Midi West Epic, Explores The Midi-Pyrénées

Midi West Epic, Explores The Midi-Pyrénées. Landlocked between the Atlantic coast and the Mediterranean, the Midi-Pyrénées was once the largest administrative region in metropolitan France, covering an area larger than the Netherlands, Denmark or even Switzerland. That was until 2016 when this beautiful part of south-west France was merged into neighbouring Languedoc to become the new super-region Occitanie.

Town and country 

Bordered by Languedoc and Aquitaine, the Midi-Pyrénées had been ‘founded’ only as recently as the 70s, forming an administrative entity around the regional capital of Toulouse – France’s fourth largest city. Unlike other parts of France, the Midi- Pyrénées was made up of a number of ancient regions. There was historic Gascony with its medieval bastide towns and luscious countryside of gently rolling hills and plains which rise up to become the foothills of the magnificent Pyrénées. To the north lies unspoilt Quercy where yet more history abounds in small towns around the meandering River Lot. Then there are parts of the ancient provinces of Guyenne, Languedoc, the Albigeois and county of Foix. Altogether, it’s a rich mix of small towns, oak forests, winding rivers and limestone gorges as well as the Pyrénées mountains. Known as La Ville Rose, Toulouse used distinctive pinky-red stone to construct many of its buildings. Today this cosmopolitan city is awash with culture, art, industry (particularly aerospace) and striking architecture plus an ever increasing reputation for good food. It’s the only big city in what is otherwise a region of small towns, villages and luscious countryside

The Midi menu 

Some of the richest and most productive agricultural areas of France lie in this area, producing maize, sunflowers, wheat and wine. That also means a melange of taste and flavours when it comes to the food. Of course, I have to mention cassoulet – the famous stew with haricot beans, duck and Toulouse sausage. As you’d expect for France, the rules relating to the Toulouse sausage are strict; it must be free from colouring, preservatives and additives, and contain just pork meat, salt and pepper. Toulouse is also famous for violets; you can buy violet-flavoured sweets and even mustard and vinegar here, as well as crystallised petals. Also on the Midi-Pyrenean menu you’ll find aligot – mashed potatoes with cheese akin to fondue, the perfect, calorie-ridden accompaniment for those wonderful sausages. Fields of crocuses are harvested by hand in October around the Lot to collect threads of delicious saffron. Then there’s Quercy lamb – the first produce in France to obtain the Label Rouge, an official sign of quality assurance. Garbure is another treat, a hearty local stew packed with cabbage, potato, beans and carrots and pork or duck. Indeed, duck seems to be packed into everything around here – except ice cream! One day I know I’ll find that on a menu somewhere. This is black truffle country too. It’s fascinating to visit a marché aux truffes where the biggest thing on display seems to be the weighing scales! Truffles naturally go well with the local foie gras, of course. Once you’ve waded through some of this hearty fare, a little apple tart to finish might be just the answer, flavoured with the local armagnac, the digestif of choice in these parts. And I’d better not forget to put a slice of the famed Roquefort cheese into the mix with its more than heady aroma – you can visit the caves where these cheeses are matured in Aveyron.

Midi map 

There are many wonderful towns and villages to visit and explore in the Midi-Pyrénées. North east of Toulouse, Albi is one such place. Its red-bricked cathedral dominates the old town and, together with the Pont Vieux over the Tarn, it’s an UNESCO World Heritage site. It’s worth coming here just to visit the Toulouse Lautrec Museum with more than a thousand works, including his evocative posters, sited in the former Bishop’s Palace. The town of Castres boasts the Goya Museum of Spanish Painting while Rodez is another romantic medieval city noted for its pink sandstone buildings. The capital of Aveyron, it’s not far from the famed Millau Viaduct, the world’s highest road bridge and one of the modern-day wonders of the world; on some days you can actually drive over the clouds below! Rocamadour is one of the many beautiful villages. A major pilgrimage site, it clings to the side of the valley and retains its charm despite the many tourists who flock here each year.

sources:  French Porperty News, June 2018

 

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