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The Midi-Pyrenees region is the largest in France, covering a good section of the south-west corner of the country. It contains 8 separate départements (counties), many rivers, two dialects, and numerous different landscapes including a mountain range.
The region took its current form in 1960, when the French government laid out the regional administrations. Toulouse is the main town, with 650 000 inhabitants, but it has little impact on the many towns and villages which surround it; they are more often associated with the Mediterranean or with Languedoc itself.
It’s a jigsaw puzzle of a region in many ways - it has varying weather and landscapes, and the history of different areas varies too. Its tumultuous past is divided up into the crusades, the 100 years war, the wars of religion, and various secular disputes, which continue to this day. The positive side of this rather violent history is a list of artefacts from the middle ages which is unusually complete. The region is rich in Bastides, magnificent churches, and very interesting old homes.
Gastronomy, wine, and the fine art of good living are all associated with the Midi-Pyrenees region.
The southern accents of our residents warm the hearts of northern tourists. We’re warm and expressive people. Remember, Spain is only just across the border…
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The different Landscapes of the Midi-Pyrénées
With 45 345 km2 of surface area, the region is bigger than either Belgium or Switzerland. It is sparsely populated, with only 2.5 million inhabitants. That’s a population density of 51 people per square kilometre, half the national average.
However, that figure is deceptive, because there are large disparities in the population density. In certain country areas, the figure drops to 10 people per square kilometre. The important factor for visitors to bear in mind is that the region appears to be very open and uncrowded. The main population densities are in the following towns:
Toulouse – 650 000 inhabitants
Tarbes – 50 000
Montauban – 50 000
Albi – 50 000
Rodez – 40 000 (prefecture / main town of L’Aveyron)
Foix – 10 600 (prefecture / main town of Arriège)
Auch – 23 000 (prefecture / main town of the Gers)
Cahors – 23 000 (prefecture / main town of the Lot)
In the Midi – Pyrenees sky, two major influences confront one another: the humid oceanic air from the west, and the dryer Mediterranean winds from the east. Major storms occur when the two meet. Ocean winds lead to wet and warm winters. The further you go east, the colder and dryer the winters get.
Warm “crazy winds” are a feature of the Pyrenees, and the locals claim that it dries out their culture, and annoys their spirit. Warm nights follow, and open windows… the whole region has hot summers, sometimes record-breakers. Spring is usually wet.
The relief of the area provides other variations. The Massif Central is a range of young mountains in the north of the region. To the south, the older Pyrenees mountain range. The relief can be divided into the following 4 categories:
The Highlands of the Massif Central
The Quercy and Rouergue plateaux and valleys
The plains and foothills
The Pyrenees
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1) The Highlands of the Massif Centrale
In the north of the region, between the Lot and L’Aveyron, is the Massif Central mountain range. It’s a land of contrasts, composed of two different kinds of rock: Ségelas (ancient granite), and Causses Plateaux, chalky and not so old. These Causses are permeable to water.
When water enters the rock, it creates caves such as those at Padirac. These chalky plateaux can be seen at Mortel, Gramat, at Séverac, and in Larzac. On the other hand, the impermeable Ségala plateaux are awash with water and are frequently infertile. The persistence of local farmers has meant that, despite this, certain crops are able to grow..
2) The Quercy and Rouergue plateaux and valleys
These vast valleys cross the region from east to west. The Dordogne Valley provides a border to the north, while in the south the Célé Valley follows its course to the Lot.
3) The Plains and Foothills
In the centre of the Midi – Pyrenees region, erosion has accumulated sediments from which hills have been formed. This beautiful landscape is a traditional flour and maize area. The two crops have been rotated since the 17th century to avoid exhausting the same soil. These plains are also excellent growing areas for vines and fruits, not forgetting sunflowers. Cows, pigs, and poultry are also farmed here.
4) The Pyrénées
A true natural barrier between southern France and Spain, the Pyrenees form a powerful range of mountains, which are the weekend home of many a happy Toulousain. As well as ski resorts and spas, there are excellent footpaths and naturally, Spain is easily accessible.
On the mountain roads, each valley is “ruled” by a village, such as Bagnères-de-Bigorre or Argelès-Gazost. Snaking roads link the valleys, while one can only imagine the misery of the cyclists in the Tour de France as they race their way up hills on which even your car has to struggle !
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