@ Gillian ThorntonThe

@ Gillian ThorntonThe Perched Villages of the“Tuscan” TarnStep back through the centuries in themedieval villages of the Tarn. GillianThornton heads to La Toscane Occitane.One of the things we all want on holiday isclear weather, but put Cordes-sur-Ciel on youritinerary and you cannot help but hope forcloud. Well, the right sort of cloud at any rate.Perched on a hilltop in the rollingcountryside of the Tarn department,‘Cordes-above-the-sky’ appears to floatabove the clouds when early morning mistlingers in the Cérou valley below.Classified amongst the Most BeautifulVillages in France, Cordes-sur-Ciel is justhalf an hour’s drive from my base in theUNESCO-listed city of Albi. Not driving?Then enjoy a private tour from Albi ina classic 2CV with Le Tacot Cathare.Alternatively, take a day trip by train fromToulouse along the ‘Bastides and MostBeautiful Villages’ line to Cordes-Vindrac,where you can pick up a bus or taxi for thelast 5km.With transport of my own, I park on thelower slopes of the hill outside Le Jardin desParadis, open from May to September andclassified as a Jardin Remarquable for itsdense planting of exotic species, its lily ponds,and varied summer programme of concertsand exhibitions. Then I set off on foot to windup through the lower tiers of properties onceoccupied by Cordes’ working classes.36 | The Good Life France The Good Life France | 37