Toulouse
We are delighted to include a brand-new tour centred on the fascinating
and multi-faceted city of Toulouse. We spend
seven nights in the excellent perfectly-located Hotel Albert 1er from
where we can explore the many historic and cultural sights of Toulouse
whilst spending three days away from the city visiting Carcassone, Albi,
and Castres.
Toulouse has always been a melting pot of Western European culture and
its early influences include Roman, Visigoth, Moorish and Frankish.
In the Middle Ages it was one of the most powerful cities in France
and it witnessed one of the most spectacular phenomena in the history
of religion: the rise and fall of Catharism. It is known as the ‘ville
rose’ thanks to the lovely pink tones of its brick architecture.
DAY 1: We fly direct to Toulouse; it is a 15 minute journey from the
airport to our hotel. Throughout the week of course, we shall be savouring
the delicious (and hearty) cuisine of the region.
DAYS 2 & 3: We dedicate our first two full days to the history and
culture of the city itself. Our visits include the marvellous group
of medieval churches: the Romanesque Basilica of St Sernin, St Etienne’s
cathedral and the Monastery of Les Jacobins which incidentally contains
the tomb of St Thomas Aquinas. This rich historical pedigree underscores
the fascinating collection of the Musée St Raymond whilst a spectacular
insight into the riches of the 16th-century élite can be gained
from the house and museum of the Fondation Bamberg. As much as anything
Toulouse is a city that repays relaxed exploration. Its squares and
medieval streets remain remarkably unspoilt despite the city’s
status as a modern centre of science and technology.
DAYS 4, 5 & 6: Our three excursions take us to three richly varied
destinations: the UNESCO World Heritage Site of
Carcassone, the historic city of Albi, and Castres. Carcassone and Albi
(which boasts the greatest brick-built cathedral in the world), are
inextricably linked to the history of the Cathars and we shall focus
particularly on this endlessly fascinating topic; whilst in Castres
(of all places), we shall discover the best collection of Hispanic art
in France including three great masterpieces by Goya.
DAY 7: The focal point of Day 7 is the marvellous Musée des Augustins,
one of France’s greatest galleries of Fine Arts. Its collections
of sculptures and painting cover the history of Western Art.
DAY 8: We take our return flight from Toulouse airport.
THIS TOUR WILL DEPART: 7th June 2010
OUR HOTEL: The excellent 3-star Hotel
Albert 1er
NUMBER IN PARTY: 12-16
THE PRICE OF THIS TOUR: £1460
(single supplement £140)