FranceNovember 9, 2021, by Dewy Brandjes

Travel more consciously: by train to Occitania (southern France)

France, November 9, 2021, by Dewy Brandjes

Travel more consciously: by train to Occitania (southern France)

No matter how you travel or what you do during the trip, it will always have an impact on the environment or local culture. If you are traveling anyway, you can do this as consciously as possible. For example, by traveling by train, eating mainly local and vegetarian food at your destination and dealing responsibly with nature. And so we did. We went by night train to the lovely southern French region of Occitania, visited a biodynamic vineyard, made ivy detergent and ate none duck confit, but vegetarian (in nice restaurants!).

All inns and outs about the night train and tips for when in Occitania you can read below. More France? Click here.

Amsterdam - Paris

Where to start? The program rail away adventure starts in the Netherlands. Not directly with the night train, but first with the Thalys, which takes you from Amsterdam Central, Schiphol or Rotterdam Central to Paris in three and a half hours. From Paris you can then transfer to the night train. Make sure you have plenty of time (at least an hour and a half) to transfer. With the Thalys you arrive at Gare du Nord station and the night train departs from Gare d'Austerlitz station, which is twenty minutes (by metro) further. Walking from one station to the other is also an option, but that will take you an hour. The best thing is of course to arrive in Paris in the afternoon, wander around there for a few hours and have dinner at a nice restaurant, and then take the night train towards Albi. Just a tip!

Paris - Albi

Eating in advance or taking something edible for the night train is always useful, as no food and drinks are offered on the night train. What can you expect from such a night train? A place to sleep, that's all there really is (including a cleanly made bed, a bottle of water and a bag with earplugs and an eye mask, of course). The sleeping cabins consist of six beds in second class and four beds in first class. You share two toilets and two 'refresher cubicles' with the rest of the people in the compartment. So think of a whole night train like this basic (but very clean, for which plus points) sleeping place that lets you toddle to sleep for free and delivers you rested the next morning in Occitania. Side node: the night train to Albi only runs in the summer months. In the other months you can take the train to Toulouse or Rodez. A small downside is that these trains arrive around 06:00 in the morning.

Albi

When in Occitania may make an extended visit to Albi, the capital of the province of Tarn, definitely not missing. Despite the fact that Albi is one of the larger cities in the south of France, it is still relatively undiscovered by the Dutch (we love it!). What makes Albi fun is that you will find a nice mix between authentic and modern restaurants and shops. You can also wander around for hours through all kinds of narrow streets full of colored shutters and medieval details. Albi's pride and joy is the Sainte-Cecile Cathedral. Not necessarily one from the outside one of a kind (sorry if we offend anyone), until you stand inside and see the beautiful gold and blue painted ceiling.

Start the day in Albi with coffee, fresh smoothies and vegan baking Natura Cafe and combine this with a visit to the covered local market opposite. Besides a lot canard confit and dried sausages (after all, we are in France) you will certainly also find many vegetables, dried fruit, olives, baguettes – of course – and local wines. The absolute winner among the restaurants in Albi is Amapola Kitchen. Here you can eat the tastiest, almost un-French modern and often organic dishes with plenty of vegetarian options, in a cozy and small restaurant. Also the less modern, but certainly no less fun Le Pont du Tarn (overlooking the Tarn River) is highly recommended.

Mayragues Castle

It is a half-hour drive (a rental car is necessary here) from Albi Mayragues Castle: a biodynamic wine estate Castelnau-de-Montmiral in the vineyards of Gaillac. The owner of the family business will love to tell you about the process of making biodynamic wine and, if you're lucky, he will also show you the entire site. After the explanation comes the most important thing: tasting. You can also stay in one of the two during the summer months bed and breakfast sleep, looking out over the grounds with the extensive vineyards in the distance.

Another charming place to sleep nearby is The Blue Winds in Donnazac. Formerly a wine estate, now a charming family home with... room d'hotes and a swimming pool. The whole family helps prepare and serve the delicious dinner, consisting of fresh regional products.

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Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val

Another must visit within the Occitania region is the village Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val, in the department Tarn-et-Garonne. There is a farmer's market every Sunday and there are various studios and shops with all kinds of 'gadgets'. Nice spot (with terrace) for lunch or a glass of wine is Bistro Fefe. In the summer months you can canoe in the Aveyron River, which is also a favorite activity of the locals on warm days. locals is.

If you really want to immerse yourself in the Middle Ages, you can make a stop in Belcastel, including castle. Would you prefer a cozy terrace? Then drive on to Rignac. There is a wine bar and restaurant Le Flacconneur and it is definitely worth a visit!

Castles everywhere

This is the place for anyone who is a fan of castles. It has been restored in detail in the small town of Bruniquel Bruniquel Castle, where for a few euros you can wander around the castle itself and the castle garden. About an hour away is the photogenic one Najac Castle, where – if you want to see anything – you better not go on a foggy morning. The fog does provide a nice picture if you manage to capture the castle from a distance, just above the fog. .

Plant hunting and meditating with horses

In the category 'something different' you can also go wild picking or meditate with horses in Occitania. You should definitely do this wild picking with Michaël Fayret, who is well known among wild pickers and star chefs in France. Michaël picks edible plants and flowers for restaurants and it goes so well that he has been able to make it his job. His trade is called Les jardins de l'instant végétal and you can book an excursion with Michaël to pick plants in Holy Cross and then cook with it or make detergent.

You can also visit the Saint Gauzy horse farm Aveyron follow a session with horses where Marie Noelle, the owner, will practice meditation and breathing techniques. After meeting horses you feel calm, you have self-confidence and you dare to rely on your intuition. It is one for both activities black to bring someone who speaks French and can translate into Dutch.

Pareloup Lake

It is known that in the South of France you can enjoy a great time on the Mediterranean Sea when the weather is nice, but this is still more than a two-hour drive from Aveyron, for example. Not necessary! In addition to rivers with beaches, there are also several beautiful lakes nearby. Pareloup Lake for example. This lake in Aveyron has several sandy beaches and you can swim, sail and canoe in many places. Many campsites also border this lake. Other lakes are nearby Salars Bridge en Villefranche de Panat.

Travel more consciously: by train to Occitania (southern France)