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22

February

Van Gogh at the Atelier des Lumières in Paris

Until 31 December

VIGNETTE -Cimetiere Britannique de Bayeux © S. Freres CRT Normandie-©

1

January

75th Anniversary of D-Day and the Battle of Normandy

Until 31 December

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The Distinction Palace

In France, hotel rankings highlight the exceptional 5-star hotels by elevating them to ‘palace’…

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Occitanie - South of France

FUNDAMENTALS

Occitanie: what to do, what to see...

Preview

MoCo: into the heart of contemporary art in…

As of 29 June 2019, contemporary art is taking root in Montpellier with the opening of the MoCo…

Meet the Giants

In the footsteps of the pioneers of the Toulouse…

In the district of Toulouse Aerospace, along the old Montaudran trail from which the pioneers of…

Roman remains

Nimes celebrates its ancient heritage with a new…

Facing the 2000-year-old amphitheatre of Nimes, a brand-new museum of Roman History, Musée de la…

It’s another south. A south where nature, both dramatic and serene between the Pyrenees and the Cevennes, serves as a haven for the most original experiences. And where the copper stone carries memories from the centuries, from Nîmes la Romaine to the Cathar castles and the medieval Carcassonne and Rocamadour. Begin with the pinkest of all: Toulouse! Friendly and celebratory, the regional capital embodies the sweetness of life in Occitanie at every turn – especially on its terrace bars with breathtaking views of the Garonne.

The must-sees in Occitanie-South of France

What is there to visit in Occitanie? To capture the spirit of the region and see life in pink, head first to Toulouse.

  • Toulouse

    The coppery tints of its bricks give it an air of Italy, but its monuments have a very singular personality: explore the Capitol, its Town Hall; the interminable neoclassical façade of the basilica of Saint-Sernin, a masterpiece of Romanesque art; and the Gothic Couvent des Jacobins. Not to mention the Hotel Assézat, one of France’s most stunning Renaissance mansions to punctuate its courtyards and alleys.
    From the Pink City, you can easily explore the rest of Occitanie and discover some gems left behind by skilled architects.

  • Albi

    In Tarn, the episcopal city of Albi is a gem of architecture – its Cathedral Sainte-Cécile is a masterpiece of Gothic art and contains the largest collection of Italian Renaissance paintings executed in France.

  • Cathar country

    To fully go back in time to the Middle Ages, two other wonders must be explored: the fortified city of Carcassonne and its imposing wall punctuated by 52 towers, and the medieval village of Rocamadour, clinging to a cliff 150 metres above the Alzou canyon. And push on to Montpellier: close to the sea, you’ll get delightfully lost in the winding streets of its old Ecusson centre. Occitanie, then independent from France, finally rallied the kingdom in the 13th century following the crusade against Cathar heresy. This memory permeates the famous Cathar castles, fortified citadels where the Albigensians took refuge.

  • Nîmes

    In Nîmes, you dive straight into antiquity. Inspired by the Colosseum in Rome, its huge amphitheatre is the best preserved in the Roman world. You can also add on extra visits such as the Museum of Romanity or the amazing Castellum, arrival point of the Nîmes aqueduct. All that remains is to head 40 kilometres out of the city to the Pont du Gard. At a height of 48 metres, you can witness the whole story of this incredible aqueduct that carried water to the fountains, gardens and houses of Nîmes, from a spring near Uzès.

Occitanie: gentle experiences combining sport and culture

Love sport or love culture? In Occitanie you can combine the two by cycling along the Canal du Midi from Toulouse to Sète, passing through Narbonne – its 241 kilometres are strewn with monuments and exceptional landscapes. To vary the pleasures, you can also opt for a boat ride. And for music lovers, there’s nothing like the experience of the jazz festival in Marciac: the world’s greatest names in the genre meet there each summer.
To fully soak up Toulouse’s party atmosphere, you need to go to a bar, either indoors or on a terrace with your feet in the Garonne. Then all that’s left is to enjoy the calm of the Cévennes mountains, whose national park is the largest of its kind in France.

Traditions and heritage in Occitanie-South of France

Occitanie is also home to some unusual traditions. At the Maison Causse in Aveyron are expert tanners who turn the finest leathers into gloves. And on the roof of the Galeries Lafayette in Toulouse, you can enjoy a 180-degree panorama across the Pink City while enjoying the culinary delights of chef Michel Sarran.

Must see 

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Sail on the canal

Explore French culture alongside the Canal du Midi

Sailing in lush French tranquility doesn't mean turning off your brain entirely! From Toulouse to…

Room and board

Our 10 favorite places around Albi

In the heart of Occitanie, the region around Albi has it all! Everything ... and above all a great…

Stylish flea marke

Le Lez, a market in Montpellier like no other

Lez Market is a friendly, eclectic hotspot with artist workshops, antique sellers, boutiques,…

A historical journey

5 experiences in Tarn that will take you back in…

Time-travel isn’t just for dreamers: take the Tarn, for example. Ancient rocks, medieval villages,…

Behind the lights #1

Glove-making: French savoir-faire for the skin

The story of a glove always begins at the heart of the Millavois basin in Aveyron, Occitanie.…

Cuisine

Indulge in this delicious dessert: Chocolate…

If you need a little indulgence, there are not many better options than a Chocolate Fondant.

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Toulouse and Occitanie Tourism
Feel Occitanie

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