TARN - The tree Valleys

Automatic translation

Map of the Tarn, territory of the 3 valleys

Villages of character, history, perched villages... lush valleys and streams that meander around every corner of the trees, here is a territory that smells of nature and good holidays. The 3 valleys are available to you: The Tarn Valley, the Bonnan Valley and the Viaur Valley: a playground that will not lack height, with the perched bastides of Penne, Vaour, Cordes-dur-Ciel... On the way to the 3 valleys!

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Carmaux / Cagnac-les-Mines

About ten minutes north of Albi is Cagnac-les-Mines and a little further, Carmaux, the two towns were linked by the exploitation of coal between 1886 and 1983. A few years after the exploitation of the mines, the municipality of Cagnac-les-Mines takes over the site and decides to establish a place of remembrance of this exploitation. In 1990 the museum opened its doors; since 2007, it has been managed by the Department, which has invested more than 5 million euros in renovations. Today it is one of the most important museums in the region.

In the open air, Cagnac-les-Mines also has great things to offer: A fishing lake, a leisure and adventure park (Cap Découverte).

In Carmaux, the second prosperous industry is that of glass. These two activities are complementary, since of course the coal extracted locally was used to fuel the furnaces of the glassworks. It was in 1754 that the adventure began and for 1 century, 500,000 a year came out of the factories. In 1882, with the construction of a new factory, 300 workers were employed to produce 21,000 bottles... per day! In 1895, began a great period of protests and unrest between the unions and Eugene Resseguier, boss of the factory. It is Jean Jaurès who resolves the conflict.

To find out more, go to the museum, Glass Art Center in Carmaux.

Carmaux and its glass artisans

Cagnac-les-Mines and its mining industry

Monesty

Classified as "one of the most beautiful villages in France", Monestié is a medieval city in a meander of the Cérou river. Come and visit this beautiful village that wraps around its Gothic Saint-Pierre church, discover the Bajen-Vega Spanish painting museum in a magnificent private mansion, La Chapelle Saint-Jacques and its Gothic statues. For walkers, with family or friends, many short hiking trails are available around the village. The GR36 crosses the village, for more enduring walkers:) To swim on hot summer days or enjoy a nice walk, the La Roucarié leisure center offers a pedestrian circuit, playgrounds, a fitness trail and nautical activities.

The tips and good plans of the Guide Tarn Aveyron in Monestié:

• Stroll along the botanical trail on the banks of the Cérou: "The secrets of the river".
• A Discovery Pass is available at the Tourist Office from April to October, for local visits at a reduced rate.
• For children, an educational visit in the form of a booklet with two amusing characters is available.
• Several equestrian centers offer horseback riding in the region, in Trévien, Saint-Marcel-Campes and Salles-sur-Cérou.
• The Bellevue Animal Farm will appeal to children, in Salles-sur-Cérou.
• Every Thursday in summer, on the Place du Foirail, a large local producers' market takes place, with tables for a friendly atmosphere.
• Cross the Pont de Candèze, like the pilgrims to Santiago de Compostela!

Monestié, a beautiful medieval town

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Pampelonne

Pampelonne is north of the Tarn, in a region called Sagala, which then extends towards Aveyron. It is a 13th century bastide, which is located near the Gorges de Viaur, a river that flows from the Aveyron.

Start by discovering the village, with its large pleasant squares. Then go to the site of the old castle of Thuriès. It is in ruins, but the discovery of the places is worth the detour! A beautiful view of the Viaur Valley awaits you.

The tips and good plans of the Guide Tarn Aveyron in Pampelonne:

• Do you like skill games? Come and taste the Pampelonnaise skittles, demonstrations are given during the summer on the Place du Foirail, on Wednesdays and Saturdays. It's a traditional game of the city, moreover in the 50s, all the cafes in the area offered it to their customers;)
• At the Thuriès campsite, it is possible to rent canoes.

The Thuriès dam, in Pampelonne

Strings-on-sky

What a beautiful village! Cordes-sur-Ciel has enjoyed a dazzling national reputation thanks to its election as "Favorite Village of the French" in 2014. It is easy to understand why... Built entirely on a hill in 1222, as if to touch the stars, this t is a medieval town with a rich architectural heritage. Listed as one of the "Great Sites of the Midi Pyrenees", Cordes-sur-Ciel is an unmissable destination!

It was the weaving and leather trade that enabled the economic development of the city in the 13th and 14th centuries. This resulted in the construction of sumptuous and richly decorated buildings.

The limestone "puech" (hill) on which the village is built ranges from 160 to 320m above sea level, so don't forget comfortable shoes for the visit. Below, the Cérou flows peacefully.

Corde-sur-Ciel on his puech

Walk inside the walls of this magnificent village, which is materialized by several beautiful gates. Go and see the hall, classified as a historical monument, which houses a legendary "Well of the Halle", several tens of meters deep...

