Midi Pyrénées guide

With magnificent mountains and vast areas of unspoiled countryside, plus a year round warm climate, Midi Pyrénées is ideal for all kinds of outdoor activities. Make a point of visiting the charming capital of Toulouse, and the town of Lourdes where the water is reputed to have miraculous healing qualities.

Activities & attractions

What can we eat?

Rich poultry and game dishes, famous Roquefort cheese, plums, nectarines, peaches and apricots.

What can we drink?

Armagnac. Red wine from Cahors.

Where can we visit?

Picturesque old towns such as Cahors, Albi and Rocamadour. The bustling university city of Toulouse, always colourful and lively. Lourdes.

What can we do?

Wander around the museum of sugar sculpture at Cordes and the Armagnac distilleries. See Toulouse Lautrec's works at Albi, the Marciac jazz festival and the underground lake at Padirac.

And what about the kids?

Take them to the Cité de l'Espace (Space City) in Toulouse - an amazing planetarium where you can discover the mysteries of space through interactive animation and incredible simulations.

Region overview

With a landscape of towering mountains, mighty rivers, green valleys, and unique fortified villages, the great outdoors is all here to be enjoyed in glorious sunshine.

The regional capital of Toulouse is a modern and architecturally beautiful city just waiting to be discovered, and also home to the incredible interactive planetarium Cité de l'Espace. A major regional attraction is the small town of Lourdes, famous for water reputed to have miraculous healing properties, and do try to visit the incredibly beautiful villages of Rocamadour and St Cirq Lapopie in the northern Lot department. Both could make a justifiable claim to being France's most picturesque village. Also not to be missed is the Musée Toulouse Lautrec in Albi, where art lovers can delight in the works of Matisse, Degas and Lautrec himself.

While in the region, don't forget to sample Armagnac brandy, authentic Roquefort cheese, and possibly the best cassoulet in the world.

Map of Midi Pyrénées