4 days in the sun to discover the beautiful scenery and architecture along the Canal du midi.

Ô Toulouse

Unspoilt countryside and wide open spaces, beautiful medieval cities and historical attractions, rivers and canals, vineyards and quaint little towns: Midi-Pyrénées is all about good living, fascinating heritage, and

of course great food.

The Saint Sernin Basilica, situated in Toulouse’s City centre, is characterized by its 260 Romanesque engravings representing saints, dragons and exotic birds.

Friday 30 th September 2016 Day 1

Arrival in Toulouse3.40pm Arrival at carcassonne airport

From Manchester, a Ryanair flight departs at 12:35. Toulouse is a hour drive from Carcassone Airport; transport throughout the trip will be in a comfortable 9-seater air-conditioned vehicle.

5.30pm Arrival at your hotel in toulouse

6.30pm GUIDED EVENING STROLL THROUGH toulouse, La Ville RoseToulouse, on the banks of the Garonne, is a dynamic and cultural city. It is home to some of the most impressive monuments in the South West of France, from the St. Sernin Basilica to the majestic Capitole. The small streets and gorgeous architecture also make the city centre a perfect place for a leisurely stroll and our first glimpse of the Canal.

8.30pm Haute cuisine dinner In ToulouseDiscover the region through its best food: cassoulet, confit de canard, espelette! You will be treated to a delicious haute cuisine dinner in one of Toulouse’s most renowned institutions.

Friday 30 th September 2016 Day 1

Arrival in Toulouse

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec always had a passion for painting cabaret dancers (Marcelle Lender)

saturday 1 st october Day 2

Visit of Albi9.30am albi’s Marché couvert

After breakfast at the hotel, discover the unique architecture and the delicious products at Albi’s indoor market. With so many locally produced delicacies, you are sure to find something that will tingle your taste buds!

10.30Am Visit of the Toulouse-Lautrec MuseumSituated in a 13th century castle, the Toulouse-Lautrec museum is among France’s most visited museums outside of Paris. The extensive collection (more than a thousand paintings) will enable you to gain a well-rounded idea of the innovative approach of the artist. The museum is home to the famous paintings of bordello and cabaret characters and many of the well-known posters from the period.

12.30Pm lunch in AlbiMany options will be presented to you and you will be free to choose among yourselves which restaurants suits your mood!

3.30pm Visit of AlbiThe Episcopal City of Albi has been recognized as an internationally- significant cultural heritage site by UNESCO. Saint-Cecile Cathedral is the largest brick-built cathedral in the world. Many of its neighbourhoods are renowed for their combination of Romanesque and Gothic architecture.

7.30pm Dinner Back in ToulouseAfter this busy day, we will head back to Toulouse for a well-deserved rest and some food at a restaurant of your choosing.

saturday 1 st october Day 2

Discover beautiful vineyards throughout the region and taste delicious wines such as the Blanquette de Limoux

sunday 2 nd October Day 3

Get cooking !10.00AM Cookery class

Learn to cook traditional Southern French meals in this two-hour cooking class. You will be taught how to make 1 starter, 1 main dish and 1 dessert. You will then taste your delicious creations for lunch. «Après l’effort, le réconfort», as they say in France!

3.00pm The Aeroscopia museum of blagnacAir travel and space technology are the main industries of the region and many museums are centred around them. Aeroscopia, with its spectacular collection of aircrafts and air travel memorabilia, shows the rich aviation heritage of the region. So fasten your seatbelts, straighten up your backrests and dive into the world of aviation!

5.00pm stroll along the canalThe 241 km long Canal du Midi is one of the greatest feats of 17th century engineering. The AFM teacher will guide you through the history of its construction. A perfect place for a walk to enjoy the sunlight softly filtering through the canopy.

8.30pm Dinner back in toulouseA choice of dining options will be available, depending on the mood of the group.

sunday 2 nd October Day 3

Get cooking ! From the concorde to the Airbus A380, Toulouse and its region have had a great impact on international Aeronautics.

monday 3 rd october Day 4

manchester via Carcassonne9.30am Check-out from the hotel

10.00am wine tasting : blanquette de limouxThis white wine is perfect for the late summer, with traces of apple and freshly-cut grass. Discover this unique aroma at La Maison Guinot, a renowed vineyard. You will be guided through their cellars and will be treated to a multi-media presentation of the wine-making process.

12.00am visit of the medieval city of carcassoneCarcassonne has a history going back 2500 years. It was famous in the Middle Ages for its 3 kilometre long double surrounding walls interspersed with 52 towers. You will learn about the history of the Ca-thars, the 12th century Christian dualists and visit the Citadel, which was renovated in the 17th century and still stands today.

1.30pm Lunch in carcassonne.Which restaurant will you choose this time? Hopefully one with a view of the city walls!

4.05pm Departure to Manchester The Ryanair flight departing 4:05 is scheduled to arrive in Manchester at 5:10pm.

monday 3 rd october Day 4

Price/person£409 (double room) - £489 (single room)

The stay includesThe services of a teacher from the AF de Manchester who will

help you practise French for the duration of the stay.Transport within France (fuel and toll charges included).

3 nights of accommodation in a hotel (breakfast included).

The stay does not includeReturn tickets to and from Carcassonne Airport.

Any midday and evening meals except Friday dinner and Sunday lunch.All other activities not mentioned in the programme.

Conditions- Registration deadline is 22 July 2016- There must be a minimum of 6 participants for the trip to take place; - The maximum number of participants is 8;- Fees must be paid on registration to secure the place;- Fees will be refunded if the minimum number of participants has not been reached by the registration deadline;- Fees are not refundable under any circumstances once the trip has been confirmed;- Flights should only be reserved once the trip has been confirmed. The AF de Manchester is not responsible for the flight arrangements of participants;- Each participant should ensure that his/her passport is valid and up to date;- If a participant books any other flight than those mentioned in the programme, it will be his/her responsibility to arrange transport to join the group;- Participants must be covered by their own insurance. The AF de Manchester will not be responsible for any incident or loss that occurs before and during the trip;- Please be aware that this trip is not open to anyone below the age of 18 due to the alcohol tasting activities.