Majestic peaks, rolling hills and vineyards, rivers and lakes, and the nearby Atlantic

The Pyrenees

Mountains, ski areas, nature reserves, pilgrimage destinations: the Pyrenees are a region of extremes. There are still real shepherds here and unique wildness that is rarely experienced in Europe anymore.

The High Pyrenees are extremely sparsely populated, mass tourism has not yet arrived here and rare languages such as Basque and Occitan have been preserved on the edges of the region.

Well-known rivers such as the Garonne originate in the Pyrenees; they have not only dug valleys into the mountains, sometimes they have also flowed underground. The largest cave created by an underground river is the Grotte de Lombrives, fourteen kilometers long and an impressive eighty meter high cathedral.

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Cirque de Gavarnie

The unique Cirque de Gavarnie basin has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. At this impressive location, huge waterfalls fall from the rock walls, including the spectacular Gavarnie Waterfall, which, at 413 meters high, is the highest waterfall in France.

The local flora and fauna in this nature reserve is particularly rich — the more than 200 plant species listed include edelweiss, lily, blue thistle, quarrel and butterwort. Hikers have the opportunity to watch groundhogs, chamois, hares and birds of prey such as golden eagles, griffon vultures and muddy vultures.

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Tuscany of France

In southwestern Occitania, the Tuscany of France stretches across rolling hills: the Gers, the historic Gascony.

The picturesque Baïse and Gers rivers invite you to go on boat trips and fishing trips. In summer, sunflowers glow on the Gers hills, always with a view of the impressive Pyrenees when visibility is good.

The Madiran, Saint-Mont and Toursan wine regions and the Armagnac region characterize the Gers. The Gers is also home to the legendary D'Artagnan, the king's most famous musketeer, who was born in Lupiac.

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Bay of Biscay

As wide and large as the Bay of Biscay is, so varied are its landscapes. There are rugged coasts, shallow sandy beaches, wide estuaries, big cities, small fishing nests and in the hinterland some of the most famous wine-growing regions of all.

The most famous towns near the Spanish-French border are San Sebastián on the one hand, Biarritz on the French side, renowned holiday resorts, sophisticated spots of serenity, relaxation and enjoyment.

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These were just a few examples of the diverse natural riches of southwestern France that will enrich your trip.