Occitania

A region in southern France stretching from the Pyrenees to the Mediterranean, where Carcassonne, Toulouse and Lourdes each have their own appeal.

Occitania lies in southern France, bordering Spain and Andorra to the south and the Mediterranean to the southeast, and was formed by merging the former Midi-Pyrénées and Languedoc-Roussillon; its capital is Toulouse. The region has the medieval fortress city of Carcassonne, the "Pink City" of Toulouse, the lively seaside city of Montpellier, the pilgrimage site of Lourdes, the Pont du Gard, and natural wonders such as the Cirque de Gavarnie in the Pyrenees. Spring and autumn are good for visiting old towns, summer for the Mediterranean coast and mountain hiking, and winter for skiing in the Pyrenees. Toulouse and Montpellier have airports, and high-speed rail links Paris and the major cities.

Destinations

• Toulouse
• Montpellier
• Carcassonne
• Lourdes & Central Pyrenees
• Perpignan & Collioure
• Béziers & Narbonne
• Avignon & Luberon
• Sarlat & Dordogne
• Valleys of Andorra

Itineraries

• Languedoc Castles to Roussillon Coast – Head south from Montpellier to Perpignan, connecting canals, Cathar castles, and the small port of Collioure.
• Barcelona to Nice South France Panorama – Cross the French Mediterranean coast, connecting cities by train and renting a car for the Provence segment.
• Barcelona via Andorra to Toulouse, 7-Day Cross-Border Trip – Cross the Pyrenees from the Mediterranean, drive through Andorra to the Carcassonne fortress, then reach the Rose City…
• Across the Pyrenees to San Sebastián – Crossing the Pyrenean passes from Toulouse, through Lourdes to the Basque coast.
• Toulouse, Albi and Carcassonne by Train – No car needed: take the TER to link the Pink City, Albi's red-brick cathedral and the Carcassonne citadel.
• Classic Provence & French Riviera Road Trip – Enter via Avignon and exit via Nice, connecting the Luberon hilltop villages, Valensole, Verdon Gorge, and the coast
• Andorra Valleys Summer Hiking & Thermal Spa – The old town, the World Heritage Madriu Valley, Tristaina Lakes, and Ordino mountain village—the best of Andorra in fou…
• Dordogne Valley Châteaux and Caves Road Trip – Five nights in Sarlat, with day trips to the Lascaux caves, the valley's châteaux and Rocamadour.
• Soldeu Ski Week: Connecting Three Major Resorts – Based in Soldeu, ski the entirety of Grandvalira, and spend a day each exploring Arcalís and Pal-Arinsal.
• Valensole to Sault Lavender Loop – In and out of Marseille, cover the Valensole Plateau, Sénanque Abbey, and Sault flower fields in four days.
• Car-Free Provence Itinerary – Travel by train and bus from Avignon to Marseille, exploring Roman ruins, Van Gogh's town, and the Calanques.
• Trans-Pyrenees Road Trip: Barcelona to San Sebastián – Drive from the Mediterranean to the Bay of Biscay, connecting Andorra, the Boí Valley, Ordesa, Irati, and the Basque Co…