The Midi-Pyrénées boasts one National nature park and three Regional nature parks: rural territories with a remarkable but fragile natural and cultural heritage. To preserve the diversity of its flora and fauna, many local activists have joined their efforts in order to aim for harmonious and sustainable tourism development. 

 The Regional Haut-Langue d’oc Nature Park

Straddling the departments of the Tarn and the Hérault, this park is a gigantic aerial balcony overlooking the slopes of Lauragais and the wine-producing Languedoc region. The kingdom of great pathways and forests covering 444,600 acres, the Regional Haut-Languedoc Nature Park offers a rare diversity of soils and plants: moors, beech woods, lawns, peat bogs, etc.

There are just as many contrasts to be discovered in the giant herbariums of the Lacaune Mountains, the Sidobre area and the Black Mountain (Montagne Noire) the streams of which feed the St-Ferréol Lake, which in turn feeds the "Canal du Midi".

 Causses du Quercy Nature Park

Spreading over practically the whole of the department of the Lot, the Regional Causses du Quercy Nature Park has several major tourist sites, including Rocamadour, St-Cirq-Lapopie and the caves of Padirac. 22 sites of exceptional ecological interest have been listed in Causses du Quercy and its pleasant and pastoral architecture has been preserved.

Since its creation in 1999, constant efforts to promote the area have been underway: many pathways and waterways have now been restored to their former use and the small built heritage has undergone substantial renovation. Moreover, construction sites have been set up to benefit from acts of goodwill: spend an afternoon and learn how to reconstruct a dry stone wall!

 Grands Causses Nature Park

This park covers the entire eastern side of the department of the Aveyron. It includes the area of Millau, the limestone plateaus of Larzac, the "causse Noir" (black limestone area) and the gorges of Dourbie, the valley and the rasps (steep slopes) of the Tarn, the limestone plateau of Séverac and the Lévezou and Roquefort areas.

 You'll get plenty of opportunities to watch the Eurasian Griffon vultures and the European black vultures (with a 10 ft-wingspan), which were reintroduced into the Jonte gorges, learn the manufacturing secrets of Roquefort cheese with a visit to a sheep farm or enjoy a spot of canoeing in the steep-sided canyons.

 The National Pyrenean Park

Covering more than 6 miles from east to west, the National Pyrenean Park offers a perfect summary of the riches of the Pyrenees. A census has been drawn up, listing some 6,000 izards, 6 bears and 12 couples of bearded vultures.