Approximately 45minutes drive from Toulouse airport, Moissac is a small medieval town built along the banks of the river Tarn.

The port is in a quiet residential part of the town, with the banks of the canal lined with trees and pretty flower beds. A place where the local people like to stroll along. It is run by an English couple, Kaz and Iain, who are very helpful, and have generated a great friendly atmosphere amongst the boat owners who moor in the port. You may well find yourselves staying aboard "Da Vinci" when they throw one of their famous bar-b-que`s for the people in the port.

Moissac is famous for its XIIº century romanesque abbey and cloisters, known as St.Pierre, which are now classified as a UNESCO world heritage site. It attracts visitors and tour groups from all over the world. Guided tours in most languages can be booked through the tourist office.

Moissac is an important stopover for pilgrims traveling to Santiago de Compostela, some stay at a gîte, "le Carmel", up on the hill behind the town. From here you get a magnificent view of the town and surrounding area.

The town has a local museum with old artifacts and some XIº century frescoes in one room. In the 1930`s, a flood destroyed a part of the town by the river. Some of the architecture built to replace that which was destroyed are now themselves listed buildings, one of these is the "Uvarium". Built to sell grape juice, a popular health cure in the 1930`s it has some beautiful interior frescoes. (Now a café/restaurant during the late spring/summer).

Also during the summer Moissac puts on regular music and entertainment, either by the river or in front of the abbey. During the week of Pentecôte, last week in May, Moissac is host to large funfair and a spectacular firework display over the river

Moissac has Tourist office, a comprehensive range of shops, including boulongeries and pâtisseries, a health food shop which provides products for people with food allergies, various art and craft shops, gift shops, cinema, hospital,  and a lively weekend market selling local produce, bric-a-brac, hats, flowers, baskets, clothing.

An indoor municipal market is open during the week as well as at weekends. It sells fish, meat cheese and vegetables. (on Monday`s most shops apart from the supermarkets are closed).

There are plenty of restaurants, bars,cafès and inter-net cafés, all within easy walking distance of the port.

Also in the town there are, hair dressers, massage, beauty, and spa treatment shops.

The towns, train station has daily connections with Toulouse, Bordeaux, Agen and Montauban.

The Canal du Midi  (one of many names for it), runs from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea and runs through the town of Moissac. There are very beautiful walks and cycle rides and fishing along its banks. A short walk along the canal from Moissac towards Castelsarrsin is the famous XIX° century aqueduct.    

Up until the turn of the century Moissac was an important port, with a prosperous shipping trade between Toulouse and Bordeaux.

In the summer, there are plenty of boating activities on the river Tarn, including canoing, rowing or pedal boat hire and water skiing is available further up the river. Not to forget the fishing, (rumour has it the catfish get to over 2 meters long). Early morning and at dusk are great times to spot one of the many Kingfishers that live along its banks.

 

 The country side around Moissac is a colourful patchwork of orchards, fields and vineyards. In the spring the cherry, apricot, apple, pear and plum orchards are full of blossom whilst in the summer many of the fields are full of sunflowers.

Between Toulouse and Moissac the land is one big flood plain, from which one can see the mountains of the Pyrenees on certain days. But between Moissac and Cahors the land is incredibly hilly with winding lanes leading to hilltop villages.