The Beauty and Allure of the Midi Pyrenees
It is a land of mountains and valleys, including some of Europe’s highest peaks. It is a place for sinfully divine cuisine, inexpensive meals that last for three hours and feature five courses. There are some of France’s most historically significant sites here, alongside a thriving aerospace industry. The region’s borders touch both Spain and the principality of Andorra.
To spend time in the Midi- Pyrénées is to discover endless riches. The region features 27 towns to receive the prestigious and much sought-after “Most Beautiful French Villages” designation, and for good reason.
Midi Pyrenees Cities and Destinations
- While the capital city of Toulouse is packed with museums, attractions and people, there are several charming smaller towns that are alluring.
- Rodez has a remarkable cathedral, with an expansive produce market in its shadows. Its medieval streets are lined with boutiques and cafés.
- Cahors is a hub of wine-making, and it features a dramatic medieval bridge with three towers.
- Tarbes is no Paris, to be sure, but its location at the foot of the Pyrenees allows for great daytrips and striking views of snowcapped peaks.
- One of the world’s most significant religious pilgrimage destinations, Lourdes, draws thousands daily to the cave where a young girl claimed to have visions of the Virgin Mary.
- There are wonderful thermal spa villages, such as Argèles-Gazost and Ax-les-Thermes, allowing for mountain discoveries combined with relaxing treatments.