The Occitantie region lies between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea and is, in terms of area, the largest region of metropolitan France. You will find a great variety in landscape: in the north are the foothills of the Massif Central, while the interior is hilly. In the south, the magnificent chain of the Pyrenees rises with peaks of over 3000 meters.
The route to the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in Spain is to a large extent via the Midi-Pyrénées. This pilgrimage route leads you past ancient villages and towns with a long history, beautiful castles and cosy squares.
The former Midi-Pyrénées region consists of the departments Lot, Aveyron, Tarn-et-Garonne, Tarn, Gers, Hautes-Pyrénées, Haute-Garonne and Ariège. A holiday home in the Midi-Pyrénées is an excellent base to visit one of the four regional parks, such as Pic du Midi. This is a wonderful national nature reserve and every 15 minutes you can take a glass cabin to the summit (2877 meters high). Here an observatory for research into the universe is located since 1880 and you can learn all about stars and planets.
The capital Toulouse is located in the heart of the region and is well worth a visit. In addition to a lively nightlife and numerous restaurants, you will discover the Capitol, Cite de l'Espace and Basilique Saint-Sernin de Toulouse. Millau is famous for its viaduct and you can visit the amusement park of Micropolis there. In the town of Albi, you can visit the Sainte-Cécile Cathedral and the Palace of Berbie. The pretty village of Saint-Cirq Lapopie has medieval houses that take you back into time and art lovers can visit the Museum “Rignault” and “les Maisons Daura”.
A holiday in the Midi-Pyrénées is also interesting for wine lovers. Get to know the wines of Cahors, Saint-Mont, Marcillac and Armagnac, one of the most expensive French brandies in the world. On the culinary side, do enjoy local specialties like black truffles, foie gras, walnuts and wild mushrooms. Also the sport enthusiasts will find here what they want. Enjoy world-class skiing on the quiet and well-groomed slopes of which the Domaine du Tourmalet ski resort has the most runs. Additionally, you can climb at 160 locations, make use of the organised donkey treks, go riding, canoeing, play golf or go quad biking. Discover this diverse and beautiful region from your cottage in the Midi Pyrenees.
From a holiday home in France, you can discover the Languedoc-Roussillon, a popular region along the Mediterranean Sea with miles of sandy beaches. This region has a typical French hinterland: picturesque fishing villages, many beautiful vast landscapes and vineyards. From your cosy home in France we propoise visits to medieval towns with castles and cathedrals like in Perpignan, Beziers, Nimes, Carcassonne and Montpellier.
For a wonderful beach holiday in France, please visit one of the many beaches in the Languedoc-Roussillon. The sandy beaches run nearly everywhere gradually into the sea, making it child friendly. Known resorts in the Languedoc-Roussillon include Cap d'Agde, Collioure and Gruissan. Enjoy sun, sea and sand during your vacation in France.
Cap d'Agde is originally a volcanic region and has a 14 km (9 mile) long sandy beach. For an active holiday there are plenty of options in Cap d'Agde, like tennis, golf, horseback riding, canoeing, diving and water skiing. From your France holiday home enjoy this region with it’s beautiful landscapes, ideal for walking or cycling. A visit to the port of Cap d'Agde is highly recommended, enjoy one of the numerous restaurants and drink a good glass of wine, try your luck at the casino or sip a cocktail in a nightclub.
In the recesses of the Pyrenees you will find the fishing village of Collioure, the culinary world capital of anchovies. Collioure is the only place in France where still fresh anchovies are prepared and processed. This town was also an inspiration for major artists such as Picasso, Derain and Marquet. They were inspired by the castle of Collioure, the lighthouse, the Notre-Dame-des-Anges and the Mediterranean Sea. Meet quaint houses, narrow streets, history and a beautiful coastline. In this part of France you can visit three forts: the Palace of the Kings of Majorca, the Prieure de Serre Bone and the Chateau Royal de Collioure. Also many terraces and restaurants, situated around a beautiful bay in the Old Town. Besides the beach life you can undertake various water sports. Discover beautiful Collioure !
Gruissan is one of the most beautiful villages of France and has maintained the characteristic atmosphere of the Mediterranean Sea. During the tour called 'Tour Barberrousse' you walk through this old fishing village with old houses, narrow streets and numerous vineyards . Stroll through the Clape Mountains and along the coastline with beautiful golden beaches and clear blue water.
Your holiday in the Languedoc-Roussillon is not complete without visiting the beautiful vineyards. The Languedoc-Roussillon is the largest wine region in France. The wine region stretches from Nimes and the Pont du Gard beyond Carcassonne and Narbonne in the Aude department. Famous red wines from this region are : Coteaux du Languedoc, Corbières, Saint Chinian and Cabardès. The Limoux sparkling wine and various Muscat wines are also from this wine region. During your holiday in France get acquainted with this area: via wine tasting, museums, paths and trails, which invite you to explore this beautiful wine region.