Lautrec's Pink Garlic Festival celebrates Tarn's famous crop
Living in Toulouse, it was only a matter of time before we found ourselves on the road to Lautrec in the Tarn Departement. The Medieval village's famous Pink Rose Garlic Festival provided the perfect excuse for making the hour-long drive through Tarn's rolling farmland.
While Lautrec has less than 1,700 residents, the two-day 'Fête de l'Ail Rose' packs the narrow stone streets with visitors from around the region who want to experience this particular culinary curiosity. Lautrec's Pink Garlic has an official gastronomic designation in France, the "Label Rouge," which recognizes it as a high-quality food item grown in the surrounding 360 hectares that include 88 communes.
Lautrec's Pink Garlic has a more subtle flavor, traditionally arrives in the spring, and grows in bunches rather than in the braided form one typically sees. According to legend, the pink garlic, which is more common in Asia, was introduced to Lautrec by a traveler in the Middle Ages who used it to pay a hotel bill. The proprietor planted some and gave birth to this regional industry.
La Fête
Parking just outside the city center, we began wandering the streets as we heard the sounds of traditional Occitan music playing. The first stop was getting some food: lamb sausages and frites. Then strolling through the various booths while enjoying some of the lovely views afforded by this hilltop village.
The Village Hilltop
After exploring the festival, we decided to see Lautrec's other popular attraction, which is a hilltop viewing point. It's not far, and more than a gentle climb that involves some stairs and a gradual hike of about 5 minutes. But ultimately, it's worth the exertion for the 360 degrees of the surrounding countryside.
After a few hours in Lautrec, we climbed back in the car for a lazy ride home. This being summer in France, we paused for obligatory photos with the sunflowers that are blossoming just about everywhere before finding our way back to Toulouse.
