Gaillac is a small town on the river Tarn, in the south-west of France. Its origin is a settlement around a Benedictine monastery, probably around 950. Probably the Gaillac wine originated from the Roman period; the Benedictine monastery played an important role in the development of the Gaillac wine: the monks selected the best soils and grapes, and ordered that only oak barrels should be used, thus guaranteeing a better maturation and conservation of the wine. Under their supervision also, the first wine cellars were built, and the transport was organised over the rivers Tarn and Garonne, and exported via Bordeaux to northern Europe and the British Islands: the famous “claret”.
In 1221 Gaillac was awarded the city rights, both from the monastery and the count of Toulouse: from that period on, the town was ruled by the “consuls”, elected by the citizens. The crusade against the Cathars, called for by the French king and the pope, uprooted the entire Languedoc: Gaillac was taken and occupied, the city walls were pulled down, but all in all, the town was not annihilated, as were other places. The 16th century's religion wars were more devastating: in 1572 the Huguenots minority was defenestrated from a window in the St Michael's Abbey, and then slaughtered in the Tarn river. One should not forget the Hundred Year's war, and the Black Death: the Gaillac population was nearly exterminated.
In the 18th century re-population began, followed by a renewed economic development thanks to he Gaillac wine.
Gaillac remains a small town, with about 12 000 habitants. It plays an important regional role as supplier for the local markets and industries, as an administration and services centre, as a nodal point for schools. It is not an typical tourist destination, but nevertheless, it is nice to stroll in the Gaillac streets, to visit a church or museum, to have a glass of (Gaillac) wine on a terrace. You shouldn't miss the marketplace with its fountain, called “Griffoul”, a walk around the “Portalet” quarter, and the river bank.
Worthwhile museums:
◊ The arts museum in the Foucaud Park: in the nice Italian-style villa you will discover local painters and sculptors.
◊ The Saint-Michael's Abbey, nowadays the centre for the Gaillac wine, where you can taste and eventually buy wine; it hosts also a small wine museum and the tourist office.
◊ The Musée Philadelphe Thomas, a museum of natural history, with its unique collection of beetles from the nearby Gresigne forest, which houses hundreds different species (it is a NATURA 2000 site)
Bed and Breakfast Artichaud is a comfortable and eco-friendly guesthouse near Gaillac. It is a good place for wine tasting: a wine develops its full flavour when its is accompanying a nice meal. And here you are on the right place: we serve tasty gourmet meals on basis of local organic products, and fine Gaillac wines. And after dinner you don't have to hit the road again, you stay in one of our nice rooms.
The Gaillac wines are not very known abroad, which is a pity: they are superb. The reasons are manifold: the soil is rich and the region benefits of an appropriate micro-climate. Above all, the wine makers use only traditional varieties of grape, which are less productive than what one can find elsewhere in France or in other countries: braucol, loin de l'oeil, mauzac... And of course, they use traditional methods of producing wine enriched by modern techniques. In the end there is the Gaillac wine, a honest and good product, from sustainable vineyards with a decent price-quality ratio. If you never tasted Gaillac wine, you should do so.
Our guests are free to consult our documentation about the Gaillac wine area; also we might give you some hints for visiting interesting wine growers. Artichaud is proud to have been awarded the “vignoble et découverte”, the official tourist label, distinguishing the best places for wine tasting.
Text & pictures: © Bed and Breakfast Artichaud
