Local Tourism Notes

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Local Tourism Notes

The staff at most tourist offices are able to speak competent English. You will find them very helpful with all tourism questions as well as questions on public transport and more. If you're in need of some help, they're always worth asking.

Tourist Offices are also able to provide general information on their area, much of it as appropriate to the resident as to the visitor. If you want to know about fairs, markets, concerts and other events in your area the Tourist Office is bound to have information, brochures and flyers.

• To find listings of all local tourist offices in the Midi-Pyrénées see The AngloFILE: Midi-Pyrénées Tourist Offices 
• See the website of the French Government Tourism (in English).
• Regional Tourism authorities have comprehensive websites in English: see here

Airports in the Midi-Pyrénées

• To find out about the airports serving the south western France and the Gascony region, flight information, access or lost luggage, see this AngloINFO INFOrmation Page: Midi-Pyrénées Airport Contacts
• To find out about airlines flying to the Midi-Pyrénées see The AngloFILE: Airlines, Scheduled Flights & Charter 

Where To Stay

The region offers a wide variety of accommodation, with options ranging from camping to Bed & Breakfast accommodation, hotels and stays in private gîtes.

• See the INFOrmation Page on Holiday Accommodation Options to find out more about the type of accommodation available in France
• See The AngloFILE for Hotels & Holiday Accommodation

Ski Resorts

The Pyrenees mountain range runs along the border between France and Spain, with the small country of Andorra nestling in the middle. The mountain range is 400km long and 70km wide stretching from the Atlantic in the west to the Mediterranean in the East. There are lots of ski resorts on both sides of the border and the Midi-Pyrénées has 38 ski stations offering over 1,000km of pisted skiing!

• See the AngloINFO INFOrmation Page page Skiing in the French Pyrenees

Viaduc de Millau

The Millau viaduct is the world's tallest vehicular bridge spanning the Tarn river valley in the Aveyron (12). The bridge is a part of the new A75 motorway, linking Paris to Clemont-Ferrand and Béziers. The French engineer Michel Virlogeux designed the bridge in collaboration with British architect Norman Foster. The viaduct was opened in December 2004. At its tallest point, 341m, it is just 40m shorter than the Empire State Building yet taller than the Eiffel Tower.

Food and Drink

South Western France is famous for its diverse cuisine. The Basque country produces a local chilli called Piment d'Espelette (Ezpeletako Biperra) or which is used to spice up local dishes that have a distinctly Spanish influence. Toulouse is famous for its thick pork sausages, which are a key ingredient for a cassoulet stew of white beans, sausages, and goose or duck fat and local meat. Goats' cheese is another product of the region as well as the blue Roquefort cheese. Truffles and various wild mushrooms grow in the wild in the forests of the Midi-Pyrénées. Above all, the area is famous for fois gras, a pâté made from enlarged goose or duck liver. The area is also famous for fine wines and cognac.

Toulouse

Toulouse is the capital of the Midi-Pyrénées region and one of the fastest growing cities in Europe. Originally built over the Garonne River, the Canal du Midi was subsequently constructed beside the city. It is the fourth largest city in France with aerospace and high-tech industries creating most of the economic activity. Toulouse is a major cultural centre and is packed with museums, galleries and interesting architecture and sights as well as a world famous university. 

It is known as the Ville Rose, the pink city, because of the distinctive stone which was used to build the old town. Toulouse is also home to the famous football (TFC) and rugby clubs (Stade Toulousian).

Regional Tourist Offices

Regional tourism authorities have comprehensive websites in English providing much useful information. 

The main Tourist offices are:

• Ariege Tourism
  At: 31 bis ave. Generale de Gaulle, 09004 Foix
  Tel: 05 61 02 30 70
  Fax: 05 61 65 17 34
  e-mail
  Website
• Aveyron Tousim
  At: 17 rue Aristide Briand, 12008 Rodez
  Tel: 05 65 75 55 70
  Fax: 05 65 75 55 71
  e-mail
  Website
• Gers Tourism
  At: Maison Departementale du tourisme, 7 rue Diderot, 32002 Auch
  Tel: 05 62 05 95 95
  Fax: 05 62 05 02 16
  e-mail
  Website
• Haute Garonne Tourism
  At: 14 rue Bayard, 31015 Toulouse
  Tel: 05 61 99 44 00
  e-mail
  Website
• Haute-Pyrenees Tourism
  At: 6 rue Eugene Tenot, 65000 Tarbes
  Tel: 05 62 56 70 65
  Fax: 05 62 56 70 66
  e-mail
  Website
• Lot Tourism
  At: 107 quai Cavaignac, 46001 Cahors
  Tel: 05 65 35 07 09
  Fax: 05 65 23 92 76
  e-mail 
  Website
• Tarn Tourism
  At: 41 rue Porta, 81006 Albi
  Tel: 05 63 77 32 10
  Fax: 05 63 77 32 32
  e-mail
• Office of Tourism for the Tarn and Garonne
  At: 7 boulevard Midi-Pyrenees, 82005 Montauban
  Tel: 05 63 21 79 09
  Fax: 05 63 66 80 36
  e-mail
  Website
• Regional Committee for Tourism in Midi Pyrénées
  At: 54, bd de l'Embouchure, 31022 Toulouse.
  Tel: 05 61 13 55 55 | | WEB SITE
  Fax: 05 61 47 17 16
  Website

Selected tourism websites:

• French Web Portals (in The AngloFILE)
• Midi-Pyrénées Tourist Offices (in The AngloFILE)
• French Ministry of Tourism The facts about tourism in France (in French)
• Maison de la France International guide to tourism in France
• Tourism in France