The town of Graulhet is located 30 km from Albi and less than an hour from Toulouse.
A thousand-year-old city, Graulhet was born on a naturally defensive promontory surrounded by water: the Dadou river, the Verdaussou stream and the Jordan marshes. In the heart of the Pays de Cocagne, the city prospered thanks to its small pastelier transit port, Occitan pastel being considered the best in Europe during the Renaissance. In the 19th century, it became the world capital of leather, although this know-how had been mastered at Graulhet, since the Gallo-Roman era.
City in a rural setting, it charms with the beauty of its landscapes, as well as the richness of its architectural heritage. Its heart beats for rugby and its particularly intense cultural life, between festivals, shows, exhibitions and many companies of resident artists.
The original fortified castle, which has now disappeared, around which the first inhabitants gathered, was mentioned for the first time on a parchment dating from 961. The district of Panessac invites you to stroll through its typical medieval narrow streets, where you can admire number of half-timbered houses and corbelled structures. Several medieval buildings in Graulhét are protected as Historical Monuments such as the Pont Vieux, or the Hostellerie du Lyon d'Or.
Nowadays, there are still a few active tin shops (treatment of small skins, sheep, goats...). You will be able to visit and discover this profession which made the wealth of Graulhet. You will also be able to discover leather goods specializing in the production of luxury products (bags, accessories, clothing and even stretch leather...), as well as an artisan jeweler who brings together jewelry and leather and more particularly fish leather..
And of course... gastronomy with its duck farms and foie gras accompanied by Gaillac wines (to be consumed in moderation). Another specialty, donkey milk for body care...
