Comparable in size to both Luxemburg and Switzerland combined,
Midi-Pyrénées is located in south-west France and comprises of Lot, Hautes-Pyrénées, Ariège, Gers, Aveyron, Haute-Garonne, Tarn and Tarn-et- Garonne - eight departments, each possessing its own strength of character. The region as a whole has no geographical or historical unity as it was artificially created in the twentieth century as somewhat of a “métropoles d'équilibre” (or balancing metropolis). Its name was formulated by the French government solely on the basis of its geography: Midi, meaning southern regions and Pyrénées, meaning mountains that are the southern limit of the region.
The Atlantic’s white sandy beaches and the Mediterranean golden sun-baked beaches are just a few hours’ train ride or drive away to the east or west. During winter, the Pyrénnées’ ski resorts are only a short drive to the south. If you prefer a less outdoorsy experience, the many superb museums, shops and restaurants of the city of
Toulouse are perfect for exploration.
Home to more than 2.5 million persons, the region has a bounty of splendid mountain scenery, with the north-east part encompassing a high plateau on which sandy stretches, hillocks, pine woods and more can be found interspersed with little valleys filled with thick forests. Small animals and birds feast upon the wild thyme and juniper that grow in the mountainous chalky soil causing them to develop individual and delicious flavors that make them common hunting targets. The food of this region is world-famous, especially its cheeses Roquefort, Blue of Causses, Rocamadour, Laguiole, and Tomme of the Pyrenees and its great wines which include Gaillac, Madiran, Cahors, and Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh.
Aveyron is a landscape of steep ravines and granite outcrops which forms the foundation of farmhouses and villages built from local rock in mimicry of rock formations such that they are nearly invisible to outsiders.
The department of Lot has now become quite popular among foreign and other real-estate buyers because of its neighbouring relationship to the already popular Dordogne. Beautiful bastides (meaning, fortified villages) are less expensive in Lot and the weather is noticeably drier and hotter than in Dordogne. Adding to this department’s unique qualities is the River Lot along with its numerous tributaries which cut into the limestone plateau to create dramatic gorges.
Only recently discovered by foreigners, Gers has a lushly green rolling countryside with sleepy bastides dominating the hilltops and is beginning to gain popularity.
The economy of
Midi-Pyrénées is quite multi-factorial. This region has 60,000 active farms and certainly the most in all of France. The production of wine has suffered in recent years and as such a policy of merging wine producers into wider groups has also been initiated to compensate for over-production, decline in demand and reduced wine prices. The food industry is increasing as it has received a significant amount of foreign investment and has created the largest number of enterprises in France. The service industry, having not quite met the standards of other regions in the past, is now working to effect change. Tourism is another significant source of income in
Midi-Pyrénées, due in part to the beauty of the Pyrénées and the sunny climate. Besides the casual tourist attractions, Lourdes, though a small town, is a major tourist destination because of religious pilgrimage. Besides
Paris, it is also known to have more hotels than any other French city.
