OCCITANIE

Administrative region of the South-West and South-East of France grouping together the former Languedoc-Roussillon and Midi-Pyrénées regions, Occitanie comprises 13 departments. Its capital is Toulouse.

The distance between Paris and Toulouse is : 680 km

Under the heat of an almost constant sunshine, the southernmost region of France is distinguished by its richness. In the land of Languedoc and Roussillon, two cultures stand out : Occitan and Catalan.

A world separates the little Camargue from Roussillon, the coast from the largest vineyards in Europe, the foothills of the Cévennes from the Cathar bastions. A clever mix of sports and culture also make this splendid region attractive!

Toulouse, known as the pink city, warm and thus nicknamed for its brick architecture, is home to very high technology with the first aeronautical and space center thanks to Airbus Industrie and Aérospatiale. As for the surroundings of Toulouse, in particular the Aveyron, the Pyrenees and the Gers, they are more famous for their landscapes and for the pleasures of the soil... Indeed, you will meet there gastronomy but also sport, adventure and sweetness of life...

 

MAIN TOWNS

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• Cahors (Lot)

• Rodez (Aveyron)

• Albi (Tarn)

• Toulouse (Haute-Garonne)

• Montauban (Tarn and Garonne)

• Auch (Gers)

• Foix (Ariege)

• Tarbes (Hautes Pyrenees)

• Mende (Lozere)

• Nimes (Gard)

• Montpellier (Herault)

• Carcassonne (Aude)

• Perpignan (Eastern Pyrenees)

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CURIOSITIES & ESSENTIALS

 

GARD

• The riches of the Petite Camargue (bulls, horses, flamingos, etc.)

• Visit to a herd (bullfighting show, traditional ferrade, etc.)

• Arena of Nimes

• Pont du Gard

• Village of Aigueze

• Village of La Roque sur Cèze

• Ardeche Gorges

• Aven d'Orgnac

• Walks in the villages of: Aiguèze, La Roque-sur-Cèze…

HERAULT

• Visit of Aigues-Mortes (14th century military port)

• Visit to the Seaquarium in Port-Camargue (tropical sharks and Mediterranean flora and fauna)

• Geospace of Aniane (30 km from Montpellier)

• Stroll to Cap d'Agde and swim on the beaches of La Grande Motte

• Visit of cellars and the distillery of Frontignan with tasting of Muscat

• Visit of the oyster farms of the Etang de Thau and oyster tasting

• Village of Saint-Guilhem-le-Desert

• Gorges of the Orb

• Lake of Salagou

• Walks in the villages of: Minerve, Olargues, Saint-Guilhem-le Désert…

AUDE

• City of Carcassonne

• Fontfroide Abbey

• Cathar castles

• Walks in the village of: Lagrasse…

LOZERE

• Villefort and Rachas lakes

• Mas de la Barque and Mont Lozère

• Caves of Dargilan and Aven Armand

• Gorges du Tarn

• Walks in the picturesque villages: La Garde-Guerin, Sainte-Enimie...

 

EASTERN PYRENEES

• Oenology in the cellars of Byrrh, Rivesaltes and Banyuls

• Discovery of the Pyrenees Roussillon

• Stroll through seaside towns: Port Barcarès, Collioure, Banyuls

• Visit of castles with permanent exhibitions of armor, medieval costumes

• Hikes through the beautiful villages

• Discovery of gorges    

• Mining Museum (Village of Escaro)   

• Perfume Tower Museum

• Walking and hiking and donkey rides

• Walks in the picturesque villages: Castelnou, Eus, Evol, Mosset, Villefranche-de-Conflent...

 

ARIEGE

• Visits to abbeys, churches, cathedrals, palaces, ramparts… within the villages

• Walks through the themed trails around the old dry stone winegrowers' huts

• Among the most authentic Villages: Camon, Saint Lizier

 

AVEYRON

• Forges de Laguiole on the Aubrac plateau

• Grands Causses Regional Natural Park 

• The Tarn Gorges

• Among the most authentic Villages:  Belcastel, Brousse le Château, Conques, la Couvertoirade, Estaing, Najac, Peryre, St Côme d'Olt, St Eulalie d'Olt, Sauveterre de Rouergue

   GERS

• Medieval siege camp visit (attack and defense engines of war)

• Visits to churches, castles, museums, Gallo-Roman villas, orchards…. in and around the villages

• Among the most authentic Villages: Fourcès, Larressingle, Lavardens, Montreal, Sarrant

UPPER GARONNE

• Canal du Midi (UNESCO World Heritage)

