Midi-Pyrénées

Midi-Pyrénées - A land dotted with castles, a living tribute to the rich historical past. The many historical sites of the region now make-up a dense network of touristic and cultural landmarks to be discovered : pre-historic grottos of Niaux, Mas d’Azil, Pech-Merle, the Tarn and Aveyron valley gorges. Churches, abbeys such as Albi, Conques, Flaran, Moissac, Saint Bertrand de Comminges, are very moving. Medieval cities and the first urban planned towns ("bastides") of Cordes, Najac, Rocamadour, Fleurance and Saint-Cirq-Lapopie are very picturesque along with the Montségur and Roquefixade Cathar castles. There are also museums which celebrate the region's rich artistic heritage such as: Musée Champollion in Figeac, Goya in Castres, Ingres in Montauban and Toulouse-Lautrec in Albi.

 
The weather in de Midi-Pyrénées

Here you will find gracious hospitality, tranquility and relaxation. The main towns are Montauban and Moissac. It is an area famous for its many bastide and medieval villages such as Montpezat-de-Quercy. Wine growing areas of Gaillac Cahors and de Quercy are within easy reach. Visit the vineyards individually to taste and buy for drinking whilst on holiday or taking home for a future occasion. For those who enjoy shopping the local markets which are very much a part of French life are held each day of the week in different towns and villages in the area. Lots of artist live, work and exhibit in this region and there are plenty of museums to visit.

Montauban - Montauban is a pleasant mid-sized administrative centre. Classified as a town of Historic and artistic importance, it is a great place to stroll round. The town is the birthplace of the famous painter, Ingres. A beautiful museum is dedicated to him in the 17th century Episcopal Palace, it contains medieval and modern works.

Moissac - An important old Roman centre, Moissac inherited a rich architectural heritage. Go right to the centre of town to see its legendary abbey. Also magnificent is the Roman cloister, one of the most famous in the world.

Dunes - This charming hilltop village is an example of the fortified villages or "bastides" dating back to the 13th century. There is a central square and covered market bordered by houses built in the 16th thru 19th centuries.

Lauzerte - Another beautiful hilltop village with many old medieval buildings. Saturday mornings there is a local market.

Montpezat de Quercy - This is an old fortified town, and a free town in the 13th century. Montpezat-de-Quercy looks very Medieval with its 14th century gate, its picturesque houses, its town hall and its 17th century cloisters

• Locally grown foods of the area see Gourmet specialties

The Tarn is where the Mediterranean and Atlantic climates meet. Its pleasant climate is drier than Aquitaine/Dordogne but not as hot in summer as Languedoc/Provence. The landscape is among France's finest: wooded hills and valleys, lakes and gorges.

Albi - A lovely red brick town on the Tarn. Home of Toulouse Lautrec Museum and St Cecile cathedral. Upmarket shopping, indoor market, lots of restaurants.

Lautrec - Lautrec (about 30 km from Albi), The main reason to come here is less cultural, and more culinary: it's Garlic. Go to the Lautrec market every Friday from July to March, to buy local pink garlic. While you're here, go to the Salette windmill, it's recently been restored to working condition by a carpenter. The view is brilliant too, the hills of Lacaune and the Black Mountain are clearly visible.

Castelnau de Montmiral - The word ‘Castelnau’ means ‘new castle’, and ‘Montmiral’ means ‘hilltop with a view’. This old bastide town perches proudly on a rocky spur, with ramparts descending dramatically into the valleys below. Its position is unique in that there are magnificent uninterrupted views of the surrounding landscape from every aspect of the village. Castelnau de Montmiral was awarded with the official classification ‘Un des plus beaux villages de France’ in 1991.

Aveyron - With 9 villages classified among the elite club "les plus beaux villages de France", Aveyron boasts many of the most beautiful villages found in France. Aveyron offers also several museums presenting different themes, including archaeology, arts and popular traditions, history and the prehistoric era, religion, geology, and more.

Belcastel - is a small village on the banks of the Aveyron, 7 km from Rignac. Thanks to the architectural quality of the village and the beauty of the site it was added to the National Conservation Registry as early as 1942. The inhabitants have also made a big effort by improving the appearance of their houses and gardens with a profusion of flowers. Since 1990, Belcastel has been elected as one of the "Plus Beaux Village de France" (most beautiful French Villages).

The Canal du Midi - From Toulouse to the étang de Thau, the 240 km long Canal du midi runs on double slopes regardless of the 189 metres high Seuil de Naurouze. There, it marks the division of the waters, which flow in one direction to the Atlantic and in the other to the Mediterranean. The locks allows the downstream or upstream passage of the boats.

Toulouse - The capital of the départment and of the entire region too. The enormous number of Spanish immigrants in Toulouse means that the ambience is lively and nocturnal. The student population also adds to the party atmosphere in the late-night bars. Culturally, there is an endless supply of plays and musical events. Also of interest: The excellent flea market around the St-Sernin church on Sunday morning.

Het Parc Naturel Régional des Grands Causses - This national park stretches over the entire eastern part of the Aveyron.

Lot - Whatever type of outdoor activity you enjoy (rambling, riding, mountainbiking, golf, etc) one of the Lot's incredibly varied landscapes will be just right for you : from the limestone plateau of the Causse, which harbours some of the most ancient inhabited caves, to the rivers that carve their way through the rock, or glide lazily past the noble façades of castles.

Cahors - Cahors is the prefecture of the Lot département, and is the only major town in the “county”. It’s an ideal place to examine the history of the region, as you walk through its architecture from the middle ages.

Rocamadour - It's hard not to be impressed with the initial view from the road, of a village seemingly encrusted in the cliff-face. It's the second-most visited spot in provincial France, after the Mont-Saint-Michel! A 19th century castle gives unrivalled views of the Alzou gorges.

Figeac - The second largest town of the Lot region after Cahors. There are some amazing medieval houses, and Roman and gothic architecture blend together well. It's great just getting lost in the tiny streets. Around Figeac, the river valleys of the Lot and Célé offer a panoply of changing countryside for your leisure and enjoyment. Whether sightseeing, fishing or canoeing, you are never far away from small villages rich in prehistoric and early history.