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The Tarn and Garonne, our motorhome route. Photo of Bruniquel

The best of the Tarn et Garonne by motorhome: A getaway to the south of France by motorhome 10

Hello intrepid travelers! I am passionate about motorhome adventures and mother of two little explorers. On this occasion, I want to take you by the hand through the charming Tarn et Garonne, a destination in the south of France by motorhome that will leave you amazed.

On this occasion we took this route during a larger route through the South of France in a motorhome at Christmas, a route that makes us escape from the hustle and bustle of the big cities in the south of France and that transports us to places full of peace and tranquility with a lot of charm.

Are you ready to discover the best of this region in motorhome? So sit back and join me on this exciting journey!

And if you don't have a motorhome and you want to do it in apartments and hotels I leave you here where to find your ideal accommodation:

About us

We are the kucavana familyWe traveled with our two children, ages 8 and 11, and our adopted dog Max. We usually travel in our motorhome called Kucavana, hence the name of our blog (Anna as a baby didn't know how to say motorhome and said Kucavana), but we also like to travel by bicycle touring or by plane and backpacking. We enjoy every learning experience as a family and we hope to help you enjoy it as much as we do. We do it by traveling.

To be closer to you follow us on our social networks: YouTube e Instagram

Caylus Lake, in front of the Caylus motorhome area
Caylus Lake, in front of the Caylus motorhome area

Before starting a Tip for traveling to France

A TIP: For health on the road we hire Iati Escapadas, which is the best for traveling through Europe by motorhome. travel insurance, since apart from including health, it includes extra things for the motorhome that other insurance policies do not have, such as theft inside the motorhome, which not even the vehicle insurance itself includes. And it even includes an accident involving your pet if you have a dog in your motorhome like us.

In this case, if you want to hire it, I leave you a 5% discount on the Iati Getaways that will be applied to you at the end by accessing the link below.

Food at Bistrot Constant de Montech
Food at Bistrot Constant de Montech

The Tarn-et-Garonne Department in France

The Tarn et Garonne is a magical corner in the Occitanie region, in the south of France. Known for its rich history, picturesque landscapes and charming towns, this destination has become one of my favorites to explore with the family, away from crowds and full of charm among alleys full of artisans. And believe me, I have traveled many places in a motorhome!

Where is it and how to get there

Before diving into the adventure, it is important to know how to get to this paradise on wheels.

Located in the southwestern region of France, the Tarn et Garonne is accessible from several major cities, such as Toulouse, Albi or Castres, depending on where you are coming from. The road network is excellent, making motorhome driving easy.

 If you come from Spain, you will most likely come along the AP 7 and detour through Carcassone, Toulouse until you get here, or you can go up to Béziers and then go to Mazamet, Castres and Albi to reach the Tarn et Garonne.

 Do you dare to plan your route through the Tarn et Garonne?

Place Nationale de Mountauban
Place Nationale de Mountauban

Why by motorhome in the Tarn et Garonne?

Why choose a motorhome to explore this jewel of the south of France?

The answer is simple: freedom and flexibility. Traveling by motorhome allows you to go at your own pace, stop at stunning locations, and change your itinerary as you go. Furthermore, who can resist the comfort of going to a region where it is easy and in almost any town you have a motorhome area or enabled parking for us?

TIP: If you don't have a motorhome or camper but want to rent one and try this type of trip, remember that the cheapest way and with the best experiences is to rent between individuals for a AirB&B type platform but for motorhomes and campers.

Bioule motorhome area, free and with all services
Bioule motorhome area, free and with all services

Route through the best of the Tarn and Garonne by motorhome

Now, what we have all been waiting for: the exciting route through the Tarn et Garonne. Get ready to discover impressive landscapes, charming towns and unforgettable experiences.

Videoblog of our route through the Tarn et Garonne in a motorhome

Discover in the following video our entire route and experience in the Tarn et Garonne by motorhome. A short video to see in images some of the things that this French Department can offer you.

youtube player

Day 1: Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val-Caylus

Welcome to the Tarn et Garonne! We begin our adventure by arriving during the day, making sure not to miss a single detail of the beautiful landscape that surrounds us.

Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val-
Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val-

Discovery of Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val

Our first stop is Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val, a city that seems straight out of a fairy tale with a free motorhome area, although it is advertised as a parking lot but it has services.

With its winding streets and old houses, you will be transported to another time. Don't miss the Roc d'Anglars and the Roman House, the civil monument that is one of the oldest in France.

SiteDirectionContact Tourism
Saint-Antonin-Noble-ValIn the hollow of a valley between Aveyron and BonnetteTourist Office

And here's a funny anecdote: while we were walking, we discovered lost jobs. Imagine meeting a knitter making balls of wool by hand with a spinning wheel! We bought some balls of super soft alpaca wool and he explained to us step by step how he had done it, more than 8 hours to make less than 100 grams of wool yarn, a unique souvenir of this charming town!

Visit and route around the lake in Caylus

After our time in Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val, we headed to Caylus where the fun continues and settled into their free and fully serviced entrance motorhome area.

