Capital: Toulouse
Michelin-Starred Chefs: 26
Famous Natives:
- Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec
- Pierre Soulages
- Jean-Dominique Ingres
- Bernadette Soubirous
- D'Artagnan
Top 5 Sites Visited by Americans:
- Toulouse, the capital of the Midi-Pyrénées, is a bustling technological hub renowned as the home of Airbus and Aéroscopia as well as a thriving arts and culture scene.
- Lourdes and the “Grand Sites” of the Pyrénées, including the UNESCO natural heritage site of the Cirque of Gavarnie and the Pic du Midi, a mountain in the Pyrenees famous for its astronomical observatory.
- The Cahors Malbec vineyards; the Lot Valley, known for the perched villages of St-Cirq-Lapopie and Rocamadour.
- The city of Albi, which boasts the Toulouse Lautrec Museum, the Episcopal City a UNESCO site dating back to the Middle Ages, and the nearby village of Cordes-sur-Ciel, a fortified town dating from 1222 perched on a hilltop.
- The beautiful sites along the Way of St. James, including: Conques, Figeac, Moissac, Auch and many others.
- Grape Varieties: Armagnac, Malbec-Cahors, Gaillac, Fronton and Madiran.
Top Museums:
- Soulages Museum: Opening in May 2014 in the town of Rodez, this museum is dedicated to the work of Pierre Soulages, one of the most well-known contemporary painters in the world. Pierre Soulages was born in Rodez, one of the Great Tourist Sites of the Midi-Pyrénées.
- Toulouse Lautrec Museum: The museum features over 1000 paintings, drawings, lithographs and posters by the painter.
Major Festivals:
Jazz in Marciac, one of the biggest jazz festivals in Europe, takes place every year in Marciac, a quaint village located in Gascony. This year’s rendition will take place from July 24 to August 13.
Five UNESCO Sites:
- The Way of St. James
- Gavarnie
- Albi
- Les Causses du Larzac
- Canal du Midi
Twenty-Five "Grands Sites:" The Midi-Pyrénées is renowned for its 25 "Grands Sites" known throughout the world, including the Millau Viaduct, le Pic du Midi, Lourdes, Cahors, le pont Valentré, Conques, Rocamadour, Moissac and many others.
How to Visit: More than 100 tour operators program visits to the Midi-Pyrénées all year round.
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