This is another south. A south where nature, both grandiose and serene, between the Pyrenees and the Cévennes serves as a setting for the most original experiences. And where copper stone carries the memory of centuries, from Nîmes la Romaine to Cathar castles passing through the medieval cities of Carcassonne or Rocamadour. And starting with the most pink of all: Toulouse! Festive, warm, the regional capital embodies the sweetness of life of the Occitanie in every corner. Up to the terraces of its bars with stunning views of the Garonne!
Highlights of the Occitanie region – South of France
What to visit in Occitanie? To capture the spirit of the region, all in conviviality, and see life in pink, direction Toulouse!
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Toulouse
The copper hues of its bricks give it an air of Italy but its monuments have a very singular personality, from the Capitol, its Town Hall to the interminable neoclassical facade, to the Basilica SaintSernin, masterpiece of Romanesque art through the very Gothic convent of the Jacobins. Not to mention the Hotel d'Assézat, one of the most dazzling Renaissance mansions that punctuate its courtyards and alleys.
From the city Rose, one can radiate in Occitanie to discover some nuggets bequeathed by builders of genius.
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Albi
In the Tarn, the episcopal city of Albi is a jewel of architecture, and its cathedral Sainte-Cécile, masterpiece of Gothic art, conceals the most extensive set of Renaissance Italian paintings executed in France.
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Pays cathare
To go back in time to the Middle Ages, it is necessary to explore two other wonders: the fortified city of Carcassonne and its imposing wall punctuated by 52 towers, and the medieval city of Rocamadour, hung on the cliff at 150 meters to the -over the Alzou canyon! And drive to Montpellier: just a stone’s throw from the sea, you will be lost with delight in the winding streets of the old centre of the Ecusson. Occitania is also a unique story: then independent of France, the region finally had to join the kingdom in the thirteenth century following the crusades against the Cathar heresy. This memory permeates the famous Cathar castles, fortified citadels where the Albigenses had taken refuge.
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Nîmes
In Nimes, we dive straight into antiquity! Inspired by the Colosseum of Rome, its immense amphitheatre, the best preserved in the Roman world, is unmissable. We can also extend this trip to the heart of the Roman Empire with a few visits such as that of the Museum of Romanity or the amazing Castellum, the arrival point of the aqueduct of Nîmes. All that’s left is to go 40 kilometers to the Pont du Gard. At a height of 48 meters, you can understand the whole story of this incredible aqueduct that transported water to the fountains, gardens and houses of Nîmes, from a spring located near Uzès.
Occitanie, soft experiences between sport and culture
More sports or culture? In Occitanie, you can combine the two by following the Canal du Midi by bike: from Toulouse to Sète, passing through Narbonne, its 241 kilometers are dotted with monuments and exceptional landscapes. To vary the pleasures, you can also opt for a boat trip. And to vibrate to the rhythm of the music, nothing is better than to live the experience of the jazz festival in Marciac: the biggest names in the world meet there every summer.
In Toulouse, to appreciate the atmosphere of a city renowned for its festive atmosphere, going out in a bar, indoors or on the terrace, feet in the Garonne! Then, it only remains to enjoy the calm of the mountains of the Cevennes: its national park is the largest of the French national parks…
Traditions and know-how in Occitanie - South of France
Visiting L'Occitanie also means entering the universe of traditions that are sometimes unusual. In the heart of the Maison Causse, in the Aveyron, we explore a unique know-how, that of the mergissiers who transform the most beautiful leather into gloves. And on the roof of the Galeries Lafayette in Toulouse, you can enjoy a 180° panorama of the pink city while enjoying the taste experiences of the double-star chef Michel Sarran.