Discover The Beauty of Tarn Canyon In France

Tarn Canyon, France

When you think of holidaying in France, most people jump straight to the glamor and intrigue of Paris or the picturesque towns of wine country in the south. The Tarn Canyon really ought to be one of the places on the top of the list, which is why I was so surprised that I’d never heard about it before I started researching my trip to France.

If you love the great outdoors, you have to visit the Gorges du Tarn and marvel in the splendor of nature. It is one of the deepest and longest canyons on the continent of Europe, and was carved out over time by the river Tarn. This is a tributary of the Garonne and starts high up in the mountains at Sainte Enimie, running down to Millau before joining the main river.

When I first discovered this amazing piece of landscape, I knew I needed to see it. I just wasn’t sure how best to approach it. You can kayak along the river, walk the trails, cycle or drive the road – there’s so much choice available. In the end, I went with driving because it seemed like the right thing to do.

In 1905, the road along the canyon was purpose-built as a tourist drive and it was called the route des Gorge du Tarn. The Grand Hotel de la Muse was also purpose-built as part of the whole tourist experience. I sadly couldn’t stay here because it isn’t exactly cheap accommodation, and it was already fully booked for my dates.

I did take some time on my trip to pop in and see the hotel – something you have to do even if you can’t stay there. It is truly glamorous, and you can dine or have a drink right on the water’s edge as the river rushes past you. Everything about the hotel is designed to take full advantage of the incredible scenery.

The water is like something out of a storybook: crisp, clear and shining emerald. Whatever method of transportation you opt for, make sure you plan time for swimming. I was also really glad I had my GoPro with me to take in action shots. There is so much to see and experience here.

Point Sublime is one of the top highlights of the trip. As you can imagine, it’s a point where you have the most sublime views of the canyon and the river. The view is something I will never forget, and I don’t think is likely to be topped by anything I see on any other adventure.

I also thoroughly enjoyed visiting the little towns along the way as they were as fun as if you register right here. I started my journey up at Sainte Enimie, which has been described as the prettiest town in all of France – I can see why. Then I stopped in at places like Peyreleau, Eglazine and Castelbouc. These villages seem to sit, carefully poised on the water’s edge with the steep gorge looming up behind them. They are old and completely picturesque.