Things to do around Château du Falga: weekend and week itineraries

Revel market, Sorèze, Lac de Saint-Ferréol, the Seuil de Naurouze, Carcassonne, Toulouse: our day-by-day itineraries around Le Falga, for families, cyclists, groups and rainy days.

What is there to do around Château du Falga? Almost everything, within half an hour's drive. On Saturday morning, the market in Revel beneath its great covered hall; in the afternoon, Saint-Félix-Lauragais perched on its ridge. The next day, the abbey-school of Sorèze, then the Lac de Saint-Ferréol and the Voûte Vauban at Les Cammazes. Over a week, add the Seuil de Naurouze, Castelnaudary and its Grand Bassin, then two big days out: the Cité de Carcassonne and Toulouse, each about an hour away. Here are the itineraries we recommend to our guests, day by day, with deliberately cautious driving times.

Where is Le Falga, and how long do you need to see everything?

Le Falga is a small village in the Haute-Garonne, in the canton of Revel, on the hills of the Lauragais facing the Montagne Noire, near Toulouse in south-west France. Its position is ideal: at the heart of a triangle formed by Toulouse, Carcassonne and Castres, and, above all, as close as can be to the sources of the Canal du Midi. Here, as a rough guide, are the driving times we observe from the château, along the back roads and without hurrying:

Saint-Félix-Lauragais: around ten minutes
Montgey: just under a quarter of an hour
Revel: around twenty minutes
Sorèze: about 25 minutes
Lac de Saint-Ferréol, Les Cammazes, Seuil de Naurouze, Castelnaudary: about half an hour
Toulouse (city centre): about an hour, longer at rush hour
Carcassonne: between an hour and an hour and a quarter

A weekend lets you savour the essentials around Revel. A week leaves time to follow the water of the canal from the Montagne Noire down to the watershed, and to enjoy both great cities without sacrificing the calm of the park and the pool.

A weekend at Le Falga: what to do on Saturday?

Start with the Revel market on Saturday morning. The bastide was founded in 1342 by King Philippe VI de Valois, on a grid plan laid out around a central square. In the middle stands the 14th-century covered hall, one of the largest in France, its timber frame resting on dozens of oak pillars, with the belfry marking it from afar. The market spills out under the arcades and into the neighbouring streets: cheeses, poultry, fruit from market gardeners, garlic, flowers, wines from the South-West. Arrive early to park easily, and bring a basket: this is where we shop for Saturday dinner. Everything you need to know is in our article on Revel, the bastide and its market.

In the afternoon, head up to Saint-Félix-Lauragais, a few minutes from the château. The village sits on a limestone ridge overlooking the plain of Revel, facing the Montagne Noire. Here you will find the 14th- and 15th-century collegiate church, with its organ by Grégoire Rabiny dated 1782; the castle, once the residence of Pierre d'Euze, brother of Pope John XXII; and the birthplace of the composer Déodat de Séverac. At the end of the day, the low light over the plain alone is worth the detour. See our article on Saint-Félix-Lauragais.

And on Sunday: Sorèze, Saint-Ferréol and Les Cammazes?

Sunday is happily given over to the Montagne Noire. In the morning, Sorèze and its abbey-school: founded as a Benedictine abbey in the 8th century, it became a royal military school under Louis XVI, was directed in the 19th century by Father Lacordaire, and welcomed pupils from all over Europe until it closed in 1991. This is where the Caffarelli brothers studied, between 1765 and 1783; their busts still keep watch in the Salle des Illustres. The Musée Dom Robert, opened in 2015 in a restored wing, displays the tapestries of this monk of En Calcat, inspired by the nature of the Montagne Noire. To prepare your visit: Sorèze and its abbey-school, and the website of the Cité de Sorèze.

In the afternoon, drive up to the Lac de Saint-Ferréol, a few minutes from Revel. This 67-hectare reservoir was built by Pierre-Paul Riquet between 1667 and 1672 to feed the Canal du Midi; its 871-metre dam was long considered the largest in the world. The walk around the lake, about 4.5 kilometres, takes an hour, partly in the shade of pine trees. Below the dam lie a 19th-century romantic park and its jet of water. Our full article: the Lac de Saint-Ferréol.

Carry on to Les Cammazes for the Voûte Vauban. After his inspection in 1685, Vauban had the system enlarged and this 123-metre tunnel dug to carry the water of the Rigole de la Montagne towards the Laudot stream, and on to Saint-Ferréol. You can walk through it alongside the water: a torch is essential. Details in Les Cammazes and the Voûte Vauban.

How to stretch it to a week, day by day?

Here is the sequence we suggest to those staying seven days, keeping a quiet spell at the château every afternoon.

Day 1, Saturday: Revel market in the morning, Saint-Félix-Lauragais in the late afternoon.
Day 2, Sunday: Sorèze, then Saint-Ferréol and the Voûte Vauban.
Day 3: a day at the château, a walk to the chapel of Noumérens, less than two kilometres away, and in the evening Montgey and its castle on its hill (Montgey).
Day 4: the Seuil de Naurouze in the morning, Castelnaudary in the afternoon.
Day 5: Carcassonne for the day.
Day 6: rest, the pool, or a bike loop along the Rigole de la Plaine.
Day 7: Toulouse, ideally on a weekday.

