Albi & Toulouse-Lautrec

Lying on the Tarn river in Southern France, Albi and its medieval skyline houses the Musée Toulouse-Lautrec.

Price is per person and is based on 25 passengers sharing a double or twin room. Single supplement applies.

Itinerary/Excursions

Day 01

After your flights and transfers from the UK, transfer to your hotel. Enjoy dinner in the hotel restaurant.

Day 02

Enjoy a walking tour of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Albi city centre, the largest protected area of Southern France. After strolling around the medeival houses, the Saint-Salvy cloister, and a stop in front of Laperouse’s house and Toulouse-Lautrec’s native house, a guided tour of the St Cécile Cathedral will amaze you with the unique brick construction. Spend some time down town for lunch in a local restaurant, before continuing with a guided visit of the Toulouse-Lautrec museum. Located in the Berbie Palace, this majestic building with purple hues will transport you to the painter's life, as eventful as exciting, through the works of art on display.

Day 03

After breakfast, your coach will take you towards Castelnau de Montmiral where you can admire the bastide built by Raymond VII, Count of Toulouse. Listed among the most beautiful villages in France, here you will find magnificent half-timbered houses and a square surrounded by archways. You will then continue to the Gaillac wine area to visit Domaine Vaysette winery. Enjoy a wine tasting session in the wine cave, and a winegrower's lunch. Ascend by a touristic train to Cordes sur Ciel, a town ready to transport you back to the Middle Ages. A guided tour of this city will show impressive Gothic heritage, overlooked by the bell tower of Saint Michael. Return to hotel for dinner.

Day 04

A guided walking tour of the historic centre of Castres will show you the Bishopric and its garden designed by Le Nôtre, the medieval houses along the Agout river, Jean Jaurès square, and private mansions dating from the 17th century. You will then take a guided tour of the Goya Museum for an overview of Hispanic art, which is unique in France and is home to paintings by Goya, and the masters of the 14th century. After lunch at a restaurant in the city centre, you will head to the Château des Plantes to visit the fields, indigo factory, and to take part in a dyeing workshop with your master dyer.

Day 05

Depart your hotel and return home.

Your holiday includes

Return flights from the UK
Return airport transfers in UK and at destination
Breakfast and all evening meals with wine
Lunch on days 2, 3, and 4
4 nights at the Mercure Albi Bastides
Guided tours as per itinerary
Entrance to the chancel
Tastings as per itinerary
Indigo dyeing workshop (cotton scarf included)
Private coach travel
Services of an experienced driver throughout your stay
Services of a professional guide

Hotel Details

Mercure Albi Bastides

Housed in an 18th century water mill that was also once a pasta factory for the Soleil brand, Mercure Albi Bastides will fascinate you with its porch and brick façade. A listed historical monument with renovated interiors, our hotel in Albi has two meeting rooms for your events. The bar serves local Gaillac wine and beers, and our restaurant with a terrace offers panoramic views of the city. Come and savour croquants de Cordes and other local specialities at our breakfast buffet.

Located on the bank of Tarn river, next to the Lapérouse Museum and opposite the Cité Episcopale, our hotel in Albi is an 8-minute walk from the historic city centre. Cross the Pont Vieux to the other side of the river, where you will find the Sainte cathedral, Toulouse-Lautrec museum, Saint-Salvy cloister and Palais de la Berbie. Thanks to our rental e-bikes, you can also enjoy cycling along the Tarn or in the Pratgraussals outdoor activities centre.

Located in the centre of Albi, on the banks of the river Tarn and close to the Pont Neuf, the Mercure Albi Bastides is the ideal place from which to explore the Palais de la Berbie, the Toulouse-Lautrec museum and the enchanting mediaeval districts.