Welcome to castres

Through the Haut Languedoc, between Toulouse and Montpellier, in a natural environment, protected at the foot of the Black Mountain and on the doorstep of the granite plateau of Sidobre, Castres, a town marked by so many currents of thought, from the Cathar heresy to Protestantism, a meeting point of multiple influences.

An old city with solid roots, engraved in the history it has kept from the past, rich with events and evolution, a cultural, architectural and strong economical identity.

Toulouse and Carcassonne are just an hour away by road, and Albi just thirty minutes.
All waiting for you in this Occitan land.

By strolling along its roads, you can rediscover the history of Castres through its monuments: the Bishop’s palace and garden designed by Le Nôtre, old houses on the Agout, the façades of the town houses bequeathed by the 17th Century,…

Discover the Historic centre of Castres on a Saturday morning by wandering through the traditional market, at the Place Jean Jaurès and on the embankments, where fragrances and colours blend.

The Goya Museum has a panorama of Spanish art that is unique in France with work from the great masters of the 14th Century up until present day, sculptures, furniture and a rare collection of weapons and coins. The museum has 3 museums by Goya, as well as his great engraving series.

With the National Centre and Jean Jaurès Museum you can retrace the life and commitments of this wonderful tribune created in 1859. It is also a research department centre, where temporary exhibitions are held.

At the end of the afternoon, relaxing and leisure activities at the Gourjade Park. A vast area of greenery stretching over 53 hectares. A golf course, the Archipel swimming-pool and ice-rink complex, which all the family will enjoy.

If you visit us during the summer season, between the months of May and October, the Coche d’eau boat, «Le Miredames» will take you on a bucolic ride along the water.

After dinner, during the evening, depending on the culture programme, you can either watch the shows or give free rein to a convivial evening.

Visits with accompanying notes of the urban inheritance realizable all the year, lasted 1:30

• Historical centre of the City

Discovering on foot, of Castrate, its history and its monuments: Evêché and the garden drawn by Le Nôtre, old houses on Agout, the place Jean Jaurès, frontages of the Private mansions of the XVIIth century…

• Castres, view from in “water”

Discovering on foot, environment, history and inheritance around the set of themes of water. Ambulation guided along the course of Agout while skirting the way of the Fountain St Roch.

• Castres Contemporain

How a small village of IXth century developed; discovered periphery of Castrate and its economic activity. visit in the coach provided by your care

• 10h00

Meeting place with a regional guide-interpreter at the tourist bus car park.
Guided visit of Goya Museum*, panorama of Hispanic art, unique in France: paintings of the grand masters from the 14th Century to present day, sculptures, furniture... From Goya, there are three paintings as well as the great series of engravings.

Guided visit by foot of the Town’s Historic Centre**, discover the history and monuments: the Bishop’s Palace, the garden designed by Le Nôtre, the old houses on the Agout, the place Jean Jaurès, the façades of the 17th Century town houses...
puce    

• 12h30

Lunch  in a restaurant, in Castres

• 14h30

End of guided visit of the town by foot.

Guided visit of the National Centre and Jean Jaurès Museum*, History Museum - Projection of a documentary on the life and commitments of this great tribune founded in Castres in 1859, guided visit of the museum.

Embarkation on a mini-cruise on the Coche d’eau boat, a wooden boat inspired from the 17th Century river diligences, discover the town on the river up to the Gourjade Leisure Park, then back to the town.

• 18h00

Departure of group.

Campanology patrimony and its traditions.

*Meet Jean-Pierre Carme, the bell ringer. In Castres’ historic centre, the Notre-Dame de La Platé chimes have been singing since 1847 and it is the one instrument from the South of France that still sings todayTariff: All inclusive group price 30€ incl. VAT, maximum 45 persons

The group will listen to the concert outside, under the church tower; small groups may then climb the 120 steps to the top of the church tower.

** the museums are closed on Mondays, except July and August

• 10h00

Meeting place with a regional guide-interpreter in the first room of the Goya Museum*, panorama of hispanic art, unique in France: paintings of the grand masters from the 14th Century to present day, sculptures, furniture... By Goya, there are three paintings as well as the great series of engravings: The Caprices, The Disasters of War, Bullfighting and The Proverbs.

• 12h15

Lunch at a restaurant, in Castres.

