And again in the region, very well known criss cross it for years, this village we have cousins on the outskirt on the road D964 towards Gaillac passing the wine cooperative of Tecou! Of course, this is in the Tarn dept 81 in the region of Occitanie and bien sûr I am speaking of Graulhet! The town is best reach by car as there is no train station, and even this it is a bit off the A68 road (autoroute de pastels) connecting Toulouse to Albi and really link to Gaillac by the D964 road . Naturally, we come here by car always. Let me tell you a bit more on this is Graulhet !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I.
Some of the things to see here are the Château de Lezignac (17C), the old bridge, built in 1244 allowing communication between the old village and the new Saint-Jean neighborhood where tanneries were gradually settled on the right bank of the Dadou river. The Medieval district of Panessac with rue Panessac a typical medieval style alley, narrow, lined with wooden-framed buildings and corbelled from the 16C and 17C . The Hostellerie du Lyon d’Or, a superb medieval building; Henri de Navarre, future king Henri IV, made a gourmet stopover here. Note the crosses of St. Andrew, typical of the 15C, on its beautiful facade and the marks of assembly in Roman numerals on the wooden sections. The Notre-Dame-du-Val-d’Amour Church, at the foot of which is the funerary slab of Louis Amboise of Aubijoux. Home of the leather trades: visit of an ancient Mégisserie, the different stages of the transformation of leather, from skin to objects made of leather. True local culture for centuries, the work of leather has made Graulhet the capital of sheepskin, leather mainly used for the lining of shoes. Today it remains the largest French megisserie center: the tanning of small skins.
Needless to tell you the leather business is big here and for centuries one of the best in France, Europe you name it. If you want leather come here, they can even taylor made one for you, inquire at the house of leather.We with local folks come for shopping even in the market and this is what we love the most and my dear late wife Martine die for it. Of course, for a quaint one stop shopping the French way , the market is it. And did I said we love them, yes we do, one of the best shopping experiences in all of France. Graulhet is no exception and the small town ambiance makes it even more superbe! I recommend you to come and visit the markets of Graulhet; a wonderful market days in the lower city of ville basse which you descend by steps of stone from the high city or ville hausse. The grandparents of my wife used to come here for shopping, and its a major center of tanners for leather goods in France. The main market here is on Sundays morning from 8h to 13h at Place de la République over to Place du Jourdain. And still a smaller market at place du Bosquet . You can see the Pont Vieux or old bridge built in 1244 and the walk rue Panessac, but the main action is in the market as beforemention.
We really love to come, the choices in the country are tops even in France…. And really we came here with the fam for shopping so as said need more time as a visitor because as locals we go for food! Lol!
The town of Graulhet on its history : https://www.ville-graulhet.fr/historique
The town of Graulhet on its heritage: https://www.ville-graulhet.fr/patrimoine
The leather history and commerce of Graulhet: https://www.graulhetlecuir.fr/le-territoire/
The local Toscane Occitane bastides tourist office on Graulhet: https://www.la-toscane-occitane.com/en/graulhet
The local Toscane Occitane bastides on the leather house of Graulhet: https://www.la-toscane-occitane.com/en/commerce-et-service/maison-des-metiers-du-cuir-graulhet
There you go folks, a real deep country off the beaten path town of my Tarn 81. This is a quant town that is worth the detour me think not far from Toulouse. Again, hope you enjoy the post on this is Graulhet as I.
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 