Pyrenees Holiday Accommodation

Consider a Midi-Pyrenees Holiday for Your Next Family or Couple's Break

Created artificially in the 1970s, the Midi-Pyrénées region is the largest, in area, in all of France. In fact, this region is larger than the Netherlands, yet it has a population of fewer than 3 million, with over 1 million of those inhabitants living in its largest city, Toulouse. Being created recently, the region itself does not have a common, distinct history; however, the area and each of the cities and communes that make up the Midi-Pyrénées has its own history and culture. With so many appealing towns and villages to visit, as well as your choice of numerous luxury gites, Pyrenees visitors simply cannot go wrong when opting for a self catering Pyrenees holiday.

Three sectors make up the economy of the region: agricultural, industrial and service. Over 60,000 farms are located in Midi-Pyrénées, producing primarily wine, cattle and crops. A second equally important sector is industrial and there are many large firms with offices in this region, including IBM, Siemens and Bosch. Lastly, there is quite a bit of service located in the Midi-Pyrénées region, including France Telecom.

When choosing a home base for a self catering Pyrenees holiday, you may want to consider Cahors, which is a major producer of Merlot and Malbec varietals and is well-known for its tumultuous history. Cahors has seen its fair share of conflict over the years, playing prominent roles in the Hundred Years War and the Wars of Religion. It is also known for being the birthplace of Pope John XXII in 1249.

If you are more interested in Pyrenees holidays that focus on skiing or snowboarding, you may want to consider the town of Cauterets, which is located at 3300 metres (10,830 feet) and is a favourite among avid skiers who flock there every winter to challenge the slopes. When choosing a self catering Pyrenees ski holiday in Cauterets, you can also take advantage of the many thermal springs in the area, said to aid those suffering from rheumatism, skin ailments and respiratory illness, including asthma.

For many Catholics, Pyrenees holidays are not complete without a stop in Lourdes, which is a popular pilgrimage destination where Mary Magdalene both lived and died in one of the caves in the area. Many flock to Lourdes to see her head, which is prominently displayed in the basement of the cathedral. Another popular holiday town is Souillac, which is known for its water park, seven viaducts and 12th century abbey, and is where you will find many wonderful gites Pyrenees, given its close proximity to Dordogne and Lourdes. You will surely thank yourself when you are able to return to the tranquil town of Souillac after a long day of touring the larger towns in the area.

Although rather tiny in size, Pouy-Roquelaure offers a themed water park, the Walibi Fun Park and lots of tennis, horseback riding and boating, making it another fine option for self catering Pyrenees holidays. Many also enjoy travelling to the town of Mauroux for its annual beer festival each year in August. Of course, Pyrenees holidays are not complete without a stop in Toulouse, where visitors will find architecture dating back to the 11th century, including the famous Romanesque Saint-Sernin Basilica.