Major city · France
Carmaux
Half a day is enough: visit the mining museum and Cap'Découvert park, then move on to Albi or Cordes-sur-Ciel.
Carmaux is a former coal-mining town north of Albi. Its main draws are the Cité Minière museum, the Musée du Verre glass museum and Cap'Découvert, a large sports and leisure park. Most visitors spend a few hours here as a stop between Albi and Cordes-sur-Ciel.
More
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- EUR
- Best months
- May–Jun, Sep–Oct
- avoid Jul–Aug (crowded at Cap'Découvert), Dec–Feb (some attractions close)
- Airports
- TLS · CDG
- Nights
- 0
Not a trip line yet
Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- France and Monaco ↗France has run temporary identity checks at its internal Schengen land borders since 2015; carry a passport or EU/EEA national ID on trains and buses from Italy, Spain, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and Luxembourg.
- France and Monaco ↗Nights in France and Monaco draw on the same Schengen 90-in-180-day allowance as the rest of the area; Monaco does not reset or pause it.
- France ↗France is in the Schengen area. Check the entry rules for your passport on official sources; the EU's Entry/Exit System registers non-EU visitors' fingerprints and photo at the first Schengen border, and further pre-travel authorisation rules are being introduced.
- France ↗TGV (including the low-cost Ouigo) and Intercités night trains need a seat reservation: a rail pass alone does not let you board.
- France ↗Paris, Lyon and other large cities run low-emission zones that require a Crit'Air sticker on cars; check before you drive a hire car or your own car into a city.
- France ↗Carry your passport or national ID card: police can ask for identification, and hotels register foreign guests.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Carmaux17 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Carmaux, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the euro (EUR, €).France-wide
- SIM or eSIMOrange, SFR, Bouygues Télécom and Free sell prepaid SIMs in their shops and at tabacs; ID is required to register.France-wide
- Tap waterTap water is safe everywhere unless signed otherwise.France-wide
- TippingRestaurant: Service is included; leave 5–10% in cash for good service.France-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets C/E. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.France-wide
- SafetyCarmaux is a quiet town with low crime.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsParis has free automatic public toilets (sanisettes); elsewhere use cafés (buy a coffee), museums and stations, where some charge €0.50–1 (≈ US$1–2).France-wide
- Emergency numbers17 police · 18 fire and ambulance · 112 European emergency number (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysMany national museums close on Monday (Orsay, Versailles, Rodin) or Tuesday (Louvre, Pompidou's temporary sites).France-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportTLS Toulouse-Blagnac (About 1 h 15 min by car; no direct train).
- Getting aroundCarmaux is walkable in the centre.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Coffee€1.50–2.50 (≈ US$2–3)
- BeerBeer (demi / pression)€3–5 (≈ US$4–6)
- Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Taxi, about 3 mi (5 km)Taxi from Carmaux to Albi€25–35 (≈ US$30–45)
- Museum or sight ticketMuseum entry (Cité Minière)€6–8 (≈ US$7–10) (check)
- Budget bedCamping pitch, a night, per person€15 (≈ US$18)
- Mid-range bedGîte or guesthouse room, a night, per room€80 (≈ US$95)
- High-end bedGîte or guesthouse room, a night, per room€120 (≈ US$140)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget €40 (≈ US$50) · Mid €65 (≈ US$80) · High €100 (≈ US$120)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- TLS Toulouse-Blagnac (About 1 h 15 min by car; no direct train) · CDG Paris Charles de Gaulle (TGV to Albi (about 5 h 30 min), then local train or bus to Carmaux)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
Feb
Avoid
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
Mar
not flagged
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
Apr
not flagged
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
May
Best
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
Jun
Best
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
Jul
Avoid
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
Aug
Avoid
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
Sep
Best
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
Oct
Best
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
Nov
not flagged
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
Dec
Avoid
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
Best: May–Jun, Sep–Oct. Avoid: Jul–Aug, Dec–Feb. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)), coolest Jan (2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C) low), wettest Jan (10 rain days), driest Jul (5). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Carmaux: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
10 rd
Feb
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
9 rd
Mar
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
9 rd
Apr
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
10 rd
May
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
9 rd
Jun
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
7 rd
Jul
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
5 rd
Aug
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
6 rd
Sep
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
7 rd
Oct
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
9 rd
Nov
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
10 rd
Dec
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
10 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Carmaux is walkable in the centre. A car is useful for Cap'Découvert and nearby villages. Local buses (Tarn'Bus) connect to Albi.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Albi
goDoor to door: About 30 min
Train (TER) about 15 min, or bus
Episcopal city with Sainte-Cécile cathedral and Toulouse-Lautrec museum.
Cordes-sur-Ciel
goDoor to door: About 25 min
Car about 20 min; no direct public transport
Hilltop medieval village with artisan shops.
Door to door: About 30 min
Car about 25 min
Another bastide village with a central square.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Town centre
Walking distance to restaurants and the museum; limited hotels.
Cap'Découvert area
Near the leisure park; camping and gîtes.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- €30–50 (≈ US$35–60) excl. bed
- Mid
- €50–80 (≈ US$60–95) excl. bed
- High
- €80 (≈ US$95)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Gîte or guesthouse room1 × 1 night × €80 | €80 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × €65 | €130 |
| Trip total≈ €105 per person per day, bed included | €210≈ US$250 |
2026 estimate in euros; flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee | €1.50–2.50 (≈ US$2–3) |
| Lunch menu (plat du jour) | €12–16 (≈ US$14–19) |
| Beer (demi / pression) | €3–5 (≈ US$4–6) |
| Museum entry (Cité Minière) | €6–8 (≈ US$7–10) (check) |
| Cap'Découvert day pass | €10–15 (≈ US$12–18) (check) |
| Taxi from Carmaux to Albi | €25–35 (≈ US$30–45) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Many shops and restaurants close Sunday afternoon and Monday.
- Cap'Découvert opening hours vary by season; check the official site.
- The mining museum may have limited English signage.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 17
- Fire and ambulance
- 18
- European emergency number
- 112
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
CarmauxCarmaux
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
À cette adresse, s'il vous plaîtTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police17
- Fire and ambulance18
- European emergency number112
Embassy
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Carmaux → Albi by TER: about €5 (≈ US$6), 15 min (check)
- Carmaux → Cordes-sur-Ciel by car: about 20 min, no toll
Say or show
- Bonjour — Hello (bohn-zhoor)
- Merci — Thank you (mair-see)
- Combien ça coûte ? — How much is it? (kom-byen sa koot)
- Où est le musée ? — Where is the museum? (oo ay luh myoo-zay)
- Je voudrais un café — I would like a coffee (zhuh voo-dreh un ka-fay)
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Carmaux. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: May–Jun, Sep–Oct · avoid Jul–Aug (crowded at Cap'Découvert), Dec–Feb (some attractions close) · month by month →
- 2 airports and 2 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 3 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
- Walking clusters with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Field-verified times and fares
Sources
Ask about Carmaux
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