Best Places to Visit in Southwest France

Best Places to Visit in Southwest France

Wine, world-class food, breathtaking architecture and a little off the tourist track: if y'all want to see a fresh side to France, then it's well worth heading West rather than East when travelling to the Southward. Here'due south how to spend the perfect 2 weeks in S Due west French republic itinerary; a guide to the all-time places to visit in the French regions of Occitanie and Nouvelle-Aquitaine.

From the off the browbeaten path metropolis of Limoges, to the bright lights of foodie Bordeaux, this guide is all about French gastronomy, history, and the best this area of fifty'Hexagon has to offer. If you're like me and wish to meet the more touristic places, also as discover a different side of France, then this itinerary is for you!

Limoges, Bordeaux, Toulouse, and Beziers all accept international airports, meaning that getting to the s of French republic couldn't be easier. Budget airlines run to all of them. While Bordeaux, Toulouse, and Beziers all have public transport to-and-from the airport, it's worth noting that to accomplish the middle of Limoges from the airport, you'll demand to gild a taxi. Otherwise, all stops along this route are like shooting fish in a barrel to reach via train!

Limoges

Stay: 1 night

Where to stay:Hôtel Campanile Limoges Heart Gare

The ancient city of Limoges can be found towards the very heart of France, in a place far removed from the ocean and surrounded by French vineyards. Habitation to a historic city heart, some of the best things to do in this off the browbeaten path French city include visiting the urban center's historic cathedral, also every bit wandering around the beautiful timber-framed commune of the Quartier de la Boucherie.

While the city is well worthy of your time, most of its fundamental attractions tin can be seen over the form of a day, meaning that you'll merely need to spend a dark in the city. The Musée des Beaux-Arts is home to lots of local archaeological finds and the Jardin Botanique de l'Eveche is the perfect identify to admire the city from above.

Read more than: Here's why y'all need to visit Limoges ASAP

Bordeaux

Stay: two nights

Where to stay: Yndo Hôtel

Quite literally known as the vino region of France, once upon a time, Bordeaux was known as the upper-case letter of a principality during the 14th-century. And that's non where the history ends. Instead, the city was known as Burdigala during the Classical Era, and was fifty-fifty office of the Kingdom of England for around three hundred years.

Full of compages dating back to the Center Ages as well as an incredible nutrient scene (did I mention that Bordeaux is one of the tiptop foodie restaurants in France?), you could hands spend several days getting to know the urban center.

Highlights of Bordeaux include a wine-tasting visit to the Cité du Vin, splashing around in the largest reflective pool in the world, the Miroir d'Eau, and seeing some impressive medieval history (the gothic cathedral and the Porte Cailhau).

Read more: Hidden gems of Bordeaux, Southern France

Essential bout: two hour river dinner cruise

Saint-Emilion

Stay: 1 nighttime

Where to stay: Hostellerie de Plaisance

Although you lot could visit Saint-Emilion as a 24-hour interval trip from Bordeaux, in order to make the virtually of your fourth dimension in this fairytale town, I recommend instead spending an overnight in the city so equally to soak up as much of the ambience of the place equally possible. Surrounded past vineyards, be sure non to miss sunrise or sunset in this stunning identify.

Perched atop a limestone clifftop in the Dordogne region, the magical town of Saint-Emilion is known around the world for its world-form wine and no trip to South W France would be complete without a visit here. Even if you lot're non a fan of vino, there are nonetheless plenty of things to encounter and practice in the city in the form of catacombs and cobbled lanes.

Read more: Breathtakingly beautiful places to visit in France

Agen

Stay: 1 night

Where to stay: Hostellerie de Plaisance

Situated on the train line, right between Bordeaux and Toulouse, the often disregarded city of Agen is a historical precious stone of museums, galleries, and timber-framed houses. Also domicile to a hermitage overlooking the city (a nearby viewing platform makes for the best views of Agen), the best-known characteristic of this tiny city is the Agen Channel, the 2d longest channel in France.

Just as in Bordeaux, Agen (pronounced 'ah-gen') is located forth the mighty River Garonne and can be plant in the region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine. Other highlights of Agen include the city's frescoed Cathedral, besides as the Musée des Beaux-Arts which is housed within a turreted one-time Maison Particulier.

Read more: Best things to do in Agen, Southward Due west France

Toulouse

Stay: 2 nights

Where to stay: La Cour des Consuls

Known in French as 'La Ville Rose', Toulouse is one of the largest cities in France and then merits a 2-night stay (or more) inside this Southward-West French republic itinerary. And so-called considering of the pink-hued bricks which are used to construct many of the more famous buildings in the city, there's no shortage of interesting and quirky attractions when it comes to Toulouse.

Toulouse is all-time-visited over the course of several days because of the sheer size of the city, as well as the number of cultural sites to see and off the beaten path locations.

