The Midi-Pyrenees region of France offers one of the most varied, and interesting, environments to be found anywhere in France.

To the north, the Aveyron and Lot departments offer steep wooded valleys with attractive medieval towns and beautiful countryside. As you head south the countryside becomes more gentle at first, especially in the gently rolling sunflower fields of the Gascony department, before changing dramatically as you get closer to the Spanish border - here it is high mountain territory, with small villages huddled against the winter weather and dramatically beautiful scenery.

Choosing selected highlights in such a diverse environment is difficult, because it depends whether you prefer medieval towns and villages or snow topped mountains, but here are a few of our selected favourites across the Midi-Pyrenees region:

Conques

The village of Conques is in the Aveyron department, ans has been an important pilgrimage centre since the early Middle Ages. Apart from Conques Abbey, the village itself is small but perfectly formed and there is no recent development of any kind to spoil the impression that a visitor has stepped back 500 years in time

Cahors

Also to the north of the Midi-Pyrenees, the town of Cahors has rather too much modern development around the ages but has a highlight that makes it unmissable when you explore the region: the Pont Valentre bridge. In medieval times bridges often had defensive gateways so they could act as both transport routes and as town defences. over the centuries the defences were usually unnecessary and removed, but the Pont valentre in Cahors has retained it's original sturdy stone gateways, and is now one of the most beautiful bridges in Europe.

Cordes

There are numerous fine villages in the Midi-Pyrenees region and it's impossible to say which is the most beautiful, but Cordes-sur-Ciel is a contender. A medieval settlement dramatically situated on a hilltop it has numerous ancient half-timbered buildings to discover, and spectaculat views across the surrunding countryside to enjoy as well.

Toulouse

One of the most vibrant university towns in France, much of the centre of the city is built in the trademark small red bricks of the region. These are especially attractive in the sunshine, but any time of year the city has an extraordinary number of fine buildings to discover and enjoy. Toulouse also has a great 'cafe culture' and you will be tempted to spend hours just sitting at a cafe terrace and watching the world go by.

Cirque de Gavernie

Practically as far south as the Spanish border, and deep in the Pyrenees mountains, the Cirque de Gavarnie is quite slow to get to but when you arrive you are greeted by one of nature's great spectacles - a wall of rock in the mountains that encircles the visitor and overpowers the senses with its sheer size.

The places above are just a tiny selection of the many places that you will enjoy visiting in the Midi-Pyrenees, so be sure to allow plenty of time to make the most of your visit.