This self-guided tour begins in Albi, located about 490 miles south of Paris and about 70 miles northeast of Toulouse. The tour travels east along tranquil roads through rugged scenery along the Tarn River and concludes in Alès, a town in the Gard about 70 miles west of Avignon.
This tour is scheduled to begin on August 24, 2003.
Total Cycling Days: 5
Total Miles: 175.5
Average Miles per Day: 35
Your Itinerary
Day 1:
Using Toulouse as your European gateway, you’ll travel by train to your starting point, Albi. Your train ride from Toulouse to Albi takes about one hour. Using Paris as your port of entry, you will need to layover in Paris for a night before taking the train to Albi. From Paris, your train ride to Albi takes approximately five-and-one-half-hours.
Albi is a vibrant cosmopolitan city pulsing with energy. Albi’s beautifully preserved medieval center, mostly restricted to pedestrians and cyclists, serves as the city’s center of commerce and entertainment. Albi has a unique appearance relative to other French cities due to its predominantly brick buildings (as opposed to stone). While in Albi, you’ll not want for things to do. Near the top of your to do list must be a visit to the gargantuan St. Cécile Cathedral. From its exterior, this imposing brick ediface looks more like a fortress than a church, but inside you will see one of France’s most richly painted and ornamented churches. Next to the Cathedral is the Toulouse-Lautrec Museum. Housed in the Palais de Berbie, you’ll enjoy viewing the rooms of this palace as much as the numerous illustrations by this famous French painter.To help you appreciate the rest of Albi’s sights, the Tourist Information Office publishes a series of walking tours. Or simply walk the old streets and feel the pulse of this lively cosmopolitan city.
Day 2:
Second day in Albi.
Day 3:
Albi to Brousse-le-Château - 60 km / 37.5 miles.
Your first day's ride is a cyclist's dream and one of our favorites. As you leave Albi, you’ll leave city life and traffic behind you for awhile. Within five miles you’ll be riding the banks of the mighty Tarn passing through little more than an occasional tiny village. You’ll exit the main road onto what can only be described as a poor excuse for a road, but a great bikepath. With virtually no auto traffic, you’ll delight in your ride along the forested bluffs of the Tarn before descending into the medieval village of Ambialet. Here you can stop for a bite before climbing the hill above the village for a view of the largest buckle in the Tarn (the river essentially turns back on itself here).
Beyond Ambialet, you’ll enjoy more effortless, riverside cycling through the quiet villages of Trebas-les-Bains and Lincou and then, as the river bends, you’ll cycle through a series of tunnels cutting through the bluffs. Just beyond the tunnels, you’ll reach your destination, Brousse-le-Château, which is one of the most charming villages you'll ever visit. Short of exploring the town’s ancient castle ruins, there’s nothing to do in Brousse except relish the tranquility of its idyllic setting. Your hotel sits along the banks of the tiny, but rushing Alrance River. The beauty of Brousse-le-Château is truly moving. In preparation for tomorrow’s ride, we suggest you get a really good night’s sleep.
Day 4:
Brousse-le-Château to Millau - 60 km / 37.5 miles.
Today's ride is the toughest of your trip. You have 3 long hills to climb, one of which seems to never end. On the other hand, you’ll be rewarded with gorgeous unspoiled scenery as you continue upstream along the Tarn. Before your first long climb however, you’ll cycle through a long, unlit tunnel (flashlights are absolutely required for this tour.) Shortly after, you’ll begin your climb into Broquiès This climb is long but not terribly steep, and the views on yourway up to this darling village are wonderful.
Beyond Broquiès, you’ll descend dramatically back down to the Tarn and you’ll probably begin to feel very far from civilization. But soon you reach the village of le Truel; we suggest you take advantage of this good opportunity to refuel. As the river narrows, you’ll pass a couple of dams and then, begin the granddaddy of the day's climbs. When you’ve finally completed your long climb, you’ll be rewarded with spectacular views and nearly effortless cycling for the remainder of your ride into Millau.
As you near Millau, you’ll notice that the landscape changes from thick forests to a drier, sparser vegetation. Millau has the feel of a real city, and is certainly one of the larger, more contemporary cities on your tour. Experience a little urban life. Millau is the center of the French glove-making industry, so you may wish to shop for things leather while visiting. Of special interest are 2000 year old ruins of a Roman pottery plant just outside the city.
