Holidays in the Midi-Pyrenees, France

The Alps may be the mountain capital of Europe but the Pyrenees are no less dramatic and have something for everyone. The Midi-Pyrenees, as the title suggests, sits right in the middle of the mountain range that divides Spain with France. The capital, Toulouse, reflects this dual identity and is one of the most cosmopolitin cities in the whole France. 

Spanning 435km across the southwest of France, northern Spain and Andorra, the landscape varies from herb-scented Mediterranean slopes to dense broadleaf forests, deep river canyons, cool mountain lakes and snow-tipped peaks. The slow pace of life here is blissfully untainted, tourists are few and far between and the region has an authenticity about it that is often hard to come by in The Alps. Inexpensive food and wine, hundreds of hiking trails for all abilities and some of the best river activities in Europe make this a fantastic holiday destination.

For more information on how to reach the Pyrenees by train, see our Rail Journey Planner. The gateway cities are Toulouse and Pau.