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Midi-Pyrenees
The Midi- Pyrénées area is the largest region of metropolitan France, larger than land area than even the country of Denmark.
Located in the south of France, the name refers loosely to the geographical regions to the south of the country, from a Parisian perspective (hence the term “midi”),with reference to the Pyrénées mountains which bound the country’s southernmost area from Spanish soil.
The sweep of Midi- Pyrénées’s landscape is as diverse as its rich history and culture. There are towns that seem to have gone back to a time of the Renaissance, Romanesque churches that betray an ancient solemnity, medieval castles that invite visions of warring factions, as well as acres of farmland where fresh local produce are grown for dinner tables. The mountain ranges which border the locale from Spain are home to winter sports, while the western foothills and rocky landscapes welcome outdoor sports enthusiasts.
Inhabitants of the region, known as Midi-Pyrénéen, share a common culture particular to the blocks of towns and cities in southwest France—a love for the game of rugby, an adventurous spirit often witnessed on snowy mountaintops, a common pride in the aviation industry (with Airbus planes manufactured in Toulouse).
A dynamic regional capital of Toulouse is the economic, political and cultural epicenter—which most locals identify to rival capital Paris in the north.
Regional specialties can be sampled in the many restaurants and bistros in the region, whether one visits the Relais-Château or a quaint local inn. It is no surprise that friendly locals offer visitors a drink of robust locally-grown wines such as Fronton, Gaillac, Cahors and Armagnac with a sliver of Roquefort cheese, complementing mainly rich and hearty fare such as pate de foie gras (goose liver pate) to start, with a bowl of cassoulet (meat and bean pot stew).