Day 5:
Days 5 and 6: Millau to St-Chély-du-Tarn - 53 km / 32.5 miles. Today's ride features the magnificent Gorge of the Tarn. Ironically, your ride both to and through the gorge is nearly effortless. With no real work to do while in the saddle, you’re absolutely free to relax and enjoy the breath-taking scenery. Before you actually reach the gorge, your ride takes you from Millau through several small, charming villages, as well as the fragrant vineyards of the Tarn valley. As you make your way through the gorge plan to stop frequently; at every turn, the scenery grows ever more awesome.
Upon first sight of St. Chély you may be moved to tears. Not a more picture-perfect image exists than this tiny medieval village sitting atop the cliffs rising from the Tarn. To make the setting even more idyllic, several mountain streams, which flow beneath St. Chély, emerge from the rock face supporting the village and cascade over the cliffs into the Tarn.
After you’ve checked-in to your hotel, settle-in for a soul-nourishing 2-night stay. This is a great place to relax, enjoy boat rides on the river, or hike the many trails extending along both sides of the gorge. During your stay, we suggest you bike or hike (we've done both) the 4.5 km to St. Enimie, a larger medieval town nestled in a totally different, yet no less striking setting. Or you can just lounge by your hotel's pool, which sits on the edge of a cliff overlooking the Tarn.
Day 6:
Second day in St. Chély or St. Enimie.
Day 7:
St-Chély-du-Tarn to Pont de Montvert - 49 km / 30.5 miles. If you chose not to visit St. Enimie during your stay in St. Chély, you’ll pass through it shortly after beginning your day’s ride and then you’ll continue to the end of the gorge. Today's ride includes even more outstanding scenery and quaint villages. About half-way through, you’ll begin a long climb to Pont de Montvert; continuing your route along the Tarn, your climb is rarely steep, but it lasts approximately 12 km. Along the way, the landscape grows rugged and you'll begin to see numerous mountain streams cascading down the mountainside, but few cars.
Your legs will welcome the quick descent into Pont de Montvert where you’ll stay at one of our favorite hotels, the Enchanted Trout (contingent upon availability, of course.) You’ll sense that this mountain village sees few foreigners, the restaurants being full of jubilant locals enjoying huge portions of great food. Pont de Montvert is great for relaxing and communing with nature. Climb the surrounding hills, meditate on the banks of the rushing Tarn (you’ll leave it tomorrow), or simply watch the cows lazily grazing on the steep mountain slopes. And eat, eat, eat.
Day 8:
Day 8: Pont de Montvert to Alès - 60 km / 37.5 miles. Today you’ll complete the long climb to the pass in the Cévennes Mountains that you began yesterday. The climb ends however at km 9.2, as you reach the pass in the Cévennes National Park. Here, you’ll enjoy an outstanding vista of a sea of rolling green hills below you in every direction. Here also begins a 20-km descent, the likes of which we have never seen. Exercise extreme caution with your speed, as without even trying, you’re likely to exceed 60 km per hour. Watch closely and you will notice changes in the flora as you lose elevation.
After your thrilling descent out of the mountains, you’ll want to stop in le Pradel for nurishment because you have one more climb ahead of you. By the time you’ve reached the long descent into Alès, you’ll notice that the vegetation is now of the Mediterranean variety. You have reached the sunny south of France. Alès is a pretty town on the Gard River with a medieval downtown and some lovely sights. Or you can make a sidetrip to la Bambouserie, a nearby bamboo forest planted in the 19th century.
Day 9:
Train to Marseille or Paris for your departure, or to Avignon for a taste of Provence. If you’re returning home via Marseille, you will take an early morning train that will allow you to fly home today. An airport shuttle bus will take you from the train station to the airport.
If you’re departing on a mid to late-afternoon flight from Paris' Charles de Gaulle Airport, you can plan to leave Alès today by train and probably have time to catch your flight home. Or, you may elect to stopover in Avignon on your way either to Marseille or Paris. Avignon is a vibrant city in Provence (one of the best French cities of its size).
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Prices are approximate and depend upon the support options and the class of hotels selected. The price estimate includes hotels, meals, bike rental, baggage transport, and roadside assistance.
Please note: To take advantage of some support options you will need to take this tour on August 24, 2003. You may take this tour at any other time, but roadside assistance and baggage transport are available only when taking the tour on August 24, 2003.
Also see tour packages in:
Europe
France
Outdoor: Land Rambler
Bicycle Touring
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