The southern Pyrenees is one of the most interesting regions of France. It is the largest in area, but its constituent parts have almost no historical commonality. That's why there is so much diversity - both in nature and in everything created by people.
You could say that on the whole it is a huge rural province of all Pyrenees - France, Spain, Andorra. It has the largest concentration of active farms in France. At the same time, there are cities with modern industry - just look at the Aerospace Center in Toulouse.
The natural attractions are fantastic. First of all, of course, thanks to the Pyrenees mountain range. First of all it is the Gavarnie Circus, the largest mountain cascade in Europe, a symbol of the Upper Pyrenees, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is also home to the Peak du Marbore mountain wall and Europe's largest waterfall.
In recent years the region is becoming increasingly popular not only among tourists but also among property buyers and investors. This is especially true in the department of Lo and, to a lesser extent, the department of Gers. The first of them became popular because of its proximity to the Dordogne - one of the most interesting French regions for investment at the moment. In Lo has a better climate (drier and warmer), and real estate is cheaper. In addition, the Lo has more attractive places for the beauty of nature - thanks to the river with the same name and its many tributaries.
Another place very attractive in the region for the purchase of housing is the capital of the province of Toulouse. The city is very comfortable to live in, it is said to be a modern metropolis with a good rustic soul. There is a university and major modern industries (Airbus, ...), but the rural suburbs are only a 20-minute drive from the center. And in two hours you can reach the Mediterranean coast and already swim in the sea. Similarly, after spending two hours on the road, you can find yourself among the beauties of the Pyrenees Mountains. The cultural life is also rich - about a hundred festivals are held in the region every year, and most of them are held in the capital.
- The mountain village of Gavarnie and the largest waterfalls in Europe. 50 km from the city of Lourdes. Panoramic views that are stunning.
How to get there:
Take the train to Lourdes, and from the station there is a shuttle bus to Gavarnie.
- The fortified city of Rocamadour, built on a huge rock. From the fortress walls offers an amazing view of the creations of nature and human hands.
Rocamadour has attracted the faithful since before the X century, then seven churches and a monastery were built on the rocks. In one of the chapels (Notre Dame) is the famous statue of the Black Madonna, which pilgrims dream of seeing.
How to get there:
Take the train to Rocamadour Padirac or Gramat. From Gramat to Rocamadour there are buses: №11,17,18.
- The Southern Canal (canal du Midi), is one of the main attractions of the Southern Pyrenees. It was built in the 17th century and is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, although it is still in operation (the oldest canal in Europe). It connects Toulouse and the city of Sete. You can travel both by tourist boats and motor boats (on certain sections), and by car along the roads along it. There is a lot to see: nature, bridges, dams, locks... The towns of Carcassonne and Narbonne on the way...
An impressive fortress on the rock, which is associated with the Cathars, followers of a religion that in the early Middle Ages was in serious competition with the Christian Church, led by the Pope.
Monsegur is considered their last resting place, and was defeated by the Crusaders in 1243. It is true that historians say that the present fortress itself is from a later era.
How to get there:
Located near the village of Monsegur. By train you can go to relatively large settlements: Foix, Tarascon sur Ariege, Ax-les-Thermes - located on the highway E9. Then you may be lucky with the bus, but it's better to count on a cab or your own car.
Viaduc de Millau - An amazing bridge over the River Tarn on the A75 linking Clermont-Ferrand with Beziers and Narbonne. A marvel of advanced French technology. Hanging on seven pylons, some of which are higher than the Eiffel Tower, it stretches for almost 2 and a half kilometers. It was built in 2004 designed by Norman Foster. It is located near the town of Millau.
The province has a large national park and four other regional reserves. In addition to the mountains, high plateaus and gorges, there are also hilly valleys and coniferous forests and numerous rivers with lakes. Therefore active tourism is very developed: walking - hiking and trekking, descending the mountain rivers on different watercraft, cycling, horseback riding, skiing in winter... A more relaxed type of recreation is river cruises - trips on rivers on motor ships. One of the most interesting and extreme hiking trips is along the Tarn Gorge.
In winter the Pyrenees is visited to rest at the ski resorts. There are year-round thermal spas in Aix-les-Thermes, Barbotan-les-Thermes, Luchon, Bannier de Bigor, Coterets...
A special feature of the French Pyrenees is the prevalence of a kind of religious tourism. There are pilgrimage routes of the Way of Saint James in Spain to Santiago de Compostela and others. There are many temples and cathedrals. An important center of pilgrimage is the city of Lourdes with its Basilica of Notre-Dame-du-Roser, which houses the miraculous relics of St. Bernadette.
The main cities of interest to tourists are: the capital of the province of Toulouse; Cahors, with a very large number of medieval buildings; Lourdes, also interesting historical monuments and cathedrals - and it has more hotels than in any other city in France except Paris; Albi, the famous "red city".