Midi-Pyrenees, France travel guide
The Midi-Pyrenees region covers the mountainous section of the Pyrenees along the border between France and Spain, and a large swathe running northwards into areas that are remote from the Pyrenees mountains - through Gers (Gascony) and into the Lot Department (just east of the Dordogne).
Places to visit in the Midi-Pyrenees
Typically visitors either come for the mountains of the south, the beautiful countryside and history of the north, or the calm attractions of the Gers (Gascony) region in the centre of the region. The capital of the Midi-Pyrenees region is Toulouse, the attractive red-brick city to the north of the region.
Because the region is quite extensive, and each department has its own particular appeal, style and attractions it is more useful to look at the departments separately. Each department in the Midi-Pyrenees is introduced below but also has its own dedicated section with useful travel information and links to individual places
Northern Midi-Pyrenees
The two northern departments of the Midi-Pyrenees - Aveyron and Lot - contain some fascinating towns and fine scenery. The region extends past the Dordogne department of north-eastern Aquitaine and into the southern part of the Massif Central.
Aveyron
The Aveyron department part of the northern Midi-Pyrenees that falls within the Massif Central
The department includes the pretty villages of Conques and Belcastel (both unmissable during a visit to Aveyron) and Entraygues, also Estaing, St Eulalie d'Olt and Saint-Come d'Olt. Najac and Sauveterre-de-Rouergue and nearby Villefranche-de-Rouergue are also popular.
Rodez is the largest town in the department, while a more modern highlight is the renowned Millau bridge (also visit the nearby town of Millau).
see Aveyron for more travel information
Lot
The highlights of the Lot department include Rocamadour and the Gouffre de Padirac, and the village and animal park at nearby Gramat.
Follow the attractive Lot Valley, including Saint-Cirq-Lapopie and Cahors. The pretty village of Puy-l'Eveque on the Lot River further east towards Fumel also deserves a visit.
Be sure to also visit Autoire and Carennac in this department, and also highly recommended in Lot is the village at Loubressac.
Figeac in the Lot department is also a quaint and interesting small market town to visit in the south, and see also Souillac a town with a fine abbey-church, and Gourdon, both in the north-west, along with the charming town of Martel.
see Lot, France for more travel information
Central Midi-Pyrénées
The central region is largely recognised by its unspoiled rolling countryside and ancient bastide towns. The three departments running east to west in a central band across the Midi-Pyrenees region are:
Gers, France
Gers - similar in geographical possition to the historical Gascony region - is a peaceful region of quiet villages and attractive rolling countryside.
Visit the cluster of classified most beautiful villages - Montreal-du-Gers, Fources and Larressingle (a baby version of Carcassonne) and a couple of the other towns in the region - including Condom (yes the sign at the entry to the village has been photographed before...).
See also the towns of Auch and Fleurance perhaps, as good examples of typical towns of the Gers region. Lectoure is also in Gers in the central Midi-Pyrenees region. north-west of Auch the town of Vic Fezensac is especially lively during the summer months.
see Gascony for more travel information
Tarn, France
A highlight of the French department of Tarn is Cordes (now officially renamed as Cordes-sur-Ciel), another of the very popular, well-preserved medieval town in the region.
The group of towns to the east of Toulouse, in the Tarn region, includes Gaillac, a typical red-brick town of the Tarn region, and also Albi and Castres - Albi is one of the less known jewels of this part of France and well worth exploring.
The Regional Natural Park of the Haut-Languedoc is to the south of Tarn, and features some fascinating landscapes to explore.
see Tarn for more travel information
Tarn-et-Garonne, France
In Tarn-et-Garonne, visit Moissac, with its very famous cloisters, and Auvillar, another 'most beautiful village' and both in this part of the Midi-Pyrenees region. See also Montauban, an attractive bastide town in the Tarn et Garonne department.
Two more 'beautiful villages' to visit in the Tarn-et-Garonne are those at Bruniquel (east of Montauban) and Lauzerte (north of Moissac).
To the east of Moissac pass through Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val and follow the Aveyron River to visit the cluster of villages of Mirabel, Réalville and Cayrac and on to Montricoux.
see Tarn-et-Garonne for more travel information
Pyrenees - the southern Midi-Pyrenees
The southern part of the region is in the Pyrenees mountains, and it can be wild and dramatic, and is often very beautiful, with mountain passes, crashing rivers, and dramatic cliffs and scenery. The three departments in the mountainous Pyrenees, running east to west are Haute-Pyrenees, Haute-Garonne and Ariege.
Haute-Garonne, France
The capital of the region, Toulouse, is found in this department that passes from the flat centre of the region to the mountains on the border with Spain.
Two bastide towns deserving a mention in the Haute-Garonne department south-west of Toulouse are Carbonne and Cazeres, and the village of Revel is also interesting to visit.
Visit also Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges, a classified most beautiful village in the Haute-Garonne department, and the spa town in the mountains at Bagneres-de-Luchon
see Haute-Garonne for more travel information
Ariege
The Ariege department of Languedoc has an extraordinary diversity of landscapes, from high mountains to sandy beaches.
The main attractions are mostly outdoor, scenic highlights and the pursuit of activities such as hiking and cycling is very popular here.
Some of the most popular destinations include the towns and castles at Foix, Montsegur and Mirepoix. Other places to visit in Ariege include Ax-les-Thermes and Camon.
see Ariege for more travel information
Hautes-Pyrenees
One place of 'remarkable interest' in the Hautes-Pyrenees department is Lourdes, famous site of miraculous healing powers to the south of Tarbes.
You will perhaps want to visit the Pyrenees National Park, and perhaps even venture to Mont Perdu in the deep Pyrenees on the Spanish border, a listed world heritage site. A little more accessible is the mountain and spa town at Bagneres-de-Luchon.
The Cirque de Gavarnie, an imposing cliff face south of Luz and Argeles, is a good place for hikers to start exploring the region. Skiing in winter, and walking and cycling in summer, make the Pyrenees very much an outdoors destination.
see Hautes-Pyrenees for more travel information
Pyrenees Skiing
It's not only the alps wheer people ski in France: See our guide to some of the most popular ski resorts in the Pyrenees.
Visit Midi-Pyrenees - tourist information
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