It is easy to imagine a one to two week program based at Les Magnolias, exploring the wonders and delicacies of the region. This should include familiarizing oneself with the history of the region (particularly fascinating is the 11th and 12th century tragedy of the Cathars which still permeates many of the surrounding villages); cycling (or walking) to different medieval villages through stunning indigenous oak, chestnut and walnut forests (amongst the many villages is Brousse-Le-Chateau, classified as “One of the Most Beautiful Villages in France”); canoeing and swimming on the magnificent Tarn river; and feasting on local delicacies at the numerous village markets open daily throughout the months of July and August and weekly throughout the year. Typical local produce includes charcuterie delicacies (area is highly regarded for its sausages and other meats), Roquefort cheeses (area is famous for its Roquefort cheese caves which support the largest industry in the area), Gaillac wines (red, white, rose, sparkling), every gourmet duck delicacy, brebie cheeses, jams and chutneys and most fruit and vegetables.
Other activities and nearby destinations include climbing or bungee jumping at the incredible Gorge Du Tarn; the Millau bridge (highest cable-stayed bridge in the world); the only Roquefort cheese caves; day trips to the historic and stunning city of Albi (declared a World Heritage Site due to its famous cathedral, Palais De La Berbie and Toulouse Lautrec museum) and Cordes Sur Ciel (fortified medieval town widely considered the finest in France); dinner at Michel Bras in Laguiole; and plenty, plenty more.
Slightly further afield from Plaisance but within easy reach are attractions that include the Canto Perlic Vineyard (53 km), Domaine Sarrabelle Vineyard (56 km) and Le Musee Art du Chocolat (57 km).
Other activities and nearby destinations include climbing or bungee jumping at the incredible Gorge Du Tarn; the Millau bridge (highest cable-stayed bridge in the world); the only Roquefort cheese caves; day trips to the historic and stunning city of Albi (declared a World Heritage Site due to its famous cathedral, Palais De La Berbie and Toulouse Lautrec museum) and Cordes Sur Ciel (fortified medieval town widely considered the finest in France); dinner at Michel Bras in Laguiole; and plenty, plenty more.
Slightly further afield from Plaisance but within easy reach are attractions that include the Canto Perlic Vineyard (53 km), Domaine Sarrabelle Vineyard (56 km) and Le Musee Art du Chocolat (57 km).
Les Magnolias hotel is a perfect base from which to explore and enjoy the area.
Please read about the specific activities we recommend below.
Cycling and Walking
The road network available to cyclists around Plaisance is extensive, with 4 or 5 possible routes to any of the numerous nearby medieval villages and towns. The roads are very well maintained and perfect for either mountain or racing bikes and for the very serious or less serious, tourist cyclist. The Tour de France regularly passes close by the village of Plaisance. A full range of high quality bikes, including road, hybrid and electric bikes are available for rent at Les Magnolias, along with customised maps of over 30 road routes, across a wide spectrum of difficulty! Our cycling operation is branded as Cycling Magnolias and you may read more about it at www.cyclingmagnolias.com. You may also enquire further about our cycling offering by contacting Les Magnolias directly. Most of the cycling routes may also be partly walked and the tourist centre of the nearby village of Coupiac offers maps of country track walks. Read more about Cycling and Walking
Brousse le Chateau
Classified as one of the "Most Beautiful Villages in France", Brousse is charming and totally unspoilt ancient village with a great restaurant, chateau and chapel, just 26 kms east of Plaisance. Its chateau is 16th century and served as a royal summer family home for many generations before being purchased by the local municipality. Perfect as a Day trip or cycling destination. During July and August, it hosts its weekly village market on Tuesday mornings. A perfect day can easily be spent cycling to Brousse from the hotel (even the electric bikes can get to Brousse and back!) and then returning after a delicious lunch and walk around its village and chateau. Read more about Brousse Le Chateau
AlbiAlbi is just 40 kms west of Plaisance and has recently been declared a World Heritage Site, due to its extraordinary cathedral, the Toulouse Lautrec museum, the Brebie Palace gardens and its “old town” with bridges and buildings which date back to more than 1000 years. Albi hosts a fresh produce market every Saturday morning and our favourite restaurant, Le Robinson, set beside the Tarn river, is a must for light or gourmet meals! A full day can easily be spent walking through Albi’s medieval streets and boutique shops and cafes. Albi is another perfect cycling destination for hotel guests with a pick-up vehicle easily arranged by the hotel. Just 26 kms away from Albi is also the lovely medieval town of Cordes surrounded by attractive renovated country family houses of the wealthy leather and textile merchants of the 18th and 19th centuries.
Read more about Cordes. Read more about Albi 
Millau
Home to the tallest cable-stayed bridge in the world (Eiffeage and Norman Foster engineering) and also well known for its leather and textile industries, Millau has a great canoeing station at the Tarn river and is just a few KMs from the Roquefort cheese caves. It is also the entrance into the Tarn Gorge, a feast of unusual rock formations and striking views of the gorge itself. Just 67 kms from Plaisance and a full day trip journey. Read more about Millau
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Canoeing
The Tarn river offers spectacular canoeing possibilities both on the open Tarn and at the Gorge du Tarn. It is a very clean river, rich with local fish varieties and runs mostly through unspoilt forest and gorge terrain. A perfect day’s outing could include an 8-13 km downstream canoe ride from Trebas (just 10 kms from Plaisance) to Ambialet, with a winey picnic lunch stop and swim mid-way. Canoeing is also possible at Millau, at the entrance to the Gorge du Tarn, where the Dourbie river meets the Tarn. Millau is just 45 minutes’ drive from Plaisance. The rock formations at the Gorge du Tarn are extraordinary and best viewed in a canoe! Canoeing can then be combined with a visit of Millau and its glove, leather and textile factories, the Millau bridge, as well as a visit to the Roquefort cheese caves. On the return trip from Millau to Plaisance, there are a few great restaurant options at St Rome de Cernin and Montlaur.
Read more about canoeing in the Gorge du Tarn , Millau and the Roquefort cheese caves. Coupiac
Coupiac is just 8 kms from Plaisance, the closest medieval village from the hotel. It is very proud of its castle and church which still holds mass every second Sunday. On Monday nights during July and August, Coupiac hosts the extremely popular night market, with live music performances, local dancing and an abundance of local delicacies, including delicious barbecued duck and lamb, alligot, Gaillac wines, strawberries and chocolate crepes! A theatrical performance at the castle, mostly for youngsters, starts at about 9 pm over the summer months. Coupiac holds its weekly market on Wednesday mornings over July and August. Coupiac has the closest post office, ATM machine and petrol station to Plaisance. Read more about Coupiac
Ambialet
Just as beautiful as Brousse, Ambialet is just 20 kms west of Plaisance and a perfect stop en route to Albi, just a further 20 kms west. Over July and August Ambialet hosts light and sound performances within its medieval buildings on Thursday nights. Its summer market day is Thursday mornings. Another perfect cycling destination. Read more about Ambialet
St AffriqueSt Affrique is just 40 kms east of Plaisance and is best loved for its wonderful fresh produce market every Saturday morning. Its olive, bread, spices, vegetable, fruit, meat and cheese stalls are a visual feast and ideal for stocking up for the next day’s picnic! The fresh Mediterranean or Atlantic oysters never disappoint but take an oyster knife along! During the summer months St Affrique is an ideal place to spend a day exploring its ancient streets, boutique and delicatessen shops as well as amongst its outdoor clothes markets. Another perfect but long cycling destination, better as a day trip en route to canoeing and site seeing in Millau. Read more about St Affrique
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