Regional guide to Midi-Pyrenees

Capital - Toulouse
Population (2007) - 2,782,000

The Midi-Pyrénées is made up of eight departments set in the heart of southwestern France. 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.

One of France's most enticing and enchanting regions, the Midi-Pyrénées boasts a rich cultural, historical and natural heritage.

Climate

With an average of 2000 hours of sunshine per year, Midi-Pyrénées is one of the sunniest regions of France. Spring comes early and has a feel of summer to it. July and August enjoy the warmth of intense sunshine. Autumn often enjoys the warmth of an Indian summer with wonderful days spent under a beautiful ultramaritime sky.

Food & Drink

Local product:
Pruneaux

Savoury specialities:
Potée de choux
Cassoulet
Estouffade ariégoise (stoved pork)
Aligot
Tripou
Foie Gras
Jambon de Porc Noir

Sweet specialities:
Gateau à la Broche
Conquises (sweets)

Cheeses:
Roquefort
Bleu des Causses
Tomme des Pyrénées
Cabécou de Rocamadour

Alcohol:
Vin de Gaillac
Vin de Cahors
Armagnac

Beautiful cities & places of interest in Midi-Pyrenees

Albi
Albi grew up around the original cathedral and episcopal group of buildings. From walls to roofs, structures to cladding, red brick and tiles are everywhere. Along with Toulouse and Montauban, Albi is one of the main cities built in Languedoc-style brick.

Cahors
Enfolded by the Lot, Cahors, with its attractive streets, golden tiles, venerable plane-trees and busy bustling boulevards, is busy reinventing la dolce vita in its own inimitable way. The town is an open invitation to take a pleasant stroll.

Gavarnie
A typical Pyrenean village. Discover an exceptional environment in the heart of the Pyrénées Natural Park, a setting where the association between man and nature has been recognised as a world heritage site by UNESCO.

Lourdes
For over a century, the Sanctuary is faithful to its mission of welcoming and helping those who spend a time on pilgrimage there. Lourdes appears to be the second most frequented place of pilgrimage after Rome.

Montauban
Listed as a city of Art and History, Montauban is the oldest of the bastides of Southern France. This pink brick city has kept its own identity, renovated its monuments, witnesses of an eventful history.

Montpellier-le-Vieux
Take an extraordinary journey through a surprising world of strangely formed rocks. Water and wind have sculpted these contorted shapes in the grey stone of the Causses Noir, creating a fantastic world of bewitching forms. www.montpellierlevieux.com

Rocamadour
A sanctuary, a legend: Rocamadour is magic all the way up. A dream built of stone, perfectly poised above the Alzou gorge, this place of pilgrimage is a fusion of earth and sky. A church in the cliffside, a suspended village, a castle in the air...

Toulouse
Ideally situated in the heart of Southern France, the cosmopolitan and enthusiastic Ville Rose joyously mixes heritage and lifestyle, great cultural events and festival pleasures. Toulouse is an absolute must for everyone wanting to explore France.