OCCITANIE PYRENEES MEDITERRANEAN TOURIST BOARD
From the Pont du Gard to the Pyrénées and from the Dordogne valley to the Mediterranean resorts, the Occitanie region has plenty to offer. Home to a collection of world-renowned sites such as Albi, Carcassonne, and the Canal du Midi and to the well-known religious pilgrimage route St James’s Way to Santiago de Compostela, Occitania will not cease to impress.
TOP 5 FOR 2017
The Jazz in Marciac’s 40th anniversary
Every August, Marciac, a small village in Gers, becomes the scene for the well-known international jazz festival Jazz In Marciac. Visitors and jazz lovers can often find themselves side by side with their favourite artist, and this is what sets this musical festival apart. In 2017, the Jazz in Marciac festival will be celebrating its 40th anniversary and is welcoming high-profile stars such as Norah Jones, Wynton Marsalis, Herbie Hancock, Taj Mahal, George Benson, and many more.
Pic du Midi – New Planetarium
Located at 2,877 metres altitude in the Pyrenees, the Pic du Midi is an astronomical observatory and an extraordinary belvedere where one can learn all about the sky. To add to the experience, a new planetarium, the highest in Europe, has been built in the Baillaud Dome. A film retracing the history of the Pic du Midi gives visitors a chance to discover more about the history of an iconic place.
The Nine Locks in Fonséranes
Raising boats up to a height of 21.5 metres, the Nine Locks in Fonséranes are astonishing works of engineering found along the Canal du Midi. New access, parking, restaurants, gift shops, and a new tourist information and interpretation centre are all part of the plans to improve the site and the experience of visitors.
Hiking: GR® 42: From the volcanoes to the Camargue
From the peaks of the Pilat Massif in the Cévennes to the Camargue lagoons, this itinerary proposed by the GR® 42 offers over 20 days of hiking and winds through vines, orchards, picturesque villages, and historic towns. An ideal setting for a hike to remember.
Gastronomy in Occitanie
Winter is a great time to pay Occitanie a visit, especially when one has the opportunity to sample typical regional culinary products such as Armagnac and truffles. Enjoy
NEED TO KNOW
Enjoy the numerous direct flights to various cities of the region from London, Southampton, Bristol, Birmingham, East Midlands, Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dublin, and Cork!
FOR THE DIARY
- Throughout 2017 ‘Astronauts’ at the Cité de l’Espace – Toulouse
- Throughout 2017 Auguste Rodin’s sculptures at the Fenaille Museum – Rodez
- 23 June – 29 October Alexander Calder at the Soulages Museum – Rodez
- 15 July – 30 October Picasso exhibition at the Rigaud Museum – Perpignan
- 16 – 20 October Toulouse – 30th World Congress of Astronauts at the Cité de l’Espace
franceuncovered.com 