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Albi and the "Bastides Albigeoises"

A route that allows you to discover the beautiful city of Albi as well as some of the "most beautiful villages of France", pass by lovely medieval houses, across plateaus, through forests, vineyards and wheat fields, take paths along the cliffs bordering the gorges of the Aveyron.

7 days - 6 nights - 6 days walking

Minimum required 1

From point to point

With luggage

transportation

Self-guided

Code :FR2ALBI

The plus points

• Albi of course !• Charming Bed & Breakfasts and hotels...• A rich heritage of outstanding landscapes• Discovery of the gorges of Aveyron, among others.• Feasible from spring to autumn.

Before departure, please check that you have an updated fact sheet.

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Also called the "Bastides Albigeoises" built on impressive headlands and defyingthe laws of gravity, these fortified villages, today among those classified as "MostBeautiful Villages of France" are Bruniquel, Penne, Puycelci, Castelnau deMontmirail and Cordes-sue-Ciel. They all have a unique heritage ... From onevillage to another, the old paths will also lead you to discover the Aveyron gorges,the expanses of Causse, the vineyards of Gailliac, the forest of Grésigne and, atthe top of the cliffs, views that are truly breathtaking...

PROGRAM

DAY 1Discover the beautiful town of Albi and stay overnight (or Cordes depending on theoption).

DAY 2Transfer (if you stayed overnight in Albi) and then walk from Cordes to Vaourand it's Templar Commandery on a wonderful path passing by the Château de laPrune, Roussayrolles and the dolmen of Peyreralande, the biggest in thedepartment of Tarn. Arrival at Vaour in the Grésigne forest.

Walking time : 5h30. Distance : 21km.

DAY 3Vaour-Bruniquel by the troglodyte caves of the Suquets trail. A splendid viewfrom the Rock of Suquest. Descent to the village of Penne with its castle ruins onthe peak. After crossing the Aveyron river you will arrive at Bruniquel and itschâteau.

Walking time : 6h. Distance : 25km.

DAY 4Bruniquel - Puycelsi. Walk along the ancient mule tracks overlooking the valley,which lead to the famous oak forest of Grésigne. Arrival at Puycecli, a formerstronghold on a limestone plateau.

Walking time : 4h45. Distance : 12km.

DAY 5Puycelsi - Castelnau de Montmirail. You descend along the river Vère to thevillage of Laval and continue in undulating and bucolic landscapes to Castelnau deMontmiral, a fortified city on a promontary .

Walking time : 6h. Distance : 20km.

DAY 6Castelnau de Montmirail - Cordes. Walking through the Gaillac vineyards datingfrom the time of the Romans you will pass by the amazing "menhir de Vieux" andthe village built by the sacred source. Arrival at Cordes, a jewel of civil Gothic art.

Walking time : 6h. Distance : 21km.

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DAY 7Scenic loop around Cordes by the 'chemin des pigeonniers' with severalwonderful viewpoints. You will pass by Les Cabannes, Mouziesys-Panens and theChäteau de Boisse with its round tower. End of trip in Cordes or after the transferto Albi.

Walking time : 2h15. Distance : 10km.

For various reasons (weather forecast, conditions of the terrain, logistics) we mayexceptionally change the program. Our priority in all circumstances is your safety.

USEFUL INFORMATION

DEPARTURE DATESAt your convenience from the 1st of April to the 15th of November.During one week in summer, a renowned theatre festival takes place at Vaour :more details: http://www.etedevaour.org/

MEETING POINTIn the afternoon at the hotel in Albi, situated 250m from the train station (or if yucome by car at Cordes according to the option taken).

END OF STAYEnd of stay at Albi (or Cordes according to the option taken).

TO GET TO THE MEETING POINTBy train :Albi: Trains from Paris or Toulouse go the station at Albi. The hotel is located closeto Albi town train station. For more information on fares and train schedules, visitthe website of SNCF: www.voyages-sncf.comCordes: There is a train station 5 km from Cordes: that of Cordes-Vindrac. Formore information on fares and train schedules, the station of Cordes-Vindrac 00 335 63 56 05 64. To go from the station in Cordes-Vindrac to the hotel at Cordes,you must take a taxi, here is a contact: taxi Cordais 0 33 5 63 56 26 21 or 00 33 622 42 72 1

By car :Albi : From Toulouse, take the N88 to Albi. The meeting place is located near thetrain station in the town of Albi. Cordes : From Albi, take the D600 towards Cordessur Ciel.

By Plane :Toulouse-Blagnac airport (85 km from Albi), then see "By train" above or take ataxi from the airport to Albi or Cordes.