The beautiful residences with their pink and sandstone facades include La Maison du Grand Veneur and its sculpted facade and the Saint-Michel church.

As for museums, children and gourmets will not miss the Museum of sugar and chocolate, hummmmmmmmm, which is an artistic collection of works with these delicious materials... To find out more about the city, go to the Charles Museum -Portal, archivist and historian. The house that shelters it is worth the detour! Historama is another museum, focusing on life in the city in the Middle Ages. Wax figures, scenarios, will punctuate your visit. Finally, the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, in the Maison du Grand Fauconnier, will appeal to art lovers, it is composed, among others, of works by Picasso, Prévert, Christo...

The tips and good plans of the Guide Tarn Aveyron in Cordes-sur-Ciel:

• In the morning at dawn... Meet at the very top of the village, to appreciate the sea of clouds and feel like you are on a mysterious mountain... Or head to the locality of Pied Haut for a view overall of the country house on its puech.
• Visit the Gardens of Paradise, terraced and very pleasant.
• Admire the sculpted animals and strange characters on the facades of the houses in the upper town.
• Push the door of a Cordaise pastry shop to taste the Croquant, a delicious little medieval cake, with sugar, egg white, almond powder and flour.
• The medieval festival of the Grand Fauconnier takes place on July 13 and 14 each year, come to the heart of the Middle Ages for a weekend!
• Go and see the Moulin de Cajarc, an 18th century mill on the banks of the Cérou.

The alleys are all so beautiful!

Milhars

North of Cordes-sur-Ciel, Milhars is at the heart of the Pays de Vaour. It is a medieval village of white stones, with many ochre-coloured walls , which earned it the nickname "village of walls". It is a proudly flowered village, do not miss to take a walk on the path of gardens and flowers, in the middle of the ramparts, the turrets, near the door of the castle of Milhars, the Church of Saint-Pierre aux Liens...

The tips and good plans of the Guide Tarn Aveyron in Milhars:

• Go see the Tinal: a vaulted room, host to various exhibitions.
• A pleasant picnic area is on the other side of the Cérou, La Saulnaie.
  
• You like remarkable trees, there are two near the town, in the Bonnan valley: "Le Chêne du Ségalar" 150 years old and "Cormier de La Garrigue" 175 years old. Stroll through this valley, with its rich fauna and flora heritage. You will find a beautiful walk to do in the Bonnan Valley, with a Tuf waterfall, outside the dry season.

Saint-Pierre-Es-Liens in Milhars

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Penne

And here is another charming medieval city in height, in the country of Vaour. This fortress which stretches at the very top of the village as if to reach the sky, has to be deserved! Its winding alleys will make you look up and give a big wow! The "eagle's nest" or the "citadel of vertigo" , as it is nicknamed, sits above the nearby Aveyron gorges . Medievalists will be passionate about the preserved Château de Penne , "in its own juice", where you can invent a thousand crusades and adventures. An interpretation trail will teach you everything there is to know about this unique site in Occitania. The town center of Penne is charming, with its 13th century church and the Chapelle Sainte-Madeleine des Albis.

The tips and good plans of the Guide Tarn Aveyron in Penne:

• Nice low-angle view of Penne, from the RD33.
• Familiarize yourself with a particular and endearing character: the Terrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrible de Penne (yes yes, with 19 r , as he himself wrote to symbolize the revival of the 19th century), in other words Alexandre Viguier. A surveyor, skilled in law, who after a reversal of fortune (and a divorce!) decided to dedicate his talent to denouncing abuses and injustices. To mark his protest, he no longer shaved, nor cut his hair and nails. He tried his luck several times in politics, in front of Jean Jaurès himself. Considered whimsical and too marginal, he was interned during a trip to Paris and sent back to his hometown, where he ended his days alone.
• To the south of the town is the national forest of Grésigne, with a colossal oak forest of 3600ha.
• The territory of the commune and its surroundings is classified as a Natural Zone of Faunistic and Floristic Ecological Interest (ZNIEFF).
• Visit the Château de Bruniquel near the town.
  

The impressive ruins of the Château de Penne

The Terrrrrrrrrrrrrrrible of Penne!!!

Vaour

On the border with Tarn-et-Garonne and near Penne, Vaour is a small, lively and happy village of around 350 souls. It is the Festival of laughter "L'été de Vaour" in August every year since 1986, which attests to the flourishing community life in this small town. Shows are organized throughout the village and local producers come to offer small typical dishes to festival-goers. In Vaour there is an old Templar commandery, only the ruins remain, but it is an interesting visit to immerse yourself in the past. To go back even further in the past, go see the Dolmen de Peyrelade. The market takes place on Thursday morning in Vaour.