Camping La Bâtisse

Réalmont (five minutes’ drive) is an interesting place to start your exploration of the Tarn region. Built in medieval times as a fortified town, it still has its original grid of streets lined by half-timbered houses with brightly coloured shutters. If possible, visit on Wednesday to buy regional foie gras, truffles (in season) and cheese from the buzzing market in the central square. Sitting on the banks of the Agoût river, Castres (25 minutes) is another medieval masterpiece; it’s on a pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela and has a clutch of spectacular religious buildings like Saint-Benoît Cathedral and its fine baroque interior to discover. UNESCO-listed Albi (also 25 minutes), on the banks of the Tarn river, is dominated by its mighty Gothic cathedral; the neighbouring Musée Toulouse-Lautrec has an excellent collection of posters and paintings by the notorious namesake artist. Those of you who prefer your holidays to be purely rural can cycle or hike along the Albi-Castres Green Way, which follows a defunct railway line right past the site. There’s a gentle family walk up to the Croix de Caylou (half an hour on foot) for views over the Tarn Valley, and more easy strolls around Lac de la Bancalié (15 minutes’ drive).