The countryside around our B &B is very varied: forests, vineyards, meadows and fields come one after the other on the hillsides and in the valleys. To the north, lies the Gresigne forest which stretches as far as the Aveyron. Towards the east, closer to Gaillac, the slopes, often planted with vines, offer stunning panoramas; with the old farms and wine growing estates with their stone buildings, surrounded by cedar and cypress trees, you could easily believe you were in Tuscany. Around Gaillac but also large vineyards and fields of corn and sunflowers. Estates, castles and farms all surrounded by umbrella pines, cedar and cypress trees bear witness to a prosperous past. Indeed - here is the start of the Cocagne region. All around the Vere valley lies good agricultural land. Our neighbour, for example, is a wine grower who, on his other plots of land, rotates crops of wheat, maize, rape and sunflowers. All of these make for vivid colour from April onwards.
Trees and hedges abound in the countryside of the Tarn. Oaks, cedars, cypress trees and umbrella pines have been planted here for centuries. Alder, ash and willow trees grow by the water’s edge. Hedges were the traditional way of enclosing land. They are useful for a number of reasons: they act as windbreaks, keep in the cattle and allow other plants which can’t take direct sun to grow in the shade. Ash, maples, hornbeams and hawthorns have all been planted in the hedgerows; in the shade of the larger ones, shrubs such as box and holly have been planted.
At the same time, you can often find wild fruits; hazelnuts, chestnuts and walnuts traditionally figure amongst winter provisions. Wild cherries on the other hand don’t keep and whether you eat them immediately when they are ripe or use them to make jams and preserves, the birds will be your fiercest rivals for the crop! Quinces are used to make a very delicate jelly or delicious fruit pie. Apples, pears, and wild sloes provide an excellent topping for tarts – or the basic ingredients for the distillation of spirits. The tradition of making spirits in the home is disappearing little by little but a ‘mobile still’ still operates.
In the forest and on the edges of woodland, you can find plenty of lovely things to nibble on: wild strawberries, raspberries, brambles, asparagus and mushrooms……. You will see many beautiful flowers and orchids, butterflies and rare beetles. It is also a great region for bird watching.
More information on : The Gresigne
forest
Climate and Weather
forecast in the Tarn
Walking holiday among bastides and vineyards