• 14h30

Discover Bernard GALLAND’s engraving workshop.
Artist painter engraver, a demonstration of the engraving technique, visit the workshop.

• 16h40

Guided visit by foot of the Town’s Historic Centre**, discover the history and monuments: the Bishop’s Palace, the garden designed by Le Nôtre, the old houses on the Agout, the place Jean Jaurès, the façades of the 17th Century town houses, ...

• 18h00

Group departs.

Campanology patrimony and its traditions

Meet Jean-Pierre Carme, the bell ringer. In Castres’ historic centre, the Notre-Dame de La Platé chimes have been singing since 1847 and it is the one instrument from the South of France that still sings today.

Come and discover the passion of bell-ringing and listen to the concert of 33 bells that chime.
Activity (meeting and concert) lasts 30 minutes

The group will listen to the concert outside, under the church tower; small groups may then climb the 120 steps to the top of the church tower.

The Goya Museum is closed on Mondays except July and August

Bus parking at the Tourist Bus Car Park

On the basis of 25 to 39 persons the group will be split into two which will visit in turn the Goya Museum and the engravers workshop. Then as one single group for the Historic Centre visit.

• 10h00       

Meeting with the regional guide-interpreter at the tourist bus car park.

Guided visit by foot of the Town’s Historic Centre**, discover the history and monuments: the Bishop’s Palace, the garden designed by Le Nôtre, the old houses on the Agout, the place Jean Jaurès, the façades of the 17th Century town houses, ...

• 11h30

Departure for Sidobre, granite plateau eroded by the time.

Passage by Burlats in front of the Pavillon d’Adélaide, a unique example of Tarn Roman civil architecture.

• 12h15

Lunch* at a restaurant, in Sidobre*

• 14h30

A stop at the Peyro Clabado, an impressive 780 ton rock held in balance.

The viewpoint indicator, approximately 200m high.

The granite and mineral museum.

Visit of a craft workshop-exhibition, depending on the opening hours.

Walk to the Roc de l’Oie, a strange stone winged creature stuck in a time warp, 20 min walk there and back.

Passage in front of the Chaos de la Resse.

Refreshment stop at the Lac du Merle

Stop at the Rocher Tremblant de Sept Faux, balancing demonstration.

• 18h30

Group returns to Castres.

* Discovering Sidobre Technique

Only available on week days. Projection of a video film that retraces stone work history and the geology and landscapes of the Sidobre – Guided visit of one of the biggest granite extraction quarries in Europe and a conversion workshop.

Additional cost: 4 € per person on the basis of 40 participants.

• 10h00       

Meeting with the regional guide-interpreter at the tourist bus car park. Departure for Sidobre, a granite plateau eroded by the time.

Passage by Burlats in front of the Pavillon d’Adélaide, a unique example of Tarn roman civil architecture.
A stop at the Peyro Clabado, an impressive 780 ton rock held in balance

The viewpoint indicator, approximately 200m high.

Visit of a craft workshop-exhibition, depending on the opening hours.

Walk to the Roc de l’Oie, a strange stone winged creature stuck in a time warp, 20 min walk there and back.

Passage in front of the Chaos de la Resse.

Passage in front of the Lac du Merle.

• 12h45

Lunch* at a restaurant, in the Sidobre

• 15h00

A meeting at the Chaos de la Balme with an enthusiast of the Sidobre, a hunter of curious rocks. He will take you to a chaotic world and will tell you legends where history and physical reality can always be perceived. He will help you to observe, read the landscape and rebuild the signs of a bygone world. Unforgettable changes for those who want to understand the deep soul of Sidobre, return journey car park/chaos, approximately 20 minutes by foot.

• 16h45

Stop at the Rocher Tremblant de Sept Faux, balancing demonstration from the 980 ton rock,
For a convivial late afternoon, snack “At the café du Rocher Tremblant” where you will sample the poumpet (regional cake) with a Gaillac sweet white Côte du Tarn or a fruit juice or a hot drink **

• 18h30

Group returns to Castres

*Discovering Sidobre Technique

Only available on week days. Projection of a video film that retraces stone work history and the geology and landscapes of the Sidobre – Guided visit of one of the biggest granite extraction quarries in Europe and a conversion workshop.

Additional cost: 4€ per person on the basis of 40 participants.