The Seuil de Naurouze deserves time. At 189 metres above sea level, it is the highest point of the Canal du Midi and the watershed between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean: the water of the Montagne Noire, brought by the rigoles, sets off again here towards both seas. Beneath the plane trees planted in 1809 on the site of the old octagonal basin, the obelisk raised between 1825 and 1827 by Riquet's heirs pays tribute to the creator of the "Canal des Deux-Mers". To understand this ingenious hydraulic system, read the rigole and the Canal du Midi.

In Castelnaudary, the Grand Bassin, built by Riquet and François Andréossy, forms a stretch of water of about seven hectares, the largest between Toulouse and Sète. Walk along the Saint-Roch locks, climb to the Moulin de Cugarel, one of the last surviving 17th-century windmills, then sit down to eat: the town calls itself the capital of cassoulet. Our favourite addresses and the story of the dish are in cassoulet and the cuisine of the Lauragais.

Carcassonne calls for a full day. The Cité, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997, lines up some three kilometres of double ramparts and 52 towers, with the Château Comtal and the Basilica of Saint-Nazaire, restored in the 19th century by Viollet-le-Duc. Arrive at opening time or in the late afternoon, when the crowds thin out. On the way, or on another day, the so-called Cathar fortresses can be visited from the château: see Cathar castles from the Lauragais.

Toulouse, finally, is best explored on foot: the Capitole and its square, the Basilica of Saint-Sernin, one of the largest Romanesque churches in Europe, the Couvent des Jacobins and its stone "palm tree", the Hôtel d'Assézat built by a pastel (woad) merchant, then the banks of the Garonne at sunset. To understand where these merchants' fortunes came from, read the Lauragais, land of Cocagne and pastel.

What to do with children, and on rainy days?

With children, Saint-Ferréol is the first choice: supervised swimming in July and August, a leisure centre with canoes, pedal boats, sailing and treetop courses, and a lakeside loop that works with a pushchair. The Voûte Vauban, head torch on, always delights older children. At the château, the park and the pool are often enough to fill an afternoon.

If it rains, the programme moves indoors without losing any of its interest:

the abbey-school of Sorèze and the Musée Dom Robert, which easily take half a day;
Le Réservoir, a discovery centre devoted to the Canal du Midi, at Saint-Ferréol;
the Musée du Bois et de la Marqueterie in Revel, which tells the story of the town's cabinetmaking tradition;
the Musée du Lauragais, housed in the former présidial (royal court) of Castelnaudary;
in Toulouse, the Couvent des Jacobins, the Capitole or the Fondation Bemberg.

Always check opening days and times before setting off: they vary with the seasons.

Can you explore the Lauragais by bike?

Yes, and it is one of the finest ways to understand the canal. The greenway along the Rigole de la Plaine, part of the Véloccitanie route, links Revel with the Seuil de Naurouze over a stage of about 38 kilometres, rated suitable for beginners and almost flat, passing near the Lac de Lenclas and close to Saint-Félix. Some sections of track are still being developed and become hard going in wet weather. Keener cyclists continue along the canal towpath towards Castelnaudary, or climb towards the Montagne Noire, which is far more demanding. The France Vélo Tourisme website describes the stage in detail.

How to organise outings for a group?

The château welcomes up to 21 guests: family reunions, old friends, birthdays. With a party that size, we advise keeping the programme flexible, with one shared outing a day and options to choose from. The Revel market is perfect for shopping together for a grand dinner on the south-facing terrace; the walk around the Lac de Saint-Ferréol suits all ages; a guided tour of the abbey-school or of the Cité de Carcassonne can be booked in advance with the sites. For longer trips, plan two or three cars and a precise meeting point. For an overview of the region, see also what to see and do in the Lauragais and our portrait of Le Falga, a Lauragais village.

Frequently asked questions

Which day is the Revel market?
Saturday morning, under the 14th-century hall and in the surrounding streets. Come early for the best choice and to find a parking space.

How long does it take to get from Château du Falga to Toulouse or Carcassonne?
Allow about an hour to central Toulouse, longer at rush hour, and between an hour and an hour and a quarter to Carcassonne.

Is a weekend enough to discover the area?
It lets you see Revel, Saint-Félix-Lauragais, Sorèze and Saint-Ferréol without rushing. To add Naurouze, Castelnaudary, Carcassonne and Toulouse, a week is ideal.

What can you do around Le Falga when it rains?
The abbey-school of Sorèze and the Musée Dom Robert, Le Réservoir at Saint-Ferréol, the Musée du Bois et de la Marqueterie in Revel, or a day of museums in Toulouse.

Staying at Château du Falga or the Petite Maison

All our itineraries start from the same door. The château is let by the week in summer and for weekends in May, June and September, for 21 guests; the Petite Maison, a cottage for four, welcomes you all year round. To plan your programme or to book, write to us: we will be happy to advise you, and to tell you the history of the château.

Sources: Cirkwi (Revel hall and belfry), Occitanie Regional Tourist Board, Canal du Midi (official website), Tourisme Tarn, France Vélo Tourisme, Wikipedia (Saint-Félix-Lauragais, Lac de Saint-Ferréol, Castelnaudary, Cité de Carcassonne), Cité de Sorèze, France.fr (UNESCO sites in Occitanie).