Tarn
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Tarn Self catering Holiday rental Cottages & Gites, France
Search the Rent-in-France holiday homes for self catering cottages, gites and villas in Tarn, France. Situated in the Midi-Pyrenees region in the Southwest of France, the department takes its name from the Tarn River which is approximately 381km long and runs in a westerly direction from its source in Mont Lozère, in the Cévennes mountains. Tarn was formed back in 1790 from the following three districts of churches, Castres, Lavaur and Albi. Tarn is the ideal choice of region to stay in beautiful French Holiday Cottages. Its rural surroundings provide a relaxing holiday rental where you will find a location with a leisurely pace of life. Enjoy the green, peaceful and magnificent scenery, the number of fortified medieval towns and its very strong culture. Life in Tarn has a very different pace to much of the rest of the country - the local people like to take their time and enjoy the pleasant climate that the department has to offer. You will find markets and attic fairs in many villages throughout the year.
Tarn is a fisherman’s paradise due to its rich source of fish in the Tarn river - including Perch, Roach, Carp, Bleak and Cat Fish. Golf fanatics will find a number of golf courses spread across the department, so wherever you decide to set up base when renting a Tarn Self catering Holiday Home, there should always be a golf course rather close. One popular course is the Chateau Lasbordes in Albi.
Place to visit in Tarn, France
Gaillac The town that has gained a large amount of recognition due to the wines that bear the towns name. Located between Albi, Monatauban and Toulouse this market town is the commercial centre of the North west of Tarn due to the river port where they originally started to export wines. The Gaillac vineyards are some of the most attractive areas of modern France.
Albi is the capital of the Tarn department situated roughly about 80 km Northeast of Toulouse. This superb historic area of France covers around 63 hectares and was built around the original cathedral. One of the main features of this town is that its is built in the Languedoc-style red brick. It is also home to the Toulouse-Lautrec Museum, one of the oldest and best- preserved castles in France which has now been transformed into a museum.
Lavaur A typical French town, but a lively one! Home to an impressive Romanesque cathedral and a fantastic Saturday market. The town is constructed in the familiar red brick like most of the buildings in the area and this fortified town is close to a large number of outdoor activities due its varied terrain. Local activities include Windsurfing, Jet Skiing and Quad Biking.
Cordes-sur- Ciel One of the most beautiful bastide towns in France today, situated in the Tarn countryside set proudly on a hilltop. Take a Tarn self catering holiday gite and enjoy the fantastic panoramic views across the department that are on offer at the huge domineering chateau. Cordes-sur-Ciel is the ideal spot to enjoy the local culture and the departments rich heritage.
Castres A historical town located in the south-west of the Tarn department. Although Castres is a traditional town where textiles has been an important industry for a number of years, the town has been transformed and has taken on a new modern look due to the increased tourism to the area. The main square is home to two daily markets where you will be able to purchase local produce. Situated on the edge of the Tarn department, Castres is a fantastic base to explore its neighbouring region, Languedoc-Roussillon.
If you choose to rent a self catering holiday home in Tarn, you will enjoy a fresh cool green Atlantic climate along with the sunshine and warmth of the Mediterranean. Winters here are relatively short and the temperature averages at a mild 15 degrees. The department boasts an impressive 2380 hours (approx) of sunshine each year with the temperature rising to an impressive 40 degrees during the summer months!
Arriving to the Tarn department is relatively straight-forward. Toulouse international airport is the nearest and is less than an hour away from your holiday destination. Toulouse airport is served from a large number of UK airports with British Airways, Air France, Easy Jet, Flybe AND Bmibaby all offering budget and low cost flights. Ryanair also has a number of flights from the UK to Carcassonne or Rode which are approximately 1.5 hours away. By train there are fast train services from Paris and Lille direct to Toulouse both of which can be reached from London via The Euro star.
Alternatively you can drive, the easiest route is the 850km drive from Calais to the northern end of the Midi Pyrenees. From Calais take the A26 & A1 to Paris then the A10, A71 and A20 straight to the Midi Pyrenees.
The beautiful landscapes, pleasant climate and fine gastronomy of this lovely French department is second to none! Accompanied with these attributes is a laid back lifestyle that offers a quite wonderful place to enjoy a relaxing break in France.