Introduction - The Midi-Pyrnees is made up of 8 different departments making it the largest of the French regions and is located in the South West of France. With an average of 2000 hours of sunshine per year the Midi-Pyrenees is also one of the sunniest regions of France.

The regions varied landscape spreads from the snowy mountains of the pyrenees through to farmland, rolling hills, green valleys and rocky gorges with hidden villages. With this landscape and mediterranean climate the Midi-Pyrenees lends itself to being an ideal location for many outdoor activities which include hiking, rambling, canoeing and rock climbing.

This french region is well known for it's foie gras, cassoulet, roquefort cheese and armagnac and with agriculture playing an important role in this region crops such as sunflowers, maize, wheat, tomatoes, melons, kiwis, strawberries, pears, plums, apples and peaches mean supermarkets are always full of fresh local produce. The region also produces 60% of France's garlic.

Traveling to this French region is made easy with cheap flight from the uk to Toulouse and Rodez airport and excellent motorway links for those who prefer to travel by car (see our guide to traveling in France).

Click here for up to date weather forecasts for the Midi-Pyrenees in France

The Departments -
There are 8 different departments within the Midi - Pyrénées, these are as follows:

Ariege

Named after the Ariege river this department is covered with rolling green countryside. It is one of the least populated and un spoilt departments of France whose inhabitants have held fast to their traditions. A large number of different species of butterflies, orchids and birds of prey thrive here thanks to the endurance of the ancient farming practices such as the transhumance.

Ariege has something for everyone with all sorts of outdoor activities to get involved in. These include walking and hiking, horse riding, mountain biking and cycling, swimming and bathing, trout fishing, white water sports, rock and rope sports, adventure parks, walking with pack donkeys, panning for gold, winter sports, animal parks and sight seeing trips to ancient chateaux's, villages and markets.

The departments capital Foix is home to a magnificently restored 12th and 14th century "Château of the Counts of Foix" which now houses a museum of prehistoric, Gallo-Roman and medieval art. The chateau sits high up on an isolated rock with three towers overlooking the old part of the town, with it's winding streets and old houses. The ancient gothic church of St. Volusieu is also to be found in Foix.

Further information on Ariege can be found at:

www.ariege.com

Aveyron

This department offers spectacular landscapes with plateaus of unique flowers surrounded by tranquil rivers set deep into picturesque gorges. To the north herds of wild cows dominate the landscape in summer and to the south sheep provide the local economy with milk to make the famous Roquefort cheese. The village of Roquefort-sur-Soulzon is a worthy place to visit where the cheese is left to mature in damp lime stone caves for 3 months.

Aveyron is host to some of the most beautiful villages in France which include Najac and Belcastel and are great for a days sightseeing and a superb meal in one of the many village restaurants. Outdoor activities are also in abundance with fishing, water sports, walking, cycling, horse riding and rock climbing all being available for those of an athletic nature. Hand gliding and paragliding are also popular due to the great geological location of Millau which is now also famous for it's amazing viaduct which has broken world records for height, with masts reaching 340 meters (higher than the Eiffel Tower).

Further information on Aveyron can be found at:

www.aveyron.com

www.tourisme-aveyron.com

The market town of Condom is the home of Gers famous Armagnac where you can find the Musée de l’Armagnac. The tells the history of this fiery liquid and explains the differences between Armagnac and other brandies.

Gers is also the home of the famous Nogaro motor racing track and Bull Fighting at Vic Fezensac.

Haute-Garonne

With the extreme south of this department being very mountainous as it lies deep into the pyrenee mountains the north is comprised of an undulating landscape with small hills and valleys. In comparison to Gers this department is the home for nearly half of the regions population, with the majority settling in the capital Toulouse.

Hautes Pyrenees

The Hautes-Pyrénées is quite a mountainous and agricultural landscape with sheer bands of rock, waterfalls and snow tipped mountains surrounded by villages, farms, fields, upland pastures and winding mountain roads. Spanning the border between France and Spain, the department is centered around the peak of Mont Perdu.

The departments capital is Tarbes which is better known as a base for skiers than as a site of any architectural interest. Being very near to the Pyrenees, Tarbes is a main through-route between Toulouse and the pistes. To the south of the capital is the pilgrimage town of Lourdes.

Lot

This has become a favourite destination of the British in recent years and produces fine local produce which includes truffles, confit of duck and goose, dark Cahor wines and goat's cheese from Rocamadour.

Cahor is the capital of the region and is situated on the river Lot, surrounded by hills where fabulous AOC vineyards grow producing a rich red wine which is a great accompaniment to meat and game. The market held on Saturday's is the perfect place to sample some of the regions wonderful cuisine and soak up the atmosphere of the ancient town. The famous landmark of Cahor is the Pont Valentre, an impressive medieval bridge with seven pointed arches that span the river. It is said that this bridge is one of the most photographed sights in France.

The lot has three rivers that flow through it, the Dordogne to the north, the Cele in the centre and the Lot to the south. The first two rivers are generally given over to kayaking and canoeing. Boat trips are more popular on the Lot and provide an enjoyable way to see the villages and vineyards that drop down into the river.

Other well known places in the Lot are:

St-Cirq-Lapopie which perches on the edge of a rocky cliff overhanging the Lot river.

Rocamadour which is another cluster of medieval houses, battlements, towers and churches perched above the Alzou valley.

Tarn

- From forests to mountains to vineyards and alluvial plains this department has it all. It is rich in historical heritage and has part of the Parc Naturel du Haut-Languedoc within it's boundaries.

Tarn et Garonne

Large forests and agricultural plains make up the majority of this department with crops of sunflowers and orchards thriving in the fertile soil. Summers have a warm and steady climate with most of the rain only really making it's presence known with heavy downpours in the spring. Vineyards in the department flourish on these conditions and so produce some good Syrahs, Gamays and Cabernet wines.

The capital city of Montauban is believed to be the oldest bastide (roughly translated means a settlement with walls) in France. Due to it's simplistic lay out this lovely pink bricked city can be walked from end to end in around 20 minutes, although it is likely to take a lot longer if you decide to stop for a drink or a bit to eat in one of the many cafes and watch the world go by. One of the best places to stop is at the "Place Nationale" which is the square in the centre of the city which is framed by double vaulted arcades which have a variety of cafes and shops tucked underneath the arches.

The ancient village of St Antonin Noble Val which sits beneath the cliffs of Roc d'Anglais by the river Aveyron was the setting for the 2002 film Charlotte Gray and is a a lovely place to wonder and perhaps visit the market which is held every sunday morning. The Gorges de L'Aveyron which are also close by are also a great place to escape the heat of the day with forests of chestnut trees that provide the perfect place for a cool, summer walk.

The two rivers that run through the department offer a range of water sports like sailing, fishing and canoeing. Other popular activities include hiking, cycling, horse riding and climbing.