Description:

Geography

Castres is located in the Tarn department of the Midi-Pyrenees, 80 km east of Toulouse, with the River Agout running north to south through the centre of the town.  The town has joined with the neighbouring town of Mazamet, 22 km south east of the town, to form a single metropolitan area with a population of over 80,000 making it the third largest industrial centre in the Midi-Pyrenees region after Toulouse and Tarbes.  The Greater Castres-Mazamet Council aims to improve transport links, housing and implement economic policies that benefit the whole area.

Tourism

The town was built around the Benedictine Abbey, Sainte Benoit which is thought to date back to AD 647 and may be on the site of a Roman fort.  Only a Romanesque tower of the original abbey now survives and in its place is Saint Benoit church, built during the 17^th and 18^th centuries.  There are also some mansion houses dating from the 16^th and 17^th century such as the Hotel Leroy and Hotel Nayrac.

The River Agout is lined by houses that project over the water and makes quite a pretty scene worthy of a visit.  Castres has been an important centre for the wool trade since the 14^th century and some of the houses were originally tanneries or dyers.  Try to see the houses at night as well, with the floodlighting making them a more impressive sight.

Castres is the birthplace of the French socialist leader Jean Jaures and there are many reminders of him around the town

There are a couple of Museums in the town of note.  The Goya museum was opened in 1840 within the 17^th century Bishop's palace and contains Frances largest collection of Spanish paintings and many prints and self portraits of the artist.  The formal gardens of the Palace are beautifully laid out.  The newer Centre National et Musee Jean Jaures was opened in 1954 and contains a history of socialism in addition to exhibits on Jaures life and works.

Musee Goya
Hotel de Ville

Tel : 0033 (0)5 63 71 59 30

Opening Times : July - August: : daily -  September - June : Tuesday - Sunday

Adult : 2.30€

Centre National et Musee Jean Jaures
2 Place Pelisson

Opening times : Every day : 1000 - 1200 and 1400 - 1800

November 1^st - March 31^st : Closed on Sundays

Tel : 0033 (0)5 63 62 41 83

Adult : 1.50€

The Parc de Gourjade covers an area of 53 hectares and offers activities for all the family.  There is a golf course, swimming pool and ice rink and during the summer the Coche d'eau boat will take you on a trip along the river. The park is just on the outskirts of Castres on Avenue de Roquecourbe.

There are three permanent markets in the town;

Jean Jaures Square : Open air market on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday mornings.

Halle de l'Albinque : Covered market from Tuesday to Sunday, morning only.

Lameille commercial centre : Open air market on Wednesday mornings.

Economy

The major industry in the town is engineering, wooden furniture, pharmaceuticals textiles and tanning.  The textile and tanning industries have been in decline however and although pharmaceuticals have filled some of the gap, the town is still going through a process of restructuring and attracting new companies.

Transport

Castres is very well connected by public transport.  The train station (0033 (0)5 63 71 80 00) on Avenue Albert 1^st, is on the mainline to Toulouse and the Castres-Mazamet area has its own bus company, Libellus, connecting the two towns and surrounding area.

Flying to the area is well catered for.  Toulouse has many International flights while for internal flights to Paris-Orly and Lyon there is Castres-Mazamet regional airport.

The town is quite a way from the nearest motorway, but as long as you avoid the French holidays in August, the roads are normally traffic free and quiet.

Airport : Le Causse, 81290 Labruguiere - Tel : 0033 (0)5 63 70 34 77

Train station : Avenue Albert 1st - Tel : 0033 (0)5 63 71 80 00

Bus station : Place Soult - Tel : 0033 (0)5 63 35 37 31

Libellus : Les Arcades, Place Jean Jaures - Tel : 0033 (0)5 63 71 80 00

Have a look at our travel pages for more information.

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