Home » Destinations in Midi Pyrenees
Destinations in Midi Pyrenees
Photo Source: Midi-Pyrénées Tourism
Photo Source: Parc National des Pyrenees
Montsegur Castle. Photo Source: Commune de Montsegur
Niaux Cave
Lourdes
Foix
Foix is proud of its history. Gaston Phoebus was born here, a famous Occitan warrior, poet, and politician from the 14th century. He was also well-known for his hunting skills, so a good all-rounder who represented the different aspects of his region. He left a patriotic regional song, which is still sung in republican banquets, and family dinners, to this day. He became the governor of Languedoc, and the main liaison between the ambassadors of Spain and England.
Foix market has regional specialities galore, with old artisan butchers rubbing shoulders with new arrivals to the region: "Green Tourism" has gradually drawn people into the area, which had previously been deserted in favour of towns.
The Ariege
The department of Ariege nestles in the Pyrenees, next to Andorra, its highest peaks visible from Toulouse. It is one of the least populated, most unspoiled regions of France. Far from the centres of power, Ariège has always served as a refuge: for prehistoric man who sheltered in the many caves, for the Cathar heretics who defied the Church, and for resistance fighters, refugees and downed WWII pilots who eluded the Nazis to escape over the mountains into Spain. The countryside is wild but easily accessible.
Top grade trout streams rush down forested mountainsides into rivers where kayakers paddle. Waymarked walking trails lead to 3000 metres peaks where isards (chamois), marmots and even bears roam. Cyclists can take in a stage of the Tour de France, mountain bike down tracks or gently pedal in the valleys. And in winter, skiers enjoy the uncrowded pistes or strap on "raquettes" to hike the snowcovered mountain trails.
Pyrenees National Park
Created in 1967, the Pyrenees National Park is made up of two zones: The central zone (45705 hectars) is almost uninhabited and is subject to reinforced protection. It is in this area that the most spectacular landscapes are to be seen and the peripheral area is a kind of pre-park on the edge of the central zone.
The Pyrenees National Park promove various objectives: preserving biodiversity, landscapes and sites; welcoming visitors and showing them how to respect and make the most of this heritage; reconciling environmental protection and economic activities and contributing to the longlasting development of the valleys.
In order to ensure efficient protection it is essential to know the area well a number of studies are led on the terrain by the National Park wardens: inventories of animal and plant species, and observation of their habits and evolution, analyses of their geographical distribution and climatic studies. Such activities enable the Pyrenees National Park to develop appropriate management of the environment.
The Pays de Sault
The Department of the Aude drives a wedge between Ariege to the west and Pyrenees Orientales to the east to claim its corner of the French Pyrenees mountain range at the beautifully scenic Pays de Sault. Situated between the foothills of Ventoux, the Vaucluse Mountains and the Lure Mountain, the Pays de Sault offers an authentic and magnificent natural landscape. Fields of wheat give way to fields of lavender and forests of oak trees.
Sault is one of six French sites protected under the Unesco World Heritage Patrimony. Sault is also one of the major Lavender routes. Perched at an altitude of 776 meters, it is an invigorating health resort with a superb panoramic view at the foot of the village. An ideal point of departure to discover the Ventoux region.
Vallee d'Aure
The Aure valley is made up of a vast plain, where most of the inhabitants live, and a fifteen-kilometre long corridor. In the past, the valley's wealth came from the textile industry and its lead sulphide mines, but now tourism is its key to success. A stone's throw from the Pyrenean National Park, Piau-Engaly and Saint-Lary ski resorts have become very popular. Unusually, for the Pyrenees, more people are moving to the valley than are moving out.
The Aure valley has always maintained close relationships with the Spanish valley of Bielsa: a spirit of brotherhood reigns between the two communities. Since the opening of a tunnel in 1976, the border has become insignificant.
Lourdes and Around
Between 11th February and 16th July 1858, the Virgin Mary, appeared at the Grotto of Massabielle on 18 occasions to Bernadette Soubirous, a young girl of 14 years from a family of bankrupt millers. The words and actions that the Virgin exchanged with Bernadette form the Message of Lourdes: a call to all return to a loving and merciful God. Lourdes appears to be the second most frequented place of pilgrimage after Rome. Each year it is estimated that 5 million pilgrims from all five continents come to recollect themselves with Lourdes Lady.
Tarbes
Tarbes is a French town and commune, in the département of Hautes-Pyrénées, of which it is the préfecture. It is part of the historical region of Gascony. It is the second largest metropolitan area of Midi-Pyrénées, with 110,000 inhabitants. It is the seat of the diocese of Tarbes-et-Lourdes.
The soldier’s faithful steed for many centuries has been the horse, and Napoleon was responsible for the creation of an equestrian centre in Tarbes. To the south of Tarbes is the pilgrimage town of Lourdes and the border with Spain. The Pyrenees mountains, lying along the border between France and Spain, can be seen from the town.
Baronnies
The Baronnies (Les Baronnies in French) is a historic name for the area East and North of Mont Ventoux in Southern France.
Today most of the Baronnies is part of the département Drôme (a part of the région Rhône-Alpes). Smaller areas in the East and South belong to the départements of Vaucluse, Hautes-Alpes and Alpes-de-Haute-Provence (part of the région Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur). The area of roughly 2,000 km² (772 sq miles) is sparsely populated; the 1999 census counted only 22,000 inhabitants. There are plans to create the Parc Naturel Régional des Baronnies. The area is paradise for hiking, mountaineering, rock climbing, cycling, mountain biking, horse-riding, hang gliding and paragliding.
Legend has it that Hannibal, the Carthaginian leader crossed les Baronnies with his elephants during the Second Punic War (218 - 201 B.C.).
Mas d'Azil & Labouiche
The paleolithic cave site of Mas d'Azil (20 kilometers west of Foix) was excavated by Edouard Piette in the 19th century. Mas d'Azil was one of the first prehistoric caves to yield evidence of human habitation. Occupations at the site range in date from 17,800 to 6500 years BC.
The underground river at Labouiche visit includes the longest subterranean boat ride (1,500m) in Europe. About 4km of the river are accessible.
The cave has a long history, during excavations remains from the Magdalénien were discovered. Also some Gallo-Roman remains which are about 2,000 years old were discovered. This is the second most popular tourist spot in the Ariège with 70,000 visitor per year.
Saint Girons & Saint Lizier
Saint Lizier is an ancient roman town rich in art and history and which is officially classed among the most beautiful villages of France. Situated at the foot of the Pyrenees in the department of Ariege, the city is a magnificient belvedere with a view of the mountains of the Couserans region.
Saint Girons holds a lively and bustling farmers market where most of the produce is grown organically. The summer festival in Saint Girons is the Rites festival which features folk dance groups from many countries. A great community event where you can really feel the French way of life.
Garonne
The river Garonne, called nowadays "Canal de Garonne", is the result of the building of the "Canal du Midi" (17th century) and "Canal Lateral" (19th century). This junction allowed the creation of an important commercial waterway, which had been expected for quite a long time in South of Europe, between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean.