Bastides & Gaillac Property Guide

The Tarn’s Golden Triangle

This area is called the “Golden Triangle” by the estate agents as it forms a triangle between Albi, Gaillac and Cordes-sur-Ciel, which is a stunning hill top bastide town.

On the hilly Cordais Plateau, limestone farmhouses are plentiful, while reminders of moneyed landed gentry are also in evidence with numerous “mas” and “bourgeoises” houses. The traditional houses are rectangular made of white limestone. The various functions are integrated into the main building. Often the access to the accommodation is via an external staircase. From the 19th century there are large square or rectangular houses with 4-sloped roofs with 2 croups. On the first floor, an internal staircase leads to bedrooms divided on both sides of a large central corridor. The outbuilding are close to the property and their size depends on the wealth of the vineyards since this time.

South towards Gaillac, in the vineyard territory, there are a few well restored farmhouses and manoirs to choose from, with value-added extras such as mature gardens, pools and sometimes vineyards attached.

This area has a strong following with foreign buyers. In September 2006, a series of 5 short films called Happy France on the Channel Arte described the ups- and downs of the English communities in this area.