiful village is near the Castle of Cayla where were 28 left at the D 28 and follow in between the woods until the Gluttony : Wines of Gaillac. road in the plain of the Tarn with shoulders not stabilized. born the writers, Maurice and Eugénie de Guérin. The Cayla D D 999 then cross the D 999 ( beware busy road ) to arrive in Cross Gaillac : after the bridge on the left ans at the D Very beautiful views on the meadows, woods of poplars and is nowadays a house of stones and words, a landscape of 999 Salvagnac. 13 the fields. roundabout follow the direction of Cordes, at the second sentences and vegetation included in a field of 27 acres. roundabout take the direction of Marssac. Follow the D 988, To discover : The church of Saint Médard. SALVAGNAC Leave Loupiac on the right and at the intersection with a D cross a shopping centre area, long straight right line on the The visit of the Castle and Museum of Cayla. little cross follow on the left on the junction of Lisle-sur-Tarn. 988 most used road, at the roundabout still follow the D 988. To do : Created in 1220 around a priory, Salvagnac was almost The little country road winds in between woods and vines Road of poplars, then turn left on the D 21 near Senouillac, D Continue on the little roads on the way to Alos, to join the destroyed in 1587. The town and its castle were rebuilt. caution turning in pin before the passageway of a little bridge 26 D be carefull of the intersection that crosses a little road not D 26 and turn left to arrive in the village of Vieux. In the village turn left and follow the D 2 in the direction of ( 30 km ). On the way, beautiful farm with pigeon house and 21 very visible. Beautiful view of the vineyards of Gaillac. Rabastens, beware of the close turnings. beautiful house made of bricks. VIEUX D D Beware of the railway crossing and at the stop go straight on 2 In between the plane trees, beautiful views on the hills and of th 14 On the crossroad arrive on the D14 turn left and at the next by going up to arrive in Senouillac. It’s during the 10 century that Vieux became the biggest religious the plain of the Tarn, little chapel with tower-wall at Mareux. crossroad turn left again continue under the alley of the centre of the Tarn region. In order to protect them, all the relics of plane trees and arrive at Lisle-sur-Tarn. the Albi Saints were conservered and exposed to devotion. Follow the D 2 to join Rabastens. SENOUILLAC To discover : The church of Saint-Eugène and it’s Vineyard village surrounded by beautiful vines, at the LISLE-SUR-TARN frescos ( 14th century ) - Menhir. entrance a very nice pigeon house. The town used to own This unic example of Bastide-pier (fortified medieval town) four castles : the Castle of la Linardié, the Castle of Bonette, Turn right on the D 1 towards Le Verdier, very beautiful in the Tarn, was founded at the end of the Crusade against the the Castle of Mauriac, the Castle of Saint-Martel.