Lisle-sur-Tarn

Lisle-sur-Tarn (L'Illa d'Albigés) is a commune in the Tarn department in southern France.

Geography
Lisle-sur-Tarn sits along the A68 motorway, halfway between Toulouse and Albi, within the Gaillac wine region and next to the Tarn river. Historically speaking, it is also located on one of the ancient Ways of St. James.

History
Lisle-sur-Tarn was founded as a bastide (fortified town) by Raymond VII, Count of Toulouse, in the 13th century, following the destruction of the nearby castle of Montagut by the crusaders during the Albigensian Crusade. Thanks to local products like pastel (a local cake) and Gaillac wine, the city was developed into a vibrant market town with a busy river port along the Tarn. This extensive heritage, in a region that is still producing wine nowadays, plays an important role in the local tourism-oriented economy.

Transport
Lisle-sur-Tarn station has rail connections to Toulouse, Aurillac, Albi and Rodez.

Notable facts


The town's grid-like layout includes straight, uniform streets lined with half-timbered, red-brick houses. The town is made up of four districts, each of which is enclosed by a fortified gate. The market square is the largest of all the south-western bastides, with about 5,000 m2. It was renovated in 2000. The town has a museum on the main square to the artist Raymond Lafage.

Trivia
Lisle-sur-Tarn is featured in the novel The Virgin Blue by Tracy Chevalier.