PARKINGAlbi : Several car parks are available in Albi, for more information please go to thetourist office site : http://www.albi-tourisme.fr/fr/pratique/le-stationnement.htmlCordes : Several car parks are available at the bottom of and around the town,rue du Bouisset and rue Saint-Louis. There is a charge from early March to lateNovember. Parking Tuileries (250 places) is free. It is located east of the city in theroad leading off the D7.

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GUARANTEED DEPARTURE FROM (PERS)1

LEVELWalking from 4 to 6 hours over distances of 12 to 21 km, a maximum cumulativeelevation gain of 350m.

PORTAGEYou'll only carry your things for the day. Your luggage is transported by us unlessyou choose a program without luggage transportation.

SUPERVISIONSelf-guided trip.

ACCOMMODATION1 night in a hotel ***, 2 nights in a hotel**, and 3 nights in guesthouse.

MEALSDinners and breakfasts are usually taken in the restaurants of youraccommodation. Most of the time local cuisine with local products. Lunches are notincluded in the price. You can make your own picnic or order them the day aheadwith the accommodation (paid locally). There are many cheap supply points alongthe way.

THE PRICE INCLUDES6 nights half board except dinner on day 1, luggage transportation (or notaccording to your choise), transfers necessary for the conduct of stay, a travelguidebook with topo and 2 IGN maps for 1-4 participants.

THE PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDESlunches, dinner day 1, beverages, visits, booking fee and insurance.

FORMALITIESThis trip is in France. Depending on your nationality you'll need a visa or not. Ifyou have any doubts, please check this longtime in advance by the consulates orembassies. Before leaving, consider the possibility of having to pay medicalexpenses abroad. You can apply to the social services for a European card, and thiswill save you having to pay in advance for any medical expenses abroad whichremain, whatever happens, at your expense. Please bring your ID or passport.

CONTENTS OF YOUR TRAVEL FOLDERWe will send you a travel guide containing all the documents necessary for thecompletion of your trip: roadbook and maps, luggage labels, logistic informations,accommodation addresses, and so on.

Luggage tags : Please put your name on the tag + the name we've used (the"group leader's name") to do the bookings by the accommodations.

If we are not sure you'll receive the documents by ordinary post in time we'll sendthem to the first accommodation. In that case we'll send to you by Email theaccomodation list.

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OTHER INFORMATIONSTo call abroad, dial the international prefix 00, then the country code followed byyour desired phone number, removing the first 0. For example, to La Balaguèrefrom abroad dial 00 33 5 62 97 46 46.

EQUIPMENT

LUGGAGE- a soft travel bag, avoid suitcases, which are more cumbersome and limit theweight of your belongings to 10 kg. - a small backpack of 30 litres minimum foryour daytime requirements.

CLOTHES- a waterproof and breathable jacket (Gore-Tex type)- a fleece or a sweater- a raincoat (poncho)- walking trousers- 1 pair of gloves- 1 hat- shorts- a bathing suit + towel- several pairs of socks (not too large)- underwear- 1 pair of trainers- loose clothing for the evening

EQUIPMENT TO BRING- 1 pair of walking shoes that have been used before- sunglasses, sunscreen and lip protection- 1 bottle (allow 2 to 3 litres per person per day in summer)- a Tupperware type plastic bowl for the picnic + cutlery

FIRST AID KIT- a small personal kit(gauze, Elastoplast, analgesic, double skin for blisters,earplugs ...).

OTHER DETAILS- camera and why not a novel, your watercolours or other desires...- your identification documents.

THE AREAThe Bastides, towns from the Middle Ages:A ring of villages in the north of the Tarn, form the Bastides Albigeoises circuit.They were created in the XII-XIII centuries, at the initiative of lords or kings; thehouses (bastides) have the particularity to be organized around a square or acovered market place, obviously benefiting from an exceptional geographicalsituation. Here is the description of some of bastides you will discover :

