The Tarn Valley Cycle Route, created in 2004 between Albi and Saint-Sulpice, allows a tourist route, in a rich valley, linking towns with flamboyant brick habitats.
Route details
Description
It is a clearly marked route, easy (flat), and mostly on small roads with little traffic in order to avoid dangerous roads, even if it means making a detour.
Another advantage of this route: the rail service is excellent, with a station every 15 or 20 km, and frequent TER trains.
To know: this Véloroute is part of the national Véloroute V85: Tarn valley, Causse du Larzac, South-Cévennes, Mediterranean (from Moissac in Tarn-et-Garonne to -Quissac-in Gard).
Departure from Albi: the signs start on rue de Terssac (Maladrerie district). You reach this street from the back of the Cathedral (by rue Castelviel, from the fairground of Castelviel and A. Cavaillé).
Until Marssac, we drive in the plain. At the foot of Lagrave we descend to the banks of the Tarn. We go back to the village, and go over the river, before arriving at Rivières (dam-bridge, 1km from the Aiguelèze leisure centre). A flat path then leads straight to Brens.
Itinerary Brens-Gaillac . At this village of Brens, go visit Gaillac, crossing the bridge over the Tarn: just after, at the start of avenue Dom Vayssette, take the path on the left indicated as the bike route to access the town centre. You walk along the tennis courts, then follow a street for 200m and turn left into rue Traversière which leads you to Parc Foucaud, which you cross. At the exit of the park (roundabout), follow the rue du Château du Roi opposite, then on the left cross the place M. et E. de Guérin, and continue on the small rue St Michel, along the Abbey St-Michel. You arrive at Place St-Michel, at the end of the bridge.
In Brens, to avoid a dangerous road, the route makes a long detour and goes to a motorway service area whose services are unfortunately inaccessible: we are satisfied with the view!
After Montans, and its Archeosite, we again overlook the valley (views), then dive towards a shaded valley, and continue to the Lisle-sur-Tarn bridge (pretty bastide to visit absolutely, pleasant lake for a picnic) .
After Loupiac, just after crossing the railway, in the first bend, you pass next to the SNCF bridge over the Tarn: a footpath allows you to cross this bridge where the view of the castle of Saint-Géry is beautiful: go see ! You can continue on the bridge, and azu bout go to the left: the castle is 2km away.
At Coufouleux, Rabastens is a stone's throw away and deserves a stop.
Another 7km in open fields, on quiet paths, and it is the suspension bridge that leads into Saint-Sulpice. Pleasant stop on the banks of the Agoût (go to the Castella castle).
Source AF3V: https://www.af3v.org/les-voies-vertes/voies/144-veloroute-de-la-vallee-du-tarn-d-albi-a-saint-sulpice-veloroute-v85/# journey
Another advantage of this route: the rail service is excellent, with a station every 15 or 20 km, and frequent TER trains.
To know: this Véloroute is part of the national Véloroute V85: Tarn valley, Causse du Larzac, South-Cévennes, Mediterranean (from Moissac in Tarn-et-Garonne to -Quissac-in Gard).
Departure from Albi: the signs start on rue de Terssac (Maladrerie district). You reach this street from the back of the Cathedral (by rue Castelviel, from the fairground of Castelviel and A. Cavaillé).
Until Marssac, we drive in the plain. At the foot of Lagrave we descend to the banks of the Tarn. We go back to the village, and go over the river, before arriving at Rivières (dam-bridge, 1km from the Aiguelèze leisure centre). A flat path then leads straight to Brens.
Itinerary Brens-Gaillac . At this village of Brens, go visit Gaillac, crossing the bridge over the Tarn: just after, at the start of avenue Dom Vayssette, take the path on the left indicated as the bike route to access the town centre. You walk along the tennis courts, then follow a street for 200m and turn left into rue Traversière which leads you to Parc Foucaud, which you cross. At the exit of the park (roundabout), follow the rue du Château du Roi opposite, then on the left cross the place M. et E. de Guérin, and continue on the small rue St Michel, along the Abbey St-Michel. You arrive at Place St-Michel, at the end of the bridge.
In Brens, to avoid a dangerous road, the route makes a long detour and goes to a motorway service area whose services are unfortunately inaccessible: we are satisfied with the view!
After Montans, and its Archeosite, we again overlook the valley (views), then dive towards a shaded valley, and continue to the Lisle-sur-Tarn bridge (pretty bastide to visit absolutely, pleasant lake for a picnic) .
After Loupiac, just after crossing the railway, in the first bend, you pass next to the SNCF bridge over the Tarn: a footpath allows you to cross this bridge where the view of the castle of Saint-Géry is beautiful: go see ! You can continue on the bridge, and azu bout go to the left: the castle is 2km away.
At Coufouleux, Rabastens is a stone's throw away and deserves a stop.
Another 7km in open fields, on quiet paths, and it is the suspension bridge that leads into Saint-Sulpice. Pleasant stop on the banks of the Agoût (go to the Castella castle).
Source AF3V: https://www.af3v.org/les-voies-vertes/voies/144-veloroute-de-la-vallee-du-tarn-d-albi-a-saint-sulpice-veloroute-v85/# journey