Tailormade tour Tarn, Languedoc and Provence fly-drive touring holiday France

You arrive at Toulouse and collect your hire-car and then it is just an hour’s drive by motorway to your base in the Tarn at Cahuzac-sur-Vere. However, depending on the arrival time of your flight, we recommend that you take a slower route to your overnight stop, by leaving the motorway to join the route of the River Tarn at Mezens. Follow the road along the river through the picturesque, red-brick town of Rabastens, a traditional stopping point on the route to Santiago de Compostela and home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Notre-dame du Bourg church. There are magnificent townhouses built by the merchants who would trade in wine and dye. Soon there is the start of the Gaillac vineyards and then you reach your destination. You stay at Cahuzac-sur-Vere for three nights.

You have two full days to explore this fascinating region, and a little off-the-beaten track of the normal tourist routes of France. The small commune of Cahuzac-sur-Vère is the quintessential rural French settlement, with its narrow winding streets and blond stone buildings, picturesque central square and war monument. The houses of the Cahuzacois cluster around the Catholic church of the same name as the commune, giving it a very mediaeval appearance. Stretching out on each side, however, is a landscape rich in exciting opportunities to explore. Montauban, less than an hour northwest of Cahuzac-sur-Vère is the second oldest of the bastides of southern France, founded in 1144AD. It was voted a French City of Art and History, with a city centre characterised by its towering castle, impressive bridge, and boulevards. Wine-tasting opportunities are available at the Domaine de Montels and the Mas des Anges, if you would like to sample the wine of the area. Alternatively, Montauban is known for its other culinary specialities, such as sugared almonds and biscuits with jam, not to mention the fabulous produce of its chocolatiers. Also nearby is Albi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and bursting with the remarkable history of France. The most immediate point of interest in this small town is its red-brick mediaeval cathedral, St. Cecilia’s. Witness how its imposing exterior blends into the delicate wood and stone decoration of its interior. Adorning the whole western wall are extensive murals depicting the Last Judgement. Just next door, the Bishop’s palace houses the Toulouse Lautrec museum, dedicated to the works of the post-impressionistic iconographer Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. From outside the cathedral, you can make your way west to the square which overlooks the River Tarn or pass the museum to walk across the thousand-year-old Old Bridge. Albi retains the look and feel of its traditional way of life. Visit the hill-top town of Cordes-sur-Ciel and take the time to wander down the streets of one of the most spectacular villages.

You drive through the wine-town of Gaillac today, heading for Castres, on the banks of the River Agout. There are interesting part-timbered, overhanging houses here that used to belong to the tanners and dyers of the town. There is also the Goya museum, located in a former episcopal palace. Outside the palace are magnificent parterres designed by Le Notre. South of Castres you cross into the Parc naturel regional du Haut Languedoc and then enter Cathar country. North of Carcassonne it’s worth taking a detour to visit the chateaux at Lastours, where there are four Cathar castles. You stay in Carcassonne, within the town walls, for three nights.

You have a full day in Carcassonne. There is time to explore the city itself and perhaps to venture outside. The Gallo-Roman upper town of Carcassonne is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and historically of great significance in France. Walk along the city walls, past the castle’s amphitheatre, the basilica, and its 53 watchtowers, before making your way into the 12th century Château Comtal to view its archaeological exhibits and tour its inner ramparts. The lower Carcassonne town subverts its title as a city, instead offering a peaceful, somewhat sleepy atmosphere, with a central square that holds a weekly market and several cafés. From Place Carnot, walk further out into the town centre to discover the quaint individual stores that sell unique gifts, or La Ferme, which sells fine food and wines. For a stunning experience of the region’s châteaux, drive south to the Cathar Castles that pepper the dramatic landscape and guard its deep valleys, particularly the Château de Peyrepertuse. The Canal du Midi is perfect for a long afternoon stroll or book a boat trip one afternoon to intensify the atmosphere of Carcassonne from the water. Beyond the walls of La Cité lie the wine regions of Minervois, to the north, and Corbières, to the south. If wine-tasting appeals, head into one of the many châteaux dotted around the countryside of these two regions. The Château Canet is the perfect spot to try some of the Muscat wines so typical of the Minervois region, as well as the olives from its three olive groves. Château Rives-Blanques in Cépie produces wines made available all over the world that you are encouraged by your warm hosts to taste on your visit. The less visited area of Saint Chinian, situated at the foothills of the Black Mountains and in the Parc Naturel Regional du Haut Languedoc, is worth a visit, known as it is for high quality produce; perhaps stop off at the Château de Combebelle.

