Located in south-west France, halfway between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, Midi-Pyrénées is the largest French region. Made up of eight counties, the region extends from the majestic Pyrenees to the wooded hills of the Dordogne and from Gascony to the Gorges du Tarn.

5 reasons to visit Midi Pyrenees :

- A stunning mixture of landscapes:
The region boasts four Regional Nature Parks, the Pyrenees National Park with the Cirque de Gavarnie as the star attraction and five major valleys creating spectacular landscapes: The Dordogne, Lot, Garonne, Tarn and Aveyron Valleys.

- Strokes of genius:
The Millau Viaduct, the longest and highest bridge in the world, the Observatory of the Pic du Midi, the highest scientific observatory open to the public in Europe, the Airbus industry in Toulouse with the A380 as the largest civil aircraft, and the Canal du Midi built in the 17th century.

- A region full of history:
the prehistoric Niaux caves, the mysterious Templar villages, famous pilgrimage destinations: Lourdes, the villages of Conques and Moissac as well as Toulouse St Sernin Basilica listed by UNESCO on the route to Santiago de Compostela, Montségur, the symbol of Cathar resistance, the architectural heritage of the ‘bastide’ (medieval village) of Cordes-sur-Ciel…

- A rich cultural heritage:
Toulouse, land of history, unique pastel trade architecture; Albi, the hometown of Toulouse-Lautrec; Figeac and its Champollion Museum dedicated to the history of writing; the Valentré bridge in Cahors; the artists in St Cirq Lapopie; the famous ‘Jazz in Marciac’ festival…

- A great feast for food:
Besides foie gras and truffles, world renowned in their own right, the regional gastronomy is based on local products, most of them labelled “Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée” (a guarantee of the origin) such as Roquefort cheese, Quercy lamb, Lautrec garlic, Toulouse sausage, Moissac Chasselas grapes, Cahors, Gaillac, Madiran wines and Armagnac brandy.