France: Painters and Medieval Treasures Route, tailor-made by car

Want to join us on the "Painters and Medieval Treasures" tour? The sun-kissed southwest of France is one of the artistic focal points of the country. This exciting itinerary submerges the traveller into a unique, almost magical atmosphere, dotted with beautiful cities such as Toulouse, Carcassonne and Albi; stunning medieval treasures; spectacular towns such as Castelnaudary, Castres and Cordes-sur-Ciel; grandiose fortifications and fairytale castles; breathtaking landscapes; renowned art galleries; mythical vineyards and the River Tarn, which provides the backbone to a fascinating region peppered with natural, historical and cultural attractions. An inspiring journey that will give you an insight into one of the most beautiful regions in France from different point of view. Take your time to explore the places where some of the most important figures in the art world lived and drew inspiration from. Follow the trail of Goya in Castres; of Toulouse-Lautrec in Albi; of Pierre Soulages in Rodez; and of Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres and Antoine Bourdelle in Mountaban. The tour meanders through sun-kissed landscapes of breathtaking beauty, scenes of fabled legends and major historical events. You'll travel through lands with a delicate tone of pastel, a beautiful blue dye which in the Middle Ages came to symbolise royalty and Marian purity. This very pastel present in the paintings of romantics and artists today permeates all forms of arts, decoration, textiles and cosmetics... making this tour a real delight for the senses.