ALBI HOLIDAY RENTAL

Albi vacation rental
Accommodation sleeps 6
Pretty garden, with high hedges
Wifi High Speed internet connection
Central heating (rental available all seasons)
House in outskirts of Albi
15 minutes walk to large modern outdoor swimming pool complex
Easy access to Tarn river gorge - Cycling, Canoeing, Walking, pretty villages
4 minutes to shops, restaurants
8 minutes to Albi center and Toulouse-Lautrec Museum

This modest house in the suburbs of Albi, is in a quiet neighbourhood, a short distance from open countryside, and the lovely Tarn river gorge, but also 8 minutes from central historic Albi.

3 bedrooms, full bathroom, kitchen, and good sized garden, with high hedges provide high sense of privacy for sun bathing, and outside dining.

Access: The Albi railway station has TGV connections (via Toulouse). International airports: Toulouse (35 mins), Carcassonne (2 hours), Castres/Mazamet (60 mins).

ALBI

Albi is 35 minutes drive from Toulouse, impressively situated on the River Tarn, amongst rolling hills, gorges, vineyards, farmland and woods. The lively town has events all year round, in addition to its famous sights.

The red bricked town is crowned by 2 churches - Sainte-Cecile Cathedral, a 13th century fortress church, a masterpiece of Southern Gothic architecture, with 78 metre bell tower, huge 15C medieval painting of the Last Judgment (originally 200 metres wide), and a highly ornate rood screen; and St Salvi's Collegiate Church with quiet cloister.

The neighbouring Archbishops Palace "Palais de la Berbie" with stern red walls, and decorative garden, overlooking the river Tarn, now houses the Toulouse-Lautrec museum, with over 2000 of his paintings. Toulouse-Lautrec was born in Albi, at his family's mansion at Hotel du Bosc, close by.

Albi - has events year round, from a large carnival in February, nearby car racing in March, and May; a huge flea market in June; numerous theatre and music festivals through July, and August; a book fair in October, film festival and art salon in November, and Christmas concerts and fair in December

Maison Albi, is situated in St Juery, on the outskirts of Albi in an easterly directions. In past times it was a center for steel production (1824 - 1983), taking its power from the river running dramatically through the gorge next to it (the waterfall has a 25 metre drop). The Musée du Saut du Tarn (opened in 1995) is an interesting industrial museum that traces the history of this once important industry, as well as the social life of the town for the last 200 years. It is possible to visit the Forge de Saint Juery - well known world wide for its manufacture of tools for carving wood, stone, plaster - the company originally created tools for the artists Maillol, Rodin, Camille Claudel, amongst others.

St Juery can be explored by taking 2 special walking paths through it - Chemin de Fontaine and Chemins de Bellevue (see Walking in the Tarn for more information). There are a number of restaurants, bars and a large shopping center in St Juery.

There is an impressive public large swimming pool and complex - Espace Aquatique Taranis - 4 minutes drive (15 minutes walking) from Maison Albi.

SURROUNDING

The surrounding area of Albi, is glorious walking country full of interesting villages and sights to visit.

Nearest to Saint Juery is the beautiful Tarn gorge - including such highlights at Ambialet, with its priory, and church, magnificently placed on a hill (almost on a island) on a river loop that turns back on itself. For the cyclist there are trails from St Juery to Ambialet. On Thursday nights through July and August you can see the village, and surrounds dramaticly lit up in a "son et lumière"

Also in the area 3 kms away is Lescure, an ancient fortified village with beautiful Norman church. Near too, is Gaillac, with its famous wines, Abbey church, and the 15c Chateau of Mauriac. Closer to Toulouse, is the village of Lisle-sur-Tarn, - a pretty medieval bastide village, with arcaded walkways, central square, and ancient houses; for those with a sweet tooth - there is also a chocolate museum.

Visit too, Monestiés, medieval village, with lovely gothic church; Réalmont, with plaza with covered walkway, and circular farm; Graulhet, with leather exhibitions; Cordes-sur-Ciel - proclaimed one of the most beautiful villages in France, with gothic sculpted facades, art galleries, shops, and a stunning hilltop; and Bruniquel, a breathtaking castle above the Aveyron river.

For those seeking cosmopolitan excitement Toulouse is only 35 minutes, with exceptional art galleries, its Saint Sernin basilica, the broad Place du Capitole, restaurants, theater, night life - you can even visit where the Airbus is built!

ACCESS

The Albi railway station has TGV connections (via Toulouse). International airports: Toulouse (35 mins), Carcassonne (2 hours), Castres/Mazamet (60 mins).