the Tarn
ALBI
The 13th century fortified cathedral and the old bridge over the Tarn river
Albi and its cathedral sum up a whole era of French history: a time of religious strife, of dissident sects and master builders, of greedy Bishops and the foundation of the 'Inquisition'.
Later, in mellower times, it became home to a young painter, Henri Toulouse-Lautrec, who was born not far away in the tarn countryside. His inspired paintings and sketches now reside in the largest collection of his work in the world at the Toulouse-Lautrec museum housed in the old Bishop's Palace beside the mighty Sainte Cécile cathedral.
Airbus and the Millau viaduct
Hi-tech France: an Airbus A380 flies over Norman Foster's viaduct
Norman Foster's incredible architectural masterpiece spans the valleys of the upper Tarn with simplicity and grace ... not unlike the manner in which Airbus's A380 hops from continent to continent. Visitors can reach both Toulouse for a visit to the Airbus plant and Millau for a close look at the viaduct easily from their base in Lavaur.
Castres and the Goya museum
The riverfront at Castres