Getting here and away : Castanet is about a day's drive (10-11 hrs) from Calais or just 1.5 hours from Toulouse International airport where there are several flights per day from Gatwick, Luton and Heathrow. In addition, there are flights to Rodez and Carcassonne with Ryanair. On a wider perspective, the location is central to the Pyrénées, the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts, all of which make for an interesting day away.
History and wine : This area is renowned for its “bastide'' towns and villages. Of these, Najac and Cordes sur Ciel are perhaps the best known as they are wonderful examples of living medieval, hill-top fortifications and date from the 13th century. Cordes, for example, was founded by Raymond, Count of Toulouse during the violent years of the Cathar Wars and Albigensian Crusades. Today, the walls and houses of both Cordes sur Ciel and Najac stand in their entirety, having been painstakingly restored by the artisans and artists who now live and work there. Wine connoisseurs can investigate the local vineyards of Gaillac (starting 25 minutes to the south) and Cahors (1 hour to the north), Languedoc (2.5 hours to the south) or the relatively unknown Marcillac to the northeast near Rodez. The area is also home to many restaurateurs who can guide you on your choice of good wine.
Albi, a newly appointed UNESCO site is 50kms to the south.
Eating, drinking and entertainment : Monteils, (3kms) has a boulangerie, grocers and 3 good restaurants. The pretty bastide town of Villefranche de Rouergue (20 minutes) will meet all your shopping needs (hypermarkets, tabacs, newsagents, banks, post office, boulangerie/patisseries, boucherie, sports shops and several bars/restaurants). Villefranche is also host to a comprehensive programme of entertainment as well as a large, lively market on Thursdays.
The lovely towns of Najac and St Antonin Noble Val are only 20 minutes away and have very colourful markets on Sunday. There are several fêtes, spectacles, music festivals and general entertainments taking place in Cordes sur Ciel and the surrounding villages. Family entertainment is also available 40 minutes away at the Cap Découverte theme park including swimming pool, karting, dry-slope skiing and tobogganing, skating, rollerblading, cycling and a museum of the old mines and local history. Open-air swimming pools are available in Najac and Villefranche.
Golf:
There is a 9 hole golf course at Villefranche de Rouergue but golfing enthusiasts would be better to go to Albi where there is a superb top quality course. The non golfers among the party could happily spend several hours in Albi (a recent Unesco Heritage site) visiting the cathedral, Toulouse Lautrec museum, taking a river trip or simply shopping and lunching.
Other Activities:
Canoeing (organised or individual) - great fun!!!
