FRANCE A LA CARTE

Wine-tasting and gastronomy breaks

Eating and drinking have always gone together in France and our short breaks range from serious tasting of the 'grand crus' in the Bordeaux region to a more leisurely introduction to the oldest French spirit - Armagnac - in deepest Gascony.

Albi and Gaillac - the details

Toulouse airport or TGV station are 60 minutes from Albi: Carcassonne is 2 hours away.

BOOKING ENQUIRIES

some of the AOC vineyards near Toulouse: Gaillac, Frontonnais and Cahors

other wine-tasting packages

Gascony - a real French spirt - Armagnac

Corbières - Languedoc's answer to Bordeaux

Cahors - Chateaux Mercuès & Haute Serre

Bordeaux - nothing but the best

Cognac - the 'other' great French spirit

ALBI and the GAILLAC wines

5 days / 4 nights self-drive tour

Albi is a jewel of a little town, all in pink-red brick, on the banks of the river Tarn as it escapes from the Massif Central and finds its way to the sea. It's a city of culture and history, of good food and fine wines set in a region of vineyards, châteaux and ancient mediaeval villages. The city is dominated by the 13th century cathedral of Saint Cecile, a massive fortified church built to impress both the wavering faithful and would-be enemies of the power of the established church; it is the largest brick building in the world!

France à la carte has created a short break based in Albi on the themes of art, wine and culture: the rich heritage of churches, cathedrals and abbeys along with a a studious look at one of Albi's most famous sons, Henri Toulouse-Lautrec before getting out to the vineyards.

Accommodation is in the heart of Albi itself in a 4* hotel of renown.

Hostellerie du Grand Saint Antoine **** Albi
For 5 generations, the Rieux family have been the custodians of the well-being and comfort of their guests and travelling friends.

Rooms are spacious and well-equipped: decorated with antique furniture, telephone, air-conditioning, television, mini-bar hair-dryer and wi-fi access. Room-service.

The hotel has an interior garden, sheltered by high walls from the hustle of the city outside. The cathedral, Bishop's Palace (home to the Toulouse-Lautrec museum) and main sites are all only a few minutes away on foot.

__

this is what happened to the boys who didn't go to church... extracts from the mural in Albi cathedral

Château de Terride

Domaine Thomières

Domaine Vayssette

Le Domaine de Pialentou

Domaine de Noailles