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Cordes-sur-Ciel: This old village was founded in 1222 on top of an isolated hill;this is certainly one of the most beautiful villages in France, with its old houses(XIV century), porches, church of Saint Michel ... When night falls, all themonuments in the village are lit up. Castelnau de Montmirail : Castelnau is a must, with remarkably well-preservedfortifications. La Bastide was built by Raymond VII. Old stone and half-timberedhouses, square with arches and wooden pillars are a picturesque setting,dominated by the Toulze tower.Penne: The origins of Penne go back to the beginning of mankind, when groups ofpeople settled in the limestone gorges of the Aveyron. There are only ruins of thechateau built in the thirteenth century, above the village, with its cobbled streetslined with stone houses. Standing on the narrow rocky peak, , Penne dominatesthe countryside and surrounding forests.Puycelsi : Close to the forest of La Grésigne, Puycelsi is a beautiful bastideprotected by 800 meters of fortified walls . Built before the year 1000, it wasdismantled in 1229 by Simon de Montfort, and was subsequently rebuilt. You canadmire old gates and ancient towers, a chapel, and even a few Gothic houses.Bruniquel : Ranked "One of the most beautiful villages in France" Bruniquelincludes two castles from the thirteenth and fifteenth centuries standing on a cliff80 meters above the Aveyron. Houses are pressed against the old ramparts fromthe Xvth century. The trade of spices and sheets as well as the production ofSafran brought wealth, resulting in the large number of beautiful houses datingfrom the Middle Ages ...

WEBSITES• http://www.cordes-sur-ciel.org• http://www.multimania.com/montmiral

INSURANCE

According to the regulation of our profession, La Balaguère is covered by a CivilProfessional Liability. However, each client must hold an individual civil liability aswell as an individual multi risk guarantee in order to protect themselves fromincidents or accidents that may occur before or during their hiking trip.

We remind you that a credit card covers, in general, only assistance in repatriationand not the cancellation of your trip, and this only provided you use the card to payfor the total of the trip.

We offer a choice of three insurance options which you can purchase at the time ofbooking.

Package 1: simple cancellation insurance at 2.5%This insurance provides reimbursement of the amount incurred (excluding fees andthe cost of insurance) in case of cancellation due to one of the following causes:serious accident, illness or death of insured, spouse or person accompanying them,and certain family members.

Package 2: simple cancellation insurance and assistance / repatriation at3.7%

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This inurance allows, in addition to the benefits described in the plan No. 1; - Tobenefit from assistance in case of illness or injury during the trip and covers yourreturn home if necessary. - A reimbursement paid on a pro rata basis (excludingtransportation costs and with a waiting period) in the case of an interruption of yourtrip following an accident, the death of a loved one or other specified accidents.

Package 3: Package "super multi-risk": 4.8%This insurance offers, in addition to the benefits described in the packages No. 1and No. 2, - A wider cancellation insurance with the repayment of amounts incurred(net of deductible) in case of cancellation for any justifiable reason including anexceptional and unexpected event. - The management of some of the costsincurred at the time in case of return not linked to an exceptional and unexpectedevent. - Compensation (capped) for loss, theft or destruction of baggage. -Payment of compensation for delayed baggage delivery of more than 48 hours.

The rapatriation is not valid for all countries, please check with us beforesubscribing the insurance.

You will receive with the confirmation of your booking an extract of the generalconditions of contract chosen (in french). Take this document with you on yourjourney. The validity of all guarantees corresponds with the travel dates indicatedon the invoice and applies only to services sold. For departures and returnspostponed, please contact us. Warning: If you buy only the contract No. 1 (simplecancellation insurance), this means that you need to have your own insurance,repatriation assistance (related notably to certain credit cards). We advise you tocheck your contract and cover guaranteed. In this case, we ask you to tell us whenyou book the name of your insurance company and your policy number. You willassume, therefore, the responsibility of certain risks, especially in the advancepayments of certain costs.

Important: If you must use the assistance during the trip, you must obtain the priorconsent of Europe Assistance before taking any action or incur any expenditure bytelephoning: 33 1 41 85 85 85 and quoting the number of contract: 58662860

ACTING FOR RESPONSIBLE TOURISM

La Balaguère is a founding member of Action for Responsible Tourism.The label "Action for Responsible Tourism" was awarded The Balaguère in 2009. Itis controled, every year, bys ECOCERT.Based on common values of respect, solidarity and quality, ATR aims to harmonizeprofessional practices of its members.To win the confidence of customers, it focuses on four key commitments, whicharise from many activities in the field and at home.

• Clear information and awareness of responsible tourism given to the traveller. • Selection of providers in the spirit of responsible tourism.• Setting up of a transfer of competencies to the providers. • Commitment in relation to the tour operator's own structure.More information on the label ATR on /www.tourisme-responsable.org

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CONTACT US

Purely Pyrenees48 Route d'AzunF-65400 ARRENS-MARSOUSFRANCE

Tel: 00 33 562 977 201Fax: 00 33 562 974 301contact@lpurelypyrenees.com

Purely Pyrénéees is a trademark of La Balaguere SAS with a capital of 179 775euros - Registration number: IM065100002 - Siret: 389 350 745 0001 1 - RCP.Allianz contrat n°53.231.046 - No. 7911 NAF Z - Financial Guarantee: Groupama -Head Office at the address listed above.

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