Things to do in  Midi-Pyrénées

In the heart of Toulouse, Saint-Sernin Basilica is an outstanding building, notable for being the largest Romanesque structure in Europe. For centuries it has welcomed pilgrims walking along the Camino de Santiago, or Way of Saint James.

As the former seat of the Counts of Carcassonne, Carcassonne Citadel (Cité de Carcassonne) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of France’s most visited historic landmarks. Perched on a hilltop above the River Aude, the walled citadel is crowned by the Château Comtal.

Toulouse Cathedral, or Cathedrale St-Etienne, is a cathedral with a unique design that merges two different structures. With its mixture of architectural styles and lopsided appearance, it presents quite a change from the classic imposing grandeur of French cathedrals.

Place du Capitole is the main square in Toulouse and home to the impressive Capitole building, a neoclassical masterpiece that serves as the city hall. The square is a huge pedestrianized open space in the heart of Toulouse, with lots of people-watching at sidewalk cafés.

Albi is a beautiful town roughly 30 miles (50 kilometers) from Toulouse, with a history linked to the Crusades against the Cathar heretics. Listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the town is home to Albi Cathedral (Basilique Cathédrale Sainte-Cécile d’Albi), a unique, imposing church, and the Palais de la Berbie, which displays the works of Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, who was born in Albi.

France’s longest and oldest canal, the Canal du Midi is both a feat of civil engineering and a popular sightseeing destination in the southern Occitanie region. Built by engineer Pierre-Paul Riquet in the late 17th century, the 150-mile (240-kilometer) waterway connects the Mediterranean with the Atlantic Ocean via the Garonne Canal.

Appropriately situated just north of the Toulouse Airport and near the Airbus Factory, the aviation museum Aeroscopia features a wide variety of aviation-related exhibits. Here visitors of all ages can learn about everything from airplane design to air traffic control in a fun and interactive environment.

The Museum of Augustins, or Musée des Beaux-Arts de Toulouse, is one of the oldest museums in France and holds a large collection of both classic and modern art. Its Gothic interior and 14th-century cloisters form a marvelous backdrop for artworks by French masters and other well-known European artists.

The Pont Neuf is the oldest bridge in Toulouse. Spanning the river Garonne, the bridge (whose name actually means "new bridge") has been part of the city fabric for over 400 years, and is a lasting testament to 16th-century engineering.

Between France and Spain lie the Pyrenees Mountains, a range that stretches from the Atlantic Bay of Biscay to the Mediterranean coast, spanning around 270 miles (430 kilometers). Dividing the Iberian Peninsula from the rest of Europe, these snow-dusted mountains have long been a playground for outdoor adventure, but hilltop castles and alpine villages beckon as well.

Les Abattoirs is Toulouse’s museum of modern and contemporary art. Housed in a former slaughterhouse, it holds a collection of 4,000 works, including pieces by Picasso and Dalí, as well as temporary exhibitions featuring contemporary artists such as Franz Gertsch, Dado, and Daniel Spoerri.

Although now in ruins, Lastours Castles (Châteaux de Lastours played a major role in the defense of the area during the height of Catharism in the 13th century. The main castle is called Cabaret, and is surrounded by three smaller fortresses. The ruins of a Romanesque church also sit on the site.

Flowing down from the Spanish Pyrenees all the way to France’s Atlantic coast, the Garonne is the most important river of southwestern France. Passing through two major cities—Toulouse and Bordeaux—the Garonne also runs into the Gironde estuary, the largest of its kind in Europe.

Situated inside the Palais de la Berbie, the astounding Toulouse-Lautrec Museum (Musée Toulouse-Lautrec, showcases hundreds of works by artist Henri Marie Raymond de Toulouse-Lautrec-Monfa, who was born in the area. Here you'll find over 1,000 artworks credited to the Albi artist along with a temporary exhibition space and an auditorium.

The Space City (Cite de l'Espace) lets you realize your dreams of visiting space without having to undergo years of astronaut training. Here, you can explore inside a space station or space rocket; try on a space suit; and experience the sensation of walking on the moon.