Why choose a holiday home in Midi-Pyrenees?
Why do 5 million people travel here annually? Why does Lourdes have more hotels than any other city in France except Paris? Hautes-Pyrenees barely contains the spiritual touchstone city called Lourdes. In 1858, the Virgin Mary appeared before a local girl, in a nearby cave called Grotte de Massabielle. You can imagine the powerful draw this has become over the last hundred years.
If you were surprised by the MacDonald's in Lourdes the antidote is a visit to the caves of Padirac in Lot or visit the crowded town of Cordes in Tarn. You will find an abundance of glassmakers, artists, and potters of every kind. I dare you to resist leaving here without making a purchase. In Tarn-et-Garonne you can rest at the caf lined square near the entrance to the abbey in Moissac.
The heartbeat of southwest France is Midi-Pyrenees, the largest region in the country. It is framed by the mighty Pyrenees mountain range, noted for its prominent vineyards that include the Gaillac, which is numbered among the oldest in all of France and boasts the Armagnac with its worldwide reputation.
The caves of Ariege tell stories about human life. Enjoy oral histories from the locals while you indulge yourself with the aperitif, Hypocras, which remains unchanged from medieval days. The conversation goes well with Aligot, a potato and Aveyron cheese puree or a dish of magret which is duck breast with gizzards.
Visit with the stall owners at the multitude of markets throughout Aveyron to hear first person accounts of their trades. See how the Martres-Tolosane artists decorate earthenware exactly as their forefathers. Meet the proud Laguiole cutlers that produce the famed knives adorned with the bee symbol.
In Gers you will be tempted to forego the attractions in favor of duck foie gras or a massive serving of garbure that blends cabbage, beans from Tarbes, potatoes, and the essential dried pork knuckles. The celebrity Gers wine for a local meal is Pousse-Rapiere.
The gem of Haute-Garonne is the "Pink City" of Toulouse. The nickname comes from the color of brick used in most buildings and homes. When the sun goes down this town welcomes you with its remarkable lights. This ancient city is populated with trendy restaurants and a vibrant nightclub scene.
Contribution post: 02 July 2010