Some of the elevation things to do in Toulouse include wandering effectually the Saint Sernin Basilica (1 of the largest basilicas in Europe), as well as seeing where the relics of St Thomas of Aquinas now lie in the Couvent des Jacobins.

Read more: Where to find the best secret spots in Toulouse!

Essential tour ii.5-Hr Private Walking Bout of Toulouse

Carcassonne

Stay: 1 nighttime

Where to stay: Hotel de la Cité

The ancient city of Carcassonne is best known for its historic city centre which was heavily restored (and made more 'magical') by the architect Viollet-le-Duc in the 19th-century. Walled, fortified, and now considered a UNESCO world heritage site, no trip to South West France would be consummate without a stopover in Carcassonne.

The history of the nearly famous medieval walled urban center in France dates all the way back to the Neolithic Flow and the place was even used during the Roman menstruation as a fortified location. Head here, and yous're guaranteed to feel as though you've stepped dorsum in time and been transported right into the Heart Ages. Merely be sure to bring your photographic camera along- you'll surely want to snap a fair few photos forth the mode!

Read more: Breathtakingly beautiful places to visit in France

Essential tour: ii-Hr Private Walking Tour of Carcassonne

Narbonne

Stay: 1 night

Where to stay: Hôtel de France Narbonne

Narbonne is a former Roman port city which at present lies some 15 km away from the shoreline. What was once a seafaring town is now a celebrated metropolis filled with cobbled lanes, architecture dating dorsum to the middle ages, and a myriad of restaurants and bistros serving traditional French fare.

Although the town, which also happens to be the birthplace of iconic singer Charles Trenet (search for thursday song 'La Mer!'), has little by manner of attractions in comparison with larger French cities, the amuse of the place lies in its off the beaten track nature, as well as stunning houses and quintessentially French compages. And I personally have to say that of all the destinations I've visited in South Due west France, Narbonne ranks among my top 3 favourites!

Read more: The complete Narbonne travel guide!

Beziers

Stay: 1 nighttime

Where to stay: 50'Hotel Particulier Beziers

All-time-known for its imposing and fortified citadel-similar Cathedral, Beziers is often disregarded in favour of more famous nearby neighbours such as the seaside resort of Agde. However, if you're looking to see a side of France which fewer tourists venture to, then the city is well worth exploring over the grade of a day or 2.

Some of the very best things to practice in Beziers include wandering around the ix stepped locks of the Fonserannes (which are now part of the designated Culvert du Midi UNESCO world heritage site), seeing the historic middle of the city, and learning nigh Cathar history.

Read more: Where to find the best view in Beziers

Montpellier

Stay: two nights

Where to stay: Baudon de Mauny

Montpellier is one of the larger cities in France, meaning that the city is home to a multitude of confined, cafés, bistros, and cultural attractions. Although the urban center is sprawling in size, many of the main highlights of Montpellier can be found in the rather condensed historic urban center heart.

Best-seen on foot, this maze of cobbled lanes, ecclesiastical buildings, and small-scale museums should be seen over the class of several days. While in Montpellier, be certain to likewise run across the Place de la Comédie, where much of the metropolis's action is centred around.

On your second mean solar day, be sure to make the trip to the fringes of the urban center to enjoy 1 of the most beautiful castles in France, Château des Flaguergues.

Read more: Free & cocky-guided Montpellier walking tour

Essential tour:Wine & Food Solar day Trip to Pic Saint-Loup

Nîmes

Stay: one night

Where to stay: Hôtel Jardins Secrets

The Roman city of Nimes tin can be found in the Occitanie region of France and is filled with Roman ruins. Midway between the Cévennes mountains and the Mediterranean Sea, the town is often referred to as the 'French Rome' thank you to its impressive well-preserved Nîmes Arena and the Maison Carée (a stunning aboriginal building consummate with Roman temple facçade).

Essential tour: Pont du Gard, Uzès & Nîmes- five-Hour Bout with Entry Fees

Things to know earlier visiting Due south West France for the get-go time

In more off the beaten path cities such as Beziers and Narbonne, though many people working in the tourist industry will still speak English, you'll probable want a simple French phrasebook with you similar this ane if you're planning to frequent any non-touristy restaurants or cafés.

Although you can rent a auto to undertake this ii weeks in South West French republic itinerary, all of the destinations listed inside this guide have their own train stations with easy links to the rest of France.

As such, a auto is not really necessary, and you most certainly won't desire to be driving in some of the larger cities like Toulouse and Bordeaux. With this being said, if y'all want to become to smaller off the beaten towns, then you lot'll probably demand a car. Check here for the best car rental comparisons.

Finally, you'll desire to bring a universal travel adaptor with you like this 1 as French plug sockets are dissimilar from what y'all'll exist used to dorsum domicile! Still groovy on learning a little about this beautiful region of France? This introduction to the history of France explores 50'Hexagon from the time of the Romans, right up until more modern times.

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Best Places to Visit in Southwest France

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