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Places to Visit
A brief guide to all the major towns and
cities near to Mazamet
Visit
the things to do
page to find out about more places to visit.
Carcassonne |
Albi |
Castres
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Béziers
| Foix
Gaillac
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Millau
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Montpellier |
Narbonne |
Perpignan |
Revel |
Toulouse
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 Carcassonne
The medieval city of
Carcassonne, the only fortified town in Europe still inhabited, is just a 40
minute drive away from Mazamet.
With some 45,000 inhabitants,
‘Carca’ as the locals call it, is actually a city within a city. There is of
course ‘Le Cité’ (the ancient fortress), and then there’s The Lower Town, or
rather, Bastide Saint Louis. Both offer a host of things to see and do, fabulous
shops to browse around, and a vast array of bars and restaurants to refresh.
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The impressive Canal du Midi, classified as World Patrimony by the UNESCO, runs
through the centre of The Lower Town.
Join the other 3million plus
visitors per year and enjoy all that Carcassonne has to offer – fountains,
secret gardens, courtyards, churches, ancient buildings, and delightful narrow
streets – each corner a new discovery.
To find out more about
Carcassonne, visit:
www.carcassonne-tourisme.com
Carcassonne is 45 km from Mazamet
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Albi
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 Nestled between mountains and
the river Tarn, you will find the delightful cathedral city of Albi.
Home to the exquisite gothic
architecture of
Cathedrale Ste. Cécile, Albi is a city
of art and culture. Enjoy magnificent views from the banks of the Tarn or from
the 11th Century bridge – the Pont-Vieux. Partake in a stroll through
the infamous
Toulouse-Lautrec Museum located within
the
Palais de la Berbie, or wander through
the cobbled streets of the old city to discover cloisters, renaissance
courtyards and unspoiled architecture.
With its warm climate and some
50,000 inhabitants, Albi is also a great place to enjoy an evening of theatre,
dance or opera.
A visit to the Gaillac Vineyards
is also well worthwhile and easy to do from the city of Albi.
Albi is 60 km from Mazamet
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Béziers
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 Béziers, first settled by the
Phoenicians, and later an important military post during Roman times, is now
populated by some 71,000 inhabitants.
The town was almost completely destroyed
back in 1209 during the Albigensian Crusade but has been rebuilt into a truly
beautiful place to visit.
Explore the many medieval
streets and take time to visit the fortified Cathedral St-Nazaire sitting atop a
hill overlooking the town with it’s imposing façade and massive 14th
Century rose window.
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Béziers is probably best known
as the capital of Languedoc wine country. So if you are interested in wines,
enjoy the many and varied vineyards which surround the town. Or, if you simply
wish to enjoy some wine over a leisurely meal, take a wander down the allées
Paul-Riquet – a broad, tree-lined esplanade lined with restaurants and cafes.
Béziers is 85 km from Mazamet |
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 Castres
With 135 sporting clubs and 27
rugby & football pitches in Castres, it’s no wonder it was named “the most
sporting town in France” in 1997. It is also home to Castres Olympic – one of
the top 10 teams in France.
Aside from this, Castres is a
very pretty city built around a river on which you can take boat trips in the
Summer. It is also the local administrative centre for Mazamet & Castres with an
impressive Mairie and other official buildings throughout the centre. It is also
home to the wonderful Spanish Art museum, Musee Goya (well worth a visit if you
love art).
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If you like water and/or if you
have children, you can’t miss out on the opportunity to visit Archipel – a truly
unique swimming pool complex with both indoor and outdoor areas, combined with
slides and activities for all to enjoy. It also features a full size skating
rink.
 
The L’Archipel website:
http://www.larchipel.fr/html
Castres is 11km from Mazamet
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 Foix
Located at the junction of the
rivers Arget and Ariège, Foix is known for it’s battlements and towers –
features of the keep of the 15th century Chateau de Foix.
Foix owes much of its history to
one Gaston Phoebus – a famous Occitan warrior, politician and poet from the 14th
century who was also a governor of Languedoc, and the main liaison between the
ambassadors of Spain and England.
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With lots of regional
specialities, Foix market is well worth a visit. So too is the underground river
near the Plantaurel Massif, which is just a few kilometres away and visitable by
barge – take in the stalactities, underground waterfalls and many different
levels of grotto.
Foix is 110 km from Mazamet
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