Okay, so I’ve been based in Toulouse for a while now, and I’ve gotta say, it’s a fantastic city. But sometimes, you just need to get out and explore, right? So, I started looking into day trips I could take by train – super convenient, no car needed. Here’s how it all went down.
Planning the Escape
First things first, I needed to figure out where I wanted to go. I grabbed my laptop and started poking around. I wanted something not too far, maybe a couple of hours max, so I could really enjoy the place without spending all day on the train. I also wanted something, well, different! I saw suggestions, some articles… kind of overwhelming, really. I wanted something with history, good food, and ideally, some nice scenery.
Choosing the Destination
After a good hour of browsing, I finally settled on a few potential spots. Carcassonne was tempting, but I’d been there before. Albi looked promising, with its impressive cathedral. I decided to check Albi for sure!
Then, I looked at train schedules. The SNCF Connect app is pretty handy for this. Just popped in “Toulouse” as my starting point and “Albi” as my destination, picked a random day, and boom – a bunch of options appeared. I chose a direct train, to start a good day!
The Train Ride
On the day of the trip, I got to the Toulouse-Matabiau station with plenty of time to spare. Grabbed a coffee and a croissant (because, France!), and found my platform. The train was on time, which is always a good start. The journey itself was pretty relaxing. I just stared out the window, watching the countryside roll by. Green fields, little villages… it was a nice change of pace from the city.
Exploring the City
- Albi: What a place! Seriously, the Sainte-Cécile Cathedral is massive, like nothing I’d seen before. I spent a good hour just wandering around inside, looking at the frescoes and the organ. Then I explored the old town, with its narrow streets and cute little shops. Found a nice little restaurant for lunch and had some amazing local food. After that, I walked along the Tarn River, taking in the views. The whole place just felt so… peaceful.
Homeward Bound
After a full day of exploring, I headed back to the Albi station. Found a return train, grabbed a seat, and pretty much dozed off the whole way back to Toulouse.
Got back in the evening, feeling tired but happy. It was such a great day trip, and so easy to do by train.
Definitely going to do this again. Maybe Cahors next time…or Cordes-sur-Ciel!
