La Valette,

Massals

Location

La Valette is a small farmhouse lying just outside the small village of Massals in the Tarn département of France. It faces south with open views over a valley of open woods,pasture and trout stream. It is our own holiday home, which we and our children and grandchildren enjoy several times each year. When we are not using La Valette, we are able to let it for the enjoyment of other people.

It is set in the wonderful countryside of the Ségala Tarnais, an unspoilt area of plateaux and gorges in the Haut-Languedoc. There are deep forests and rocky outcrops intermingled with valleys of sweet chestnuts and oaks, and sheep pastures. Here we have spotted red squirrels, deer, buzzards, wild ferrets and a family of wild boars (very timid!). There are plenty of walking opportunities from the house.

There is a small shop in the village and a full range of shops, bars, restaurants and services at Alban (7 miles). Indoor and open air swimming pools and tennis courts are 20 minutes away at St Sernin sur Rance. Horse riding, including hacks and tuition is available in a nearby village.

Albi (20 miles) is the principal city for the Tarn and has an old cathedral, a Toulouse Lautrec museum, river walks and large shopping centres. Cap Découverte, just to the north of Albi is open April to October and offers  a dry ski slope, luge run, skate park, water ski, cable run and mountain biking..

The river Tarn itself is about 15 miles away and offers splendid views as well as canoeing and other water activities. The Grandes Causses is a classified regional park with dramatic and beautiful hills and this area begins only 3 miles to the east of La Valette.

To the west are several old bastide towns, on steep volcanic hills and fortified at the time of the religious wars, of which Cordes sur Ciel is the best known.

The Mediterranean is about 3 hours drive to the south. The new Millau road viaduct, (the highest in the world) is to the east and beyond that are the Tarn Gorges, all within a day’s visit.

The main agricultural produce of the area is Roquefort cheese, made from ewes’ milk and visits can be made to the cheese-making factories and caves

where the cheeses are matured. Wine is also produced locally within the Gaillac appellation.

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