FrenchDuck’s databank
82 Tarn et Garonne

Tarn-et-Garonne (82 Midi-Pyrenees) lies between Toulouse to the south, Agen to the West and Cahors to the North. The main town is Montauban.
(see map)
Please check locally before heading for any of these markets - some do not run every week and many do not run in the winter. Some may also be held in the evening rather than morning.

Beaumont-de-Lomagne - Saturday
Bourg-de-Visa - Sunday
Castelsagrat - Sunday
Castelsarrasin - Thursday, Saturday
Caussade - Monday
Caylus - Tuesday
Finhan - Wednesday
Grisolles - Wednesday
Labastide-St-Pierre - Wednesday
Lafrancaise - Wednesday, Sunday
Laguepie - Wednesday
Lamagistere - Sunday
Lauzerte - Wednesday, Saturday
Lavit-de-Lomagne - Friday
Moissac - Saturday, Sunday
Molieres - Friday
Monclar-de-Quercy - Thursday
Montaigu-de-Quercy - Saturday
Montauban - Wednesday, Saturday
Montech - Tuesday
Montpezat-de-Quercy - Sunday
Montricoux - Friday
Negrepelisse - Tuesday
Realville - Saturday
Roquecor - Sunday
Septfonds - Wednesday
St-Antonin-Noble-Val - Sunday
St-Nicolas-de-la-Grave - Sunday
Valence-d’Agen - Tuesday, Saturday

With the 2007 Rugby World Cup kicking off in early September, it is worth knowing when and where the matches are to be held - if only so that you can avoid the additional heavy traffic for several hours around the match time. Particularly susceptible to congestion will be the Paris Peripherique and the A1 autoroute entry to the city - the Parc des Princes and Stade de France are both close to the autoroute and peripherique, and if match time is anywhere near the evening rush hour the traffic will be even more chaotic.
For more details on the Rugby World Cup CLICK HERE
For map click (more…)

Between Montauban and Toulouse and Toulouse (82 Tarn et Garonne, Midi-Pyrenees) the town of Fronton celebrates a weekend of scents and flavours including the local wines from Fronton AC (previously known as the Côtes du Frontonnais). A feast for the senses (lots of colour, lots of music and lots of food and wine to delight the palate).

The wines of Fronton are distinctive in their use of the Negrette grape, which can produce good red and excellent rosé wines, such as those from Chateau Bellevue la Foret and Chateau Bouissel – well worth a little detour off the A20 or A62 autoroutes

At last the mountains are now behind the riders (literally), and whislt this is not exactly a flat stage, there are now opoortunities for any of the surviving sprinters to show their stuff as the tour runs from Pau (64 Pyrenees-Atlantiques, Aquitaine) to Castelsarrasin (82 Tarn-et-Garonne, Midi-Pyrenees) on the Canal du Midi.

Pau is the centre of the Jurancon AC and Jurancon Sec AC vineyards - superb white wines ranging from dazzlingly crisp dry white through to sublime dessert wines made from local grape varieties such as Gros Manseng and Petit Manseng. A little to the west of the town of Jurancon, Domaine de Cinquau is well worth a visit - other to look out for include Domaine de Cauhapé where Henri Ramonteau produces some really exeptional wines - such as the Domaine de Cauhapé Symphonie de Novembre. Jurancon AC Moelleux stocked by Andrew Chapman at www.surf4wine.com “The very intense nose combines citrus fruit and exotic perfume with hints of fine oak, resin, spice and toasty notes. The mouth is suave and very aromatic. Fruity, crystallized flavours and bursts with pineapple, chestnut and quince. “

For more info on the Tour de France 2007 see www.letour.fr or UK Eurosport where there are some good interactive maps of the route.

For the South West the A20 autoroute (l’Occitaine) is now complete linking Paris and Toulouse via the A10 to Orleans, then the A71 to Vierzon onto the A20 for Toulouse via Limoges, Brive, Cahors and Montauban. This is a very enjoyable road cutting through some glorious scenery - and such a joy for those who used to struggle on the old N20. This provides much easier access to Limoges, the Upper Dordogne & Sarlat, and the Lot Valley, Montauban and Toulouse. Cahors is now less than 7hrs from Calais - although you will have to pay about €47 (£30) in tolls (2006 figures) for the journey from Calais to Toulouse. However, the stretch from Vierzon (18 Cher, Centre) and the A71 junction south to Brive-la-Gaillarde (19 Corrèze, Limousin) is toll free!