Touring the Southern France Toulouse to Montpellier

Image by EdTraxler from Pixabay

Southern France is abundant with historic cities, beach resorts, and wineries. When planning a trip to this region, you can visit the most beautiful towns in Southeast France and head westwards towards the Spanish border. Here’s what you need to know about the Toulouse to Montpellier region.  

Toulouse

Toulouse is the capital of the Occitanie region and is known as “La Ville Rose” due to its pink buildings. Hôtel d’Assézat and Basilique Notre Dame la Daurad are two of the most splendid buildings to visit if you want to appreciate the wonderful architecture as a result of the terracotta. 

France’s fourth-largest city is also the aeronautical capital of Europe. One of the most unique attractions is the Cité de l’Espace – a theme park dedicated to space exploration with life-size replicas of rockets and space stations. 

Warm summer days may be spent navigating the River Garonne and exploring the city’s vast parks. 

Carcassonne

Located halfway between Toulouse and Montpellier, Carcassonne is a romantic hilltop town with a mediaeval citadel that remains in excellent condition with fortified walls and turrets.

The foundations of La Cité de Carcassonne were constructed in Gallo-Roman times, with expansions made in the 13th and 14th centuries. You can explore the labyrinthine streets and tour the Château Comtal and museums for further understanding of the history of the citadel

 
Montpellier

Montpellier is located a mere 6 miles from the Mediterranean Sea. The city was appointed the capital of Bas Languedoc in the 17th century which resulted in elevated popularity and a boom in handsome buildings that remain today. 

Visit the Promenade du Peyrou for panoramic views across the city and a perspective of the Cathédrale Saint-Pierre de Montpellier with its twin towers. Check out the collection of European masterpieces at Musée Fabre and visit the Flemish tapestries and lush gardens of Château de Flaugergues.

Meanwhile, the Place de la Comédie is a lively spot for dining, sampling the local wine, shopping, and people-watching.  

Pyrénées

The Pyrénées mountain range straddles the border of France and Spain with the majority of the peaks and trails being located in the Occitanie region.

This all-season destination offers skiing during the winter months and hiking and cycling in summer. The picturesque city of Lourdes is a scenic base for encountering the scenery of the Pyrénées. Each year, millions of pilgrims flock to the Grotto of Massabielle where it is said that the Virgin Mary appeared to a local woman in 1858.

Languedoc-Roussillon Wine Region 
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Throughout your exploration of this part of Southern France, you will have the opportunity to sample the regional wines. 

The Languedoc-Roussillon wine region stretches from Provence to the Pyrenees at the Spanish border. Although the wine region appears small at first glance, production in this area is prolific. Languedoc and Roussillon wineries produce organic wines and are known for their Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Carignan, and Cinsault varieties. 

Pair your wines with regional cuisine including Toulouse cassoulet, canard confit, and truffle-based dishes.

Contact me when you are ready to book your trip to Southern France.

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