Population - 343,000   (1,067,000)

Area - 5,758 km²   (1,663)

Population density - 60   (642)

(comparative figs - Surrey UK)

Towns with over 3,000 people

Albi   46,274
Aussillon   6,865
Carmaux   10,231
Castres   43,496
Gaillac   11,073
Graulhet   12,663
Labruguiere   5,488
Lavaur   8,537
Lescure-d'Albigeois   3,660
Lisle-sur-Tarn   3,683
Mazamet   10,544

Rabastens   4,176
Saint-Juery   6,635
Saint-Sulpice   4,801
Saix   3,277

Main town

Albi

625 miles - 9.5 hours - from Calais

What is it really like for holidays in the Tarn

Close to Toulouse and Carcassonne and next to the Languedoc the Tarn is and area of forests mountains vineyards and plains

The main cities are Albi and Castres - both with industrial history - both with their own charm

Pink Albi - as with Toulouse - pink stone and red brick - has the cathedral of cathedrals - built from 1280 onwards its vast bulk can be seen from miles around

Next to the cathedral is the red brick castle housing the famous museum of Toulouse-Lautrec

Castres has a bustling active city centre with the old charm beside the right bank of the river Agout - here the old artisans houses overhang the river's edge

Must visit places

Albi

Ancient Albi with dominant cathedral and Toulouse-Lautrec museum

Castres

An active and yet relaxed city in this charming part of France

Tarn Holidays - b&b

Tarn Holidays - cottages

Tarn Holidays - tourist info