Midi Pyrenees
The Midi-Pyrénées is made up of eight departments set in the heart of southwestern France and is the largest region in the country. It has an incredibly wide range of natural sites: from the Pyrenees to the valley of the Dordogne and from Gascony to the Gorges du Tarn; the diversity of its landscapes is equalled only by the wealth of its heritage.
As for those among you who want to take your time, you can embark on a journey to visit such great sites as Rocamadour, Conques, Cordes sur Ciel, Figeac and St Bertrand de Comminges, among others or to taste the local gourmet produce such as foie gras, cassoulet (meat and bean stew), Roquefort cheese and the wines of Cahors or Gaillac and Armagnac. You could also take to the road to discover the fortified Medieval towns, enjoying the stories of historical events and typical village markets on the way.
It is also a region that is crammed full of ideas for your vacations: you can choose between a weekend in its capital: Toulouse (also called "The Pink Town"); another in Albi to discover the artist Toulouse-Lautrec and a gourmet outing in the Gers: the homeland of d'Artagnan, one of Alexandre Dumas' three musketeers as well as the festival Jazz in Marciac. Or you may prefer to go hiking in Ariège to become acquainted with the history of the Cathars, or to go on a pilgrimage to Lourdes in the Hautes-Pyrénées. Yet again a cruise on the 'canal du Midi', the Lot or the Baïse or Spring on the road to Santiago de Compostela may be more to your liking.
From the art of the table to arts and crafts, a permanent festive atmosphere of all the senses invites you to discover this region. There's the pleasure of the local produce of course with Cassoulet in Toulouse, foie gras in the Gers and the fruity white wines of Gaillac not forgetting Armagnac. There's also the pleasure of discovering beautiful objects in local markets, flee markets and specialized shops such as the knives of Laguiole, the gloves of Millau and the skillfully produced furniture of Revel, etc.
In France, the most beautiful villages also have a quality-label and the Midi-Pyrénées currently boasts no less than 30 of them. Whatever their geographical situation, they all have one thing in common: their wish to preserve an exceptional natural and man-made heritage for all to enjoy on a permanent basis.
As it sweeps north from the rugged snow-capped peaks of the Pyrénées at the Basque borderland of Spain to the foothills of the Massif Central, Midi-Pyrénées luxuriates in the gentle climate of Southwestern France. It glides over peaceful rolling farmland and then shifts into dramatic landscapes scored by spectacular gorges, rocky outcroppings, and extended plateaus. It encompasses places with vaguely familiar, yet still evocative names-like Gascony, Quercy, and Aveyron-that have for centuries rewarded the visitor with their unique treasures. From its fertile farms and forests Midi-Pyrénées has developed a special cuisine. It is the home of authentic Roquefort cheese, foie gras, truffles, and the best cassoulet and duck dishes in the world. Its Cahors wines are reasonably priced, high quality products that have earned their recent increased presence on the world market. The incomparable delights of Armagnac, the golden coloured brandy, is prized by connoisseurs. The region's many fine restaurants prepare the freshest ingredients using time-honored techniques. Midi-Pyrénées has a landscape dotted with romantic medieval villages on rocky cliffs. It has been birthplace and inspiration to such artists as Toulouse-Lautrec and Ingres. It boasts fine art museums as well as superb examples of Romanesque, Gothic, and Renaissance architecture and even prehistoric, painted caves like Pech Merle.