10 Reasons to Plan your Next Holiday to Occitanie

With a beautiful coastline, sun-gorged produce, fascinating heritage and a vast Regional Natural Park, sunny Occitanie is the perfect holiday destination for the summer. Here’s why.

1. Get there easily

Easy access from the UK and Ireland, and Paris of course, with direct flights serving cities like Toulouse, Montpellier, Nîmes, Carcassonne, Brive Dordogne Valley, Perpignan, Lourdes, Rodez and Nîmes. 

2. Dreamy Mediterranean coastline    

From the Camargue to the eastern Pyrenees coast, including the Languedoc, Occitanie offers an attractive coastline made up of beautiful sandy beaches, dynamic cities with a strong historical and cultural heritage (Aigues-Mortes, Sète, Collioure…), sea resorts offering a wide range of activities and services for the perfect holidays (La Grande Motte, Leucate, Narbonne plage..) and beautiful creeks to discover such as Paulilles’ protected site. Enjoy a wide range of nautical activities  such as sailing, scuba diving to explore the rocky bottoms of the eastern Pyrenees coast or the volcanic islands off the coast of Cap d’Agde, stand-up paddle, windsurf, kitesurf, cata-wing, wing foil, kayaking, canoeing…    

3. A tranquil countryside    

Holidays in the countryside can be restful, relaxing and active too! Stroll around beautiful villages like Rocamadour (in the Lot valley), Conques (near Rodez), Cordes sur Ciel (near Albi) or take a day to explore the great hiking trails in the Regional natural Park of Haut Languedoc and preserved natural areas – don’t miss the canyons of Tarn and Hérault!    

4. Great cycling routes & itineraries

There are about 30 “green ways” or “green paths” developed into cycling routes along the Canal du Midi, the sea, or crossing the Cathar country, to discover on your bicycle. From 8 to 110 km, from easy to difficult levels, unmissable cycle tourism routes are ready for you to discover.   

5. The leading wine region in France    

Offering a very wide range of red, white and rosé wines but also sparkling wines (have you tried Blanquette and Crémant de Limoux?), Occitanie also produces sweet natural wines (Muscat, Maury…) and chic liqueurs such as Armagnac brandy or Noilly Prat vermouth.

6. Bustling markets to discover  

Head to one of the many weekly markets in the towns and villages of Occitanie to taste the various local products & specialties like foie gras, black truffle, Roquefort cheese and, on the Mediterranean Sea, fresh Bouzigues oysters, Lucques olives in Languedoc, Camargue rice or Collioure anchovies.  

7. 8 UNESCO World Heritage sites    

Discover the Episcopal City of Albi, the City of Carcassonne, the Canal du Midi, the Pont du Gard, the Cirque de Gavarnie, the Causses and Cévennes and the Vauban fortresses, the Way of Saint James to Compostela.  

8. The Canal du Midi  

A unique way to discover a part of Occitanie : experiencing the Canal du Midi by booking a canal cruise on board a hotel-barge or a self-drive boat. This unique and exceptional work, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, offers endless possibilities of discovery. 

9. A collection of 41 exceptional sites to visit

The must-see sites in Occitanie include Toulouse, Montpellier, Carcassonne, Rocamadour, the Pic du Midi, the Gorges du Tarn (Tarn canyon), Aigues-Mortes, the Pont du Gard, Gavarnie… and many more!

10. Book your next stay to Occitanie  

Make your choice among the Prestige Collection of charming & boutique hotels, luxurious bed & breakfast and villas rentals:  be inspired by our stays/holiday suggestions.