In Caylus we are about to visit the small town, there are restaurants and one of its streets is full of craft shops of all kinds, art, very cool ceramics and even a very special shop called the Maison du Loups, the house of the wolves. , where medieval pieces are painted and made that leaves us amazed.

Ceramic craft shop in Caylus
Ceramic craft shop in Caylus

After the visit through its alleys and a tea and cake, we went down to the motorhome area, but first we took the circular route to the lake that Caylus has, beautiful and with a play area for the little ones that they love.

And to top off this adventure-filled day, we spent the night in the motorhome area in Caylus! An area with all the services working and free that, despite being at the entrance to the town next to the road, when it gets dark, cars no longer pass by and we slept wonderfully.

With our hearts full of experiences and the motorhome ready for the next stop, we say goodbye for now. But don't worry, the route through the best of the Tarn and Garonne by motorhome has only just begun!

Day 2: Cycling to the Petrified Waterfall in Caylus and visiting one of the most beautiful towns in France, Bruniquel.

How about one bike route through Caylus today? Check this itinerario which is what we did, to live a unique experience. We did it and we loved it, just be careful at the beginning that there is a stretch of road, the rest is along a rural secondary road that barely a soul passes by, it is very flat in general and easy, although the final stretch has a little climb.  

Petrified Waterfall in Caylus
Petrified Waterfall in Caylus

And for little explorers, when you pass through Lacappelle-Livron on the route, the geocaching that you will find there is an activity that will keep you entertained.

ActivityDetails
Bicycle route through CaylusItinerary
Geocaching in Lacapelle-LivronGreat activity for kids

Septfonds: a small town with a great history that touches our hearts

After the bike route, we have lunch in Caylus and back to our motorhome, we head to MOUNIÈRE, the house of memories in Septfonds. There is no motorhome area but in front of the civic center of the municipality we can park to visit this town. This place, former residence of the communist resistance of Raymond Peyrières, is now an emblem of the history of Septfonds and a museum that keeps the 3 great memories of this small town:

  • The memory of the concentration camp of 6000 Spanish refugee men who entered the border during the Withdrawal in 1936 and who were deported here, crammed into 42 barracks without a bed or absolutely anything for 6 years.
  • The memory of the 29 straw hat industries at the beginning of the century. Where Septfons produced more than 100.000 straw hats a day for the whole world.
  • And the memory of one of the sons of the hat industry who was the first aviator to cross the Atlantic from Paris to New York non-stop.
SiteDirectionContact
MOUNIÈRE15 Rue des Déportés, 82240 SeptfondsWebsite
Route through Septfonds where 6000 Spanish male refugees spent 6 years in a concentration camp
Route through Septfonds where 6000 Spanish male refugees spent 6 years in a concentration camp

The visit immerses us in the history of Septfonds, from its role in the Second World War to the hat-making activity of the XNUMXth century. It's fascinating how historical events have shaped this small town!

We left with our hearts full of history and very touched by the story of the Spanish refugees who suffered so much there.

Now where the concentration camp was there is a memorial and a reconstruction of one of the barracks full of photographs, you can find it 2 kilometers from the center of Sepfonds here

After Septfons we headed to Bruniquel.

Bruniquiel Castles, one of the towns classified as one of the most beautiful in France
Bruniquiel Castles, one of the towns classified as one of the most beautiful in France

Bruniquel, one of the most beautiful villages in France in the Tarn and Garonne

We arrive at Bruniquel, a town with history that dates back to the Paleolithic. Who knew that a small cave, the Pouxet CaveDoes it hide vestiges of that time?

SiteDirectionContact
Bruniquel2 rue de la Fraternité – 82800 BruniquelPhone: 05 63 67 29 84

But what really stands out in Bruniquel are the two castles classified as historical monuments: the Old Castle from the XNUMXth century and the Young Castle from the XNUMXth century. Imagine immersing yourself in the Middle Ages as you stroll through these architectural gems!

You will really fall in love with Bruniquel.

Randones: routes for children in France

For the little ones, Bruniquel offers a visiting route designed especially for them, a randoné they call it in France. So make sure you wear comfortable shoes and explore this charming town in a unique way!

The only thing you have to do to do this route with games for children is to first go to the tourist office and ask them for the booklet.

La Bioule to sleep on the banks of the Aveyron river

With the afternoon drawing to a close, we headed towards the free Bioule motorhome area, ready to rest and recharge for the next day full of exciting discoveries. Some cars pass during the day on the road in front, but the place with a large sports playground for children and natural surroundings is worth it. At night you can't even hear a car.

And here comes day 2 of our adventure in the Tarn et Garonne! But don't worry, there is still much to explore in this wonderful region!

Montauban old bridge
Montauban old bridge

Day 3: Visit to the capital of the Tarn et Garonne, Montauban.

After a quiet night in the Bioule area, we woke up with the excitement of exploring a city full of history and art such as Montauban, the capital of the department.

