Biker-friendly accommodation in Tarn-et-Garonne

Tarn-et-Garonne is a territory made to be discovered with your hands on the bars, riding between three major rivers: the Tarn, the Garonne and the Aveyron. At the crossroads of Quercy, Gascony and Rouergue, this department packs an authentic slice of the South-West, well off the beaten tourist track. Medieval bastides perched on their promontories look out over landscapes of lush valleys and limestone causses. Quiet back roads wind between orchards and hillsides, passing through listed villages where golden stone and pink brick have been in conversation for centuries. The Aveyron gorges carve a breathtaking natural spectacle between sheer cliffs and crystal-clear waters. Montauban with its rosy hues, Moissac with its thousand-year-old abbey, and the Most Beautiful Villages of France like Bruniquel, Auvillar and Lauzerte – every stop deserves a moment to kill the engine and soak it all in. With its moderate terrain and twisty roads, département 82 is a perfect playground for stacking up the miles without wearing out the bike or the rider.

What to see and do in Tarn-et-Garonne?

The department is home to exceptional heritage, starting with Montauban, a pink-brick prefecture housing the Musée Ingres Bourdelle and its magnificent arcaded Place Nationale. The Abbey of Moissac, UNESCO-listed as part of the pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostela, impresses with its Romanesque cloister and sculpted tympanum – one of the jewels of French medieval art. The department's three Most Beautiful Villages of France are each worth the detour: Lauzerte, a hilltop bastide in Quercy Blanc offering breathtaking panoramic views; Auvillar with its unique circular market hall overlooking the Garonne; and Bruniquel, with two châteaux clinging to a rocky spur. Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val, a medieval town on the banks of the Aveyron, wins you over with its authenticity and its 12th-century Romanesque house. The Aveyron gorges put on a grand natural spectacle, ideal for kayaking and climbing. Don't miss the characterful villages of Caylus, Montricoux with its Musée Marcel-Lenoir, and Montaigu-de-Quercy. On the food front, the department shines with its Moissac chasselas grapes, Quercy melon and Lomagne white garlic, not forgetting the farmers' markets that set the rhythm of local life.

Motorcycle Roads in Tarn-et-Garonne: Quercy and the Aveyron Gorges

Tarn-et-Garonne offers a network of winding back roads that snake between the Quercy causses and lush green valleys. The D115 and D115 bis are the headline act, hugging the Aveyron gorges between Bruniquel and Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val: a steady flow of bends, vertical cliffs dropping into the river, and medieval villages perched on the skyline around every corner. The Route des Corniches, two kilometres from Saint-Antonin towards Caylus, delivers jaw-dropping viewpoints over the canyon. To the west, the D813 between Auvillar and Moissac follows the Garonne valley through orchards and bastides. The Quercy Blanc roads, like the D2 towards Lauzerte, unroll their curves between limestone plateaus and vine-covered hillsides. The D926 cuts through the heart of the department linking Montauban to Caussade and Caylus, punctuated by characterful villages. To the north, the back roads crossing the causses towards Montaigu-de-Quercy and the Bonnette valley serve up rolling panoramas and generally excellent surfaces. The whole department lends itself perfectly to day loops, with easy extensions into the neighbouring Lot, Aveyron or Tarn.

Frequently asked questions