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Holidays in the Midi-Pyrenees region of South West France.

With the Pyrenees Mountains as a backdrop, stunning landscapes of the Tarn and Aveyron gorges and the sheer diversity of the region, it is no surprise that the Midi-Pyrenees is a popular holiday destination.

France is still the number one holiday destination, attracting over 80 million visitors from all over the world.  The 2008 season saw an increase in numbers despite economic worries and the Midi-Pyrenees region has also benefited.

The Midi-Pyrenees is a diverse region, covering an area of 45,348 km2, but with a population of just over two and a half million people.  Much of the region is very rural and it is very easy to spend a whole day here and barely see another person.

In the south, there is the obvious draw of the Pyrenees Mountains, a mecca for skiers and snow-boarders during the winter months, but also very popular with mountain bikers and walkers.  The southern departments of Haute-Pyrenees and Ariege occupy the majority of the mountainous area, with a small section of the mountains in the Haute-Garonne department.

The Gers department is very rural with lots of small sleepy villages and bastides.  This is the ideal location for a get away from it all holiday.  For more hustle and bustle, head to the Haute-Garonne, with the regional capital of Toulouse.  Known as the Pink City because of the colour of the brick used for many of the buildings in the city.  Even Toulouse rugby team play in a pink strip in honour of the cities name, something I think you are unlikely to see in the UK!

To the north east of the region, the Tarn offers some well known sights, such as the Millau Viaduct.  The town used to be a bottleneck to be avoided on the way south, but now attracts visitors in its own right to view the magnificent viaduct, crossing the Tarn Gorge.  The area is also close to the Mediterranean, giving the best of both worlds.

Aveyron has its own mountainous area which is part of the Massif Central and a number of small ski resorts.  The area is not particularly high or snow sure, but is extremely popular with walkers and cyclists.

The Lot and Tarn-et-Garonne departments are next to the better known Dordogne area and although less popular with the British market, have a huge amount to offer the visitor.  Rocamadour is a stunning cliff face village that is a must visit if in the area and nearby are a number of large caves.

Have a look at some of the articles on Guide2Midi-Pyrenees to get ideas for your next visit to the Midi-Pyrenees region.

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Check out Guide2MidiPyrenees for Property in Midi-Pyrenees, Events, News,Classifieds, Places to Stay, Midi-Pyrenees Attractions and Midi-Pyrenees Businesses.