Carcasonne and Albi
Monday–Tuesday May 12–13, 2003
The morning after we arrived in Toulouse from London Gatwick we rented a car and set off for Carcassonne, an attractive walled city that dates back to the Roman Empire. It is southeast of Toulouse, half way to the Mediterranean. The city today retains a medieval look. We have friends who have been to Carcassonne during summer and who reported that it is absolutely crowded with tourists. The photograph above is evidence that in the off season Carcassonne is empty and strolling is not difficult. Carcassone is a Unesco World Heritage site.
At dinner in Carcassone we had the special of the evening, beans. The meal began with small servings of beef with jam, toast with goat cheese and a medley of chicken and vegetables. That was followed with seared foie gras with white beans and caramelized tomato oil. Next came veal cooked in butter with coffee beans and served on a hot iron plate with potatoes, leeks, fava beans, artichokes, peas, chanterelles and tomatoes. The cheese course was next. Black truffle ice cream ended the meal.
Our next destination was Albi, with its Toulouse–Lautrec Museum. It was a pleasant city built of red brick.
At dinner in Albi we had a ballontine of duck with pistachios and eggplant caviar; and a filet of beef with dried porcini. Black walnut ice cream finished the meal.
We landed at Toulouse Airport and spent the night in the city. The next morning we set off in our rental car for Carcassone and Albi.
Next—Sarlat, Rocamadour and Cahors, in the Valley of the Dordogne River.
