Midi-Pyrénées

Traditionally a paradise for all sorts of skiers, the Midi-Pyrénées has a whole range of snow sports for the enthusiast: downhill skiing, cross country skiing, sledging, and snowboarding. Dozens of skiing resorts and the hundreds of tracks are scattered over four departments of the Hautes-Pyrénées, the Ariège, the Haute-Garonne and the Aveyron.

Toulouse is France's fourth largest town and the capital of the Midi-Pyrénées, or "pink city" as it is also called It boasts an incredible architectural wealth which bears witness to its long history. During the Renaissance period, Toulouse made its fortune thanks to the woad trade in particular.

By boat, you'll see the Midi-Pyrénées in a completely different way. With the canals of southern France, the Baïse and the Lot, this region promises an unusual view of the country. Forget your car: let houseboats, trip boats and other hotel boats take over and take you wherever your fancies may lead to discover the beauty of the countryside and the warmth of the inhabitants of southwestern France.

Whether you choose to eat at a table d'hôtes, or sitting outside a small restaurant, a restaurant that has stars in the Michelin guide or simply within the country atmosphere of a farmhouse inn, you'll enjoy deliciously local culinary specialities in which the local produce and the natural warmth of the Midi-Pyrenees find their expression.

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.

Boosted by constant quality research, hydrotherapy in the Midi-Pyrenees embodies the alliance between hydrotherapy, which is well known for its effectiveness, modern  medicine and highly technical know-how.

Although the Midi-Pyrenees does not boast a coastline, it is however a water region with its 80 stretches of water and the 1,550 miles of rivers. The region is a land of enclosed seas and many water sports are available on specially equipped stretches of water: swimming, windsurfing, rowing, water skiing, dinghy sailing, etc. It’s the ideal solution for those of you who want to avoid overcrowded beaches! 

Languedoc began to flourish from the year 1,000 onwards and has handed down an exceptional heritage of sites and Romanesque constructions. With such essential buildings as Saint-Sernin in Toulouse and the small ornate chapels buried deep within the valleys of the Ariège, the enthusiast has an inexhaustible list to choose from. Sometimes quite plain, sometimes lavishly sculpted and sometimes pleasantly combined with Gothic art, Romanesque art in our region is at its best.

The bloody crusades that were waged against the Cathars during the 12th Century swept through the ancient civilisation of the Langue d'oc: a civilisation of troubadours, courtly love, tolerance and democracy before its time, leaving behind them only ruin.

500 years ago, the woad fields between Toulouse, Albi and Castelnaudary, made their owners foryunes from their deep Cockaigne dye, which was sought after throughout the whole of Europe. The masters of woad in the southern area of Toulouse outdid each other with daring projects and lavish buildings.

UNESCO has inscribed the routes to Santiago de Compostela on the World Heritage List. The region boasts three of the main routes leading to Compostela, the routes of Puy-en-Velay, Arles and the foothills of the Pyrenees, all of which are dotted with comfortable self-catering cottages and friendly hostels.