Traditional games and sports
Rugby is a symbol of the Tarn region's sport and has been a part of the department's reputation for many years. Before the arrival of rugby from across the Channel, a variant of this sport, called "la soule", was played in the South. It would seem that it was thanks to the wine trade that Bordeaux, Toulouse and then Mazamet (the first town in the Tarn in 1898) adopted the sport. Castres and Albi followed in 1900 and 1901. It was at this time that the first clubs appeared in the department. Rugby was quickly adopted by the men of the region. Its practice was exacerbated by the sporting competitions between the villages and the bosses encouraged the creation of workers' clubs in order to better bond and "control" the employees. It is the same for the military garrisons. Nowadays, the Tarn has more than forty clubs, real breeding grounds for talented players and coaches. From the beginning, rugby has been attached to the respect of certain values, and has become part of an art of living which is specific to the South : gastronomy, virility mixed with fair play, respect for the initial values of the sport, with a less pronounced relationship to money, but which unfortunately grows more and more with the years.
If rugby has been integrated into local traditions, other activities practiced in the Tarn were born on the territory. This is notably the case of tambornet, a very old game that has survived the ages, and the more confidential game of 9-pin bowling. The first, also called "Jeu du Tambourin", has its origins in the famous game of paume, which was first played by the Greeks in ancient times under the name of "phaeninda". Its name comes from the fact that the game was originally played with the palms of the hand. It was not until the 15th century that the tambourine was introduced as a beater. It is supposed that this change was adopted in Languedoc during this period. Today, the rules of the tambornet are simple: the game is played with two teams of five players, on a ground of 80 meters length and 20 meters broad, separated by a line called "the low". The participants are equipped with a tambourine, formerly made of goat skin, now made of synthetic material, and must send a rubber ball back to the opposing camp. The second game, 9-pin bowling, is a very old leisure activity. In concrete terms, nine pins are placed inside a 4.5-metre square of clay, 2.15 metres apart. The objective is to send a ball onto these pins, performing predefined tricks, without taking the ball out of the square on the first throw. If this one is successful, the player can throw again. At the end, it is enough to cumulate the points.
Land sports
With its many villages, its vast forest areas and its extensive network of paths, the Tarn offers a wonderful playground for outdoor activities. There are currently 5,200 km of paths registered in the Departmental Plan of walking and hiking routes since 1990, including 50 marked routes for hiking. A few reminders about the signposting: yellow for the walks and hikes (PR), white and red for the long linear hikes (GR), and yellow and red for the long country loop hikes (GRP). You will find discovery trails in the forest of Montagnol, the Cayla trail, walks from Laouzas to Montalet, the GR36, the Sivens forest, the Andouquette circuit and many other choice spots.
If you prefer to set off by bike, you will quickly be won over by the Tarn region! The French Cycling Federation and the French Federation of Cycling have certified several sites for mountain biking in the Tarn. Result: you can ride on more than 100 km of marked trails in the department! Trails, from easy to expert level, are maintained for your greatest pleasure. Take for example the route des lacs, the Mazamet greenway, discover the Sidobre or the sentier des Droits de l'Homme, between Albi and Castres. The more athletic will take the Chemin des Crêtes, starting from Albi. You will notice the mining past of the towns of Carmaux or Cagnac-les-Mines, and you will admire the beauty of the old bastides of Albi, strolling through the narrow streets of Cordes and Monestiés. A map of the itineraries is available in all the tourist offices and reception points of the department.
Horse riding enthusiasts will also be delighted by the 1,200 km of marked trails adapted to horse riding. On the programme: wagon rides, farm stays, excursions... We would like to mention the atypical and charming En Gout farm, in Dourgne, which will welcome you for an unforgettable stay in a wagon on the trails of the Cocagne and Montagne noire regions. Perfect for an unforgettable stay!
Finally, if you want to relax on the greens of the Tarn with friends or family, you'll find plenty to enjoy. In the four corners of the department, golf courses are waiting to welcome you in the middle of nature, a lush and friendly setting that will guarantee good times. There are five in total, in Castres, Pont-de-Larn, Rivières, Albi and Fiac.
Water sports activities
If the Tarn is adorned with its most beautiful shades of green throughout the year, it is because its heart, its valleys and its mountains are populated with rivers and lakes. Fishing grounds and various sports grounds, they also offer the possibility of a little diving and swimming under good supervision. The department's leisure areas and bases, listed on the Tarn website, have supervised areas during the summer months.
It is in these spots, as well as on the rivers of the Tarn, the Aveyron, the Cérou, the Agout and the Viaur, that you will be able to practice canoeing and kayaking in complete peace of mind. Depending on your level and your ambition, you can choose between the two. As a reminder, the canoe, which is steered with a single paddle, is suitable for quiet walks, while the kayak, which is manoeuvred with a double paddle, is perfect for white water rafting. With family or friends, these activities are suitable for everyone, whatever their level and age.
River tourism is also a nice way to discover the department in a different way, to contemplate the fauna (herons, mallards, trouts...) and to have a fun activity in the middle of nature. Wild, mysterious, tortuous, the Tarn is a large river which becomes gentler around some of the department's beautiful towns, such as Albi, to give free rein to canoes, touring boats, barques and the famous "gabarres". From your gabarre, you will enjoy a beautiful trip along the Sainte-Cécile cathedral, the Berbie palace, as well as the French gardens established in terrace above the water. Castres, the second largest city in the department, plays in the same league with its bucolic strolls along the Agout river. These are just a few examples of what you can discover on the relaxing waterways of the Tarn.
Hunting and fishing
Because of its forests, its waterways and its wealth of wildlife, the Tarn department is ideal for hunting. From small to big game, amateurs will find what they need to hunt. Numerous groups and associations in the department will be delighted to share their passion with you and let you take part in a hound hunt or a group hunt. A moment of pleasure that will lead you to discover the remote and still wild lands of the Tarn.
For the same reasons, the department is a fisherman's paradise! The territory is criss-crossed by 2,000 km of first and second category rivers, and no less than 18 dams. They are home to trout, gudgeon, pike-perch, pike and other freshwater fish. The fishing culture is really important in the department, so much so that competitions are organised throughout the year. For Sunday fishermen, there is a holiday fishing card which allows you to fish for 15 consecutive days, or even for a day. The same goes for children who want to cast a hook: the special youth card is made for them. The Federation even organises fishing camps for 12-16 year olds. Fishing can also be practised on certain lakes, such as that of Raviège, and on the developed lakes, notably that of Vère-Grésigne and La Roucarié.
In the heights
Climb, get high, have fun and admire the view... If the lush green countryside of the Tarn is not the kind that can be tamed, it is nevertheless easy to get to grips with, especially if you have a good view of it thanks to accrobranche. Between zip lines, monkey bridges and other activities, the trees of the department are the hosts of many leisure activities.
Otherwise, the Tarn gorges offer interesting prospects in terms of sports activities. Many associations and structures will allow you to climb the via ferrata. The proposed routes are more or less intense depending on your level. You can also practice climbing in the Haut-Languedoc Regional Park, with qualified instructors who will be happy to share their passion. The beauty of the landscape is unforgettable, a good way to combine pleasure and discovery, and to face your fears.
And if you want to get even higher, the Tarn offers hot air ballooning. It's hard to find a better way to discover the department from a new angle! In addition to benefiting from all the peace and quiet that lends itself to such an exercise, a flight in the Tarn will offer you exceptional panoramas alternating between lakes, rivers, valleys and mountains. The silence and the wind will push you towards superb landscapes for an adventure which deserves to be lived.
