Discover Alban

Alban offers several different perspectives for planning your trip: stone monuments, the Église Notre-Dame d’Alban, an easy route to Lac de la Franquèze and the Tuesday market. You can choose your focus depending on whether you are interested in megalithic heritage, religious art, a walk with a break in nature, or the market’s products. The route provides a specific distance and approximate walking time; the selection at the market may vary depending on the date.

Stone monuments

The Dolmen d’Alban is also known as “Le palet de Notre Dame.” It is described as a large stone slab that originally rested on two long upright stones. The Menhir d’Alban is also called “La pierre du Diable”; it is about three metres high and has two so-called cupules on its northeastern side. Their forms offer a clear distinction: the dolmen is defined by the slab and the stones that originally supported it, while the menhir is distinguished by its approximate height and the cupules on its northeastern side.

Sacred art at the Église Notre-Dame d’Alban

The Église Notre-Dame d’Alban houses a cross classified as Romanesque and a gilded wooden Madonna dating from the 15th century. It also features Neo-Byzantine frescoes by Nicolas Greschny. The cross, Madonna and frescoes offer different art-historical points of interest: the cross for its Romanesque classification, the Madonna for its material and dating, and the frescoes for their style and artist. This gives visitors interested in sacred art several distinct features to look out for in the church.

The Boucle d’Alban and Lac de la Franquèze

The Boucle d’Alban is considered an easy route. It is 5.8 kilometres long, starts at Place de Ladrech in Alban and leads to Lac de la Franquèze. The walking time is about one hour and 30 minutes. At the lake, there is a shaded spot for a break in nature, a walk or fishing. The approximate walking time helps you gauge the route; you can plan separately for extra time to take a break, walk by the lake or fish. An arboretum is located near the Dolmen d’Alban and the Menhir d’Alban.

Tuesday market in Alban

The Tuesday markets take place at Place du chanoine Henri Roussel in Alban. Products include fruit and vegetables, poultry, eggs, cheese, wine and honey. Which of these are available on a particular market day may vary. Tuesday is a clear point of reference for your planning; check the date you have in mind if specific products are important to you.

For planning your time, the route and the market provide different points of reference: the Boucle takes about an hour and a half to walk, while the market is held on Tuesdays. You can therefore schedule your outing and market visit according to your priorities.

Discover more destinations: Mouzieys-Panens, Graulhet, Jouqueviel, Donnazac, Fiac, Palleville, Escoussens, Rivières

For the broader travel overview: Tarn.