Your route today should take you north-east first to the town of Minerve and the Minervois wine producing region, a patchwork landscape of small vineyards and olive trees dotted with pretty villages. This is at the southern end of the Parc naturel regional du Haut Languedoc which you then cross following a scenic route through wooded hills and valleys, with the road twisting and turning as it follows the course of the River Orb, in the direction of Clermont-l’Herault. Near Clermont-l'Herault, surrounded by rolling hills of vines and olives, is the strange-sounding place of Manufacture Royale, which was where royal sheets were made in the village of Villeneuvette in the 18th century. To the north is the ‘Grand Site’ of the Lac Salagou and a short distance beyond Clermont-l’Herault is the astonishing village of Saint-Guilhem-le-Desert, designated as one of the most beautiful villages in France. This village is at the heart of the Herault valley with its deep gorges, olive trees and vines. Continue to your overnight stop on the outskirts of Montpellier, where you stay for three nights.

You have two full days in Montpellier with time to visit both the city itself, the coast nearby and other sites in the area. Montpellier has mediaeval streets and wide boulevards, modern tram lines designed by Christian Lacroix, an Arc de Triomphe and a statue of Louis XIV on horseback, a Roman aqueduct and Place de la Comedie, beautiful private mansions and the Musee Fabre. Within reach in under an hour from Montpellier is the city of Nimes where you can find stunningly preserved Roman architecture, including the famous aqueduct, the Arena of Nimes, a double tiered amphitheatre still used as a venue today and the Maison Carrée, built in white limestone and estimated to be around 2000 years old. A little further north is the Roman aqueduct, the Pont du Gard.

Today is an amazing array of scenery and landscapes as you drive from Languedoc into Provence, first through the eerie landscape of the Camargue, stopping perhaps to visit Aigues-Mortes and then Arles, before finding yourself in the dramatic scenery of the Alpilles, south of Avignon. This is the land of the authors Alphonse Daudet and Frederic Mistral and of Van Gogh who lived in St Remy de Provence. The landscape has the limestone peaks, but pine and oak forests, fields of olive trees and avenues of cypress. Dotted around are farmhouse of ancient drystone. Les Baux de Provence, a mountain-top village with 22 historic monuments and with outstanding views over the countryside below and St Remy de Provence are both worth visiting. Just a little further on you reach the beautiful countryside of the Luberon and Joucas. You spend three nights here.

You have two days to explore this beautiful area of Provence. The Luberon is a gentle landscape of vineyards, orchards, rolling hills and home to the famous lavender and sunflowers, associated greatly with Provence. There are plenty of lavender-related visits including to the lavender museum at Coustellet, with its still and lavender cutting displays. Near Gordes is Senanque Abbey, famous for its picturesque lavender beds. There are abundant picturesque hill-top villages, for example Gordes, well-worth exploring as is the nearby Village des Bories. Explore along the Sorgue River and the surrounding countryside by bike or on foot. Local markets take place in the villages every day: Lourmarin and Bonnieux on a Friday, Gordes on a Tuesday and Menerbes on a Thursday, for example. Fontaine-de-Vaucluse has a famous subterranean spring, and its waters have inspired poets for hundreds of years. Petrarch lived here in the 14th century and his now is now a museum. There is also a museum of the Resistance, a museum of Provencal ‘santons’, workshops of hand-blown crystal and a mill making paper by hand using 15th century techniques.

Today is the last day of the tour and you need to head to Marseille for your flight to London. However, depending on the time, you may want to visit the delightful city of Aix-en-Provence, overlooked by the Montagne Saint-Victoire, recognisable from the works of Cezanne. Recognised as a cosmopolitan hub of the south of France, the streets of Aix-en-Provence are lined with boutique shops specialising in art, jewellery, and fashion. Fine dining is also an attractive in Aix with exclusive cafés and Michelin-starred restaurants, many on the Cours Mirabeau. Yet, it is the historical heritage of the town that really makes its chic cosmopolitan side come to life. A haven for Paul Cézanne, his ‘atelier’ is available for viewing, recreating the artistic and productive space in which he used to work. A short walk from the ‘atelier’ is Les Lauves, the spot from which Cézanne developed his love affair with Montagne Sainte-Victoire. On Saturday mornings there are busy farmers’ markets and the Musee du Calisson, where you can learn about the famous sweets. The main art gallery is the Musee Granet in the Mazarin district, full of elegant 17th and 18th century townhouses. Return your hire-car at Marseille at the end of this touring holiday.