Benvengut in the Tarn ! This green and welcoming department invites you to hope, to fousiquer, to gansouiller, to poutouner, to escargoter... All the simple pleasures of the life, what! It's normal, you are in the South-West, the friendly and benevolent Occitanie, a territory of good living. The Tarn spreads its valleys and its mountains aroundAlbi, the beautiful and dynamic episcopal city, all in red bricks, classified by Unesco. Other cities are splendid: Cordes-sur-Ciel, the medieval city, Gaillac with its abbey and its wine, Castres, its Goya museum and its beautiful houses perched on the banks of the Agout. Amphitheater open to the west, the Tarn culminates at the Puech de Montgrand (1 270 meters), in the commune of Lacaune. The Black Mountain separates this department from its neighbor, the Aude. This department has a rugged and attractive relief, hilly and wild, watered by several rivers, alternating cliffs and gentle hills, alluvial plains and wide valleys. The natural spaces are varied and numerous, inviting you to walk or cycle.

Sometimes the Tarn even looks like Tuscany. Here the light is beautiful and the table generous. The products of the Tarn make meals rich in flavors: pork meats from Lacaune, veal from Ségala, pink garlic, saffron, roquefort... The restaurant owners use them with pride and offer you their favorite recipes. To your gourmet forks!

What to see, what to do Tarn?

When to go Tarn ?

Spring is the right time to walk the paths of the Black Mountain and discover the know-how of its craftsmen. In summer, you will seek coolness and will go to discover the sources of the Canal du Midi, its Vauban vault classified with the world inheritance of UNESCO, the museum and the gardens of the Canal du Midi, and will benefit from the beneficial shade of the trees which surround the rigole of the Black Mountain. You can cool off in the Saint-Ferréol basin and paddle on the Tarn. The high tourist season is in summer. In autumn, the back season offers beautiful days and beautiful landscapes. However, beware of the sometimes torrential rains. Check the weather forecast !

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Discover Tarn

Welcome to an area that is gourmet, festive, friendly, but also sporty, where you can enjoy outdoor activities on land, water and air. You can test yourself against the wind and the white or calm waters by canoe, paddle, sailboat, windsurf... Among other gems, there is this wonderful and unusual restaurant-library, the Bibilotéca (Saint-Pierre-de-Trivisy) to enjoy and the fabulous Jardins des Martels (Giroussens) not to be missed. In the local heritage, old factories keep the memory of the work of leather and woven cloth. Other fascinating visits include the embroidery museum and the museum dedicated to sugar and chocolate which are made into works of art. Nature has also produced its wonders, including the amazing rocks of Sidobre. As for sleeping, surprise yourself with a bubble open to the sky, an Airdream caravan, a pod, an Amerindian wigwam...

Pictures and images Tarn

Le vignoble de Gaillac. le Point du Jour - Shutterstock.com
Vue d'Albi, depuis les rives du Tarn PHOVOIR
DOMAINE DE LALANDE DR
Cadran solaire à Castres PHOVOIR

The 12 keywords Tarn

1. # Architecture

Marked by the department's eventful history, the architecture of the Tarn region is influenced by various trends. They can be seen in the picturesque streets, in the features of its clay buildings, its fortress churches and its Gothic monuments, the most representative of which is the Sainte-Cécile cathedral in Albi.

2. # Handicraft

The men and women of the Tarn have used their talent and their land to ensure the economic health and reputation of the department. If the department has historically been marked by textile and leather work, it is now used as a workshop by many potters, glass blowers, ironworkers, textile and jewellery designers..

3. # Canoeing

Canoeing is one of the easiest outdoor activities to practice. In addition to being fun, the leisure activity allows you to venture into large natural areas without disturbing their inhabitants. After a few minutes of paddling, you will surely see some of them. Take the time to take a swim break to refresh yourself!

4. # Canyoning

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At the gates of the Haut Languedoc National Park, particularly at the level of the Banquet gorges, several organisations offer canyoning trips to thrill-seekers. Fun, this course consists of swimming, jumping, sliding on natural slides, abseiling, climbing walls ... There is something for all levels!

5. # Climbing

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Take the height! Thanks to its numerous reliefs, the Tarn is a formidable terrain for climbing enthusiasts. They can discover and progress in the heart of sensational landscapes such as the Banquet gorges, the Haut-Languedoc Regional Natural Park and the Montagne Noire. On the programme: climbing, via ferrata, cliff courses...

6. # Gastronomy

In the land of good food, the plates are adorned with very fragrant local products such as pink garlic from Lautrec, saffron or Lacaune charcuterie. It is also a region where lovers of biscuits and desserts are spoilt for choice: croquants de Cordes, gimblettes, curbelets... Don't leave the department empty-handed!

7. # Mountain

The Tarn is characterized by many reliefs, which explains the attraction of sportsmen for the department. With the Montagne Noire, near Mazamet, and the relief of the Haut Languedoc National Park, at the gateway to the Hérault, the destination is ideal for climbing, hiking, canyoning and many other activities.

8. # Museum

Spared by the ages, the department is an open-air museum. Through its heritage, it tells the story of the epic events that have shaped its history. To learn more about these subjects or to discover the artists who have been inspired by the area, several areas are accessible: Musée-mine, Musée du Catharisme, Musée Goya, Musée Toulouse-Lautrec...

9. # Fishing

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The Tarn is studded with lakes and rivers that are a joy for anglers of all levels. Numerous, the spots can be arranged or wild. They shelter an incredible variety of fish: trout, catfish, pike, pike-perch... Among the best spots, we can mention the Agoût, the Tarn, the Cérou, the Thoré and the lake of Saint-Peyres.

10. # Hiking

The department is criss-crossed by numerous hiking trails suitable for walkers, cyclists and horse riders. They are varied and lead to the heart of the mountains, to the plains, near rivers, around lakes and through picturesque villages. Present in the four corners of the Tarn, each of these paths will reveal a new facet of the territory.

11. # Tradition

In the Tarn, tradition is celebrated and eaten up! Take a look at the department's calendar, which gives pride of place to village festivals, parades and traditional celebrations. In terms of activities, you may have the pleasure of watching a game of 9-pin bowling or tambornet (or tambourine), emblematic games of the region.

12. # Vine

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"I will drink wine when the cows are grazing on grapes" said the Tarn painter Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec with humour. A remark that perfectly symbolizes the importance of the vine for the locals! Celebrated for more than a thousand years, it still contributes to the reputation of the department, particularly in the Gaillac vineyards.

You are from here, if...

You're no stranger to the words "espanter", "fousiquer", "gansouiller", "poutouner" and "escargoter".

You've already given your voice to encourage your favorite rugby team.

You can shine in society with a few anecdotes about Goya, Toulouse-Lautrec and Jean Jaurès.

Outdoor sports such as hiking, canyoning and climbing hold no secrets for you.

You've already ventured into the department's old mines.

You've heard a stag's bellow and admired a vulture's flight.

You've admired the colorful lanterns of Gaillac and the Venetian masks of Castres.

You defend at the top of your lungs the superiority of Lacaune charcuterie and Lautrec pink garlic.

Among your favorite specialties are casse-museau, mesturet and croquants de Cordes.

You know the best Gaillac wines and the nicknames of their producers.

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