• Canal du Midi Museum in St Ferréol

• Toulouse with the Basilica of St Sernin and the Capitol

• Toulouse Aerospace plant

• Visit of villas

• Among the most authentic Villages: St Bertrand de Comminges

• Caves and valleys around the villages

BATCH

• Walk in the Lot Valley

• Caves of Rocamadour

• Padirac Chasm

• The medieval garden of the 5 senses in Casdenac

• Walk in Villefranche de Rouergue

• Discovery of Cahors

• Introduction to truffle cultivation and nursery visit in the Cahors region

• Among the most authentic Villages: Autoire, Capdenac-le-Haut, Cardaillac, Loubressac, Saint-Cirq Lapopie

TARN

• Albi Cathedral (Unesco World Heritage)

• Toulouse-Lautrec Museum

• The Aveyron Gorges

• Glass Museum in Carmaux

• Regional Conservatory of ancient fruit species in Puycelsace

• Village of Cordes sur Ciel

TARN AND GARONNE

• Among the most authentic Villages: Auvillar, Bruniquel, Lauzerte

• Visits to castles, museums, churches, chapels and gardens within the villages

HAUTES PYRENEES  

• Lourdes Aquarium and Aquatic Museum

• Art galleries and exhibitions

• Hautes Pyrenees Animal Park

• Pilgrimage to Lourdes

 

 

CULINARY SPECIALTIES
 

• Foie gras

• Gizzard Salad

• Camargue rice

• Beef herdsmen

• Cod brandade

• Camargue bull stew

• Pezenas pâtés

• Cassoulet from Castel Naudary

• Cargolade 

• Cassoulet and Toulouse sausage

• Aligot, Roquefort and Bleu des Causses (Cheeses)

• Garbure (soup, cheese from Bethmale or Moulis (Pyrenees)

• Truffle

• Duck breast

• Duck confit

• Navarrese trout

• Pink garlic from Lautrec

• Goat cheeses

• Spit cake

• Walnut cake

• Wines (Côte du Rhône, Coteaux du Languedoc, Banyuls wines, Muscat de Rivesaltes, Côte du Roussillon or Corbières)…

 

ACTIVITIES
 

In spring-summer:

• Carriage ride 

• Quad 

• Karting 

• Riding 

• Climbing 

• Caving 

• First flight in a microlight flying over the Cévennes

• Canoe-Kayak 

• Trout fishing

• Golf (Grande Motte, Cap d'Agde, Montpellier…) 

• Cruise 

• Thalassotherapy 

• Winter sports: skiing, snowshoeing, sledding…

• 4X4

• MTB

• Tarn Gorge Rafting

• Canoe Kayak

• Caving in the Causse Comtal

• Escalation

• Hikes on the Way of St-Jacques-de-Compostelle

• Karting on the Belmont circuit

In autumn-winter:

• Alpine skiing and cross-country skiing

• Hang gliding in the Pyrenees

• Paragliding in Val Louron

• Multi-activity hikes on the paths of Santiago de Compostela

• Hot air balloon flight over the Pyrenees

• Thalassotherapy

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REGIONAL PRODUCTS

 

• Foie gras, duck breast and duck confit

• Truffles 

• Grisettes (confectionery) 

• Jams from the Pyrenees 

• Chocolates from Albi 

• Wines of the region

• Bouquet of violets 

• Bottles of Cahors, Armagnac, Fronton

• Local crafts 

• Decorative items 

• Bookstore items (castles & bullfighting) 

• Montpellier eau de parfum 

• Paintings 

• Sculptures 

• Fabrics

• Laguiole knives 

• Airplane models Airbus 

• Tableware from Zes 

• Millau gloves 

• Tarn leather goods 

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EVENTS CALENDAR - ANNUAL

 

LANGUEDOC ROUSSILLON

• January : Festival of raid and adventure "Les Angles"

• May : Ferias of Nîmes | Spring of the Actors in Montpellier

• August : Ferias of Béziers and Collioure | Medieval Carcassonne

• September : Perpignan International Photo Journalism Festival

• October : International Mediterranean Film Festival in Montpellier

MIDI-PYRÉNNÉES

• January : Albi Jazz Festival

• March - April : Lourdes International Festival of Sacred Music 

• May - June : Grand Prix de l’automobile of Nogaro | Grand Prix de l’Automobile of Albi

• July : Festival of Pyrénées-Création in Orthez  |  Salt road on horseback and mountain bike

• August : Blagnacaise pétanque competition

• September : Piano concert at the cloister of the Jacobins of Toulouse