Montauban: City of Art and History

Montauban, classified as City of Art and History, is much more than a stop on our trip. Founded in 1144, this city has the title of being the prototype of the bastides of the southwest, built according to a geometric plan that reveals perpendicular streets that isolate the blocks.

DestinationAttractions
MontaubanPlace Nationale, Old Bridge, Street Art, Saint-Jacques Church, Ingres Bourdelle Museum

The first thing we did when we arrived in Montauban was pick up the street art brochure, Street art, at the Tourist Office and we ventured through the pedestrian streets of the historic center and surrounding areas discovering its street murals. What a surprise to discover the wonders that local artists have left on the walls! From vibrant graffiti to unique installations, every corner is a work of art waiting to be discovered.

Montauban street art mural
Montauban street art mural

Ingres Bourdelle Museum, art is always a good choice

Before getting completely lost in the street art, we decided to explore the Ingres Bourdelle Museum. This museum houses an impressive collection of works by Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres and Antoine Bourdelle, two artists who left an indelible mark on European art history. A super professional museum that we loved visiting.

Ingress Bourdelle Museum in Montauban
Ingress Bourdelle Museum in Montauban

Montauban at Christmas: Mapping of the Cathedral Facade, Christmas Lights and the Lantern Festival

We visited Montauban at Christmas so with the evening approaching, we headed towards the imposing cathedral. But there was a surprise waiting for us! A mapping of the cathedral facade and Christmas lights of the city created a magical show that left us amazed. The illuminated streets and festive atmosphere created the perfect atmosphere for an evening stroll!

El christmas market It also just started yesterday, December 7, so we can also visit it.

What we cannot visit is the Lantern Festival which starts on December 15 and will run for two months until February 11. We visited it before and it is something that seems essential and precious to us.

Mountauban decorated for Christmas along one of its shopping streets
Mountauban decorated for Christmas along one of its shopping streets

Night at the Port Canal Motorhome Area in Montauban

After a day full of discoveries and emotions, we return to the motorhome area of Port Canal to spend a quiet night. With the soft murmur of the rain water that silenced us and the lights of the city as a backdrop, we rested ready for the next stage of our adventure.

The area has a fee of 10 euros 24 hours and belongs to the Montech Canal port, so you must pay to access beforehand at the Port Captain's Office or if it is closed in the first motorhome in the area that belongs to the port captain. From the area to the center of Montauban it is almost 30 minutes on foot or 10 by bike along the bike path next to the area.

Day 4: Cycling along the Montech canal and visiting the Pente d'aux museum

We start our day from the Port Canal motorhome area in Montauban, ready to enjoy a bike tour of 10 km which will take us along a wonderful greenway to Montech in approximately 45 minutes, a municipality that is worth visiting as it is the center of the meeting of two important canals.

GPS itinerary: Montauban veil at Montech

Imagine the wind on your face as we pedal along the Montech Canal! This peaceful tour offers us not only healthy exercise, but also the opportunity to immerse ourselves in the nature and history that line this canal.

Bike route through the Montech CanalDistanceEstimated duration
Montauban to Montech20 km go and return2 hours by bike

Discovering the Pente d'eau de Montech, an essential museum

Our first stop in Montech is the fascinating Pente d'eau, an engineering marvel worth discovering as a family in its free museum where the tourist office is also located.

Maison de Site de la Pente d'eau de Montech – Office de tourisme Grand Sud Tarn et Garonne:
21 rue de l'usine – 82700 Montech
www.pentedeaudemontech.fr

Maison de Site de la Pente d'eau de Montech - Office de tourisme Grand Sud Tarn et Garonne
Maison de Site de la Pente d'eau de Montech – Office de tourisme Grand Sud Tarn et Garonne

We explore this unique site that combines history and nature, learning about its importance in the canal and navigation system. Children will love discovering the secrets of this pente d'eau!

A meal worth recommending at Montech: Bistrot Constant

After an exciting bike ride and a dose of history at the Pente d'eau, it's time to recharge in the Constant Bistro. This cozy restaurant is perfect for a delicious and relaxing canalside lunch with surprising French cuisine. You have a menu of the day that is sensational for the price (20 euros).

RestaurantWebsite
Constant BistroEnlace

Bike ride to Montauban

With satisfied stomachs and smiles on our faces, we begin the bike ride back to Montauban. The return allows us to enjoy again the beautiful landscapes that the Montech Canal offers us.

And so concludes our day of cycling exploration and our route through the Tarn and Garonne.

 With our hearts full of memories, we say goodbye until the next route.

Until next time, friends!

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This entry has 2 comments

  1. FARMER

    Je suis ravie d'être tombée sur votre site, et merci pour toutes ces beautiful views, et addresses.
    Wait for you to come to your ballads and visit, so that you have a camping car prochainement.
    See you soon,
    Patty

    1. Kucavanera family

      Hello Patty,
      Merci beaucoup pour vos belles paroles. Il faut avant tout excuser notre français, mais nous faisons tout notre possible pour nous améliorer. Merci et un gros câlin from Barcelona, ​​Spain.

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