40 Pictures to inspire you to visit Occitanie

Last Updated on 04/07/2026 by Mayi

Occitanie only exists only since January 2016 when the regions Languedoc-Roussillon and Midi-Pyrénées merged together. With 13 departments, it is the largest region of France so is full of diverse landscape and rich culture. You can see most of the French diverse geography without even leaving the region!  

Occitanie is a gorgeous location and I wished I had visited sooner. From the Mediterranean cities like Montpellier, Sete, to the former Roman cities as Nimes; you are bound to find something to your liking.

It’s great visiting any time of the year and most cities/towns are lucky enough to have sun all year around. The area enjoys stunning springs, sunny summers, gorgeous autumns and warmer winters.

From the breathtaking Mediterranean coastline to famous food (think cassoulet), wines, medieval castles and villages full of character, Occitanie is a place like no other.

I first arrived in Toulouse and since I was exploring the city for the first time, I took a guided tour with Toulouse Greeters. There is no better way to explore a new city than with your own personal guide! I would highly recommend checking out their website if you want to explore the city like a local. The highlights of my trip including the tour were wandering along the Canal du Midi and the Japanese Garden. I enjoyed how peaceful both places were and they were the perfect spot for a relaxing afternoon away from the sun.

My next step after Toulouse was the Meditteranean city of Montpellier where I enjoyed wandering through the old quarter of Ecusson and exploring Montpellier’s street art scene.

Last on my little tour of Occitanie was the old town of Béziers. As one of the most ancient towns in all of Europe, Béziers is the perfect destination for an off the beaten track place.

Occitanie is such an interesting region. There is always something more to see and explore like Albi, Nimes and Carcassonne.

I hope these pictures will inspire you to visit Occitanie. If you have already travelled to the region, I would love to hear from you. What was your favourite place?

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Where to Go in Occitanie: A Quick Tour

If these pictures have tempted you, here is how the region fits together. Toulouse, the rose-brick “Pink City”, makes the natural gateway, with Albi and its colossal brick cathedral an easy day trip away. History lovers should head for the medieval citadel of Carcassonne and Roman Narbonne, while the Mediterranean side of the region belongs to lively Montpellier, canal-side Sète and one-day-wonder Béziers. Inland, the Cévennes and the Pyrenees deliver the wild landscapes in these photos — my full Occitanie region guide ties it all together.

When to Visit Occitanie

Occitanie is one of the sunniest corners of France, so the season matters less than you’d think. Spring and early autumn are ideal for city-hopping and photography — warm light, open terraces, thinner crowds — while high summer is best spent on the coast or in the mountains. Even winter has its charms, with crisp blue skies over Toulouse’s brick façades and Carcassonne’s towers to yourself.

How to Explore the Region

The rail network links Toulouse, Carcassonne, Narbonne, Béziers and Montpellier along one convenient line, which is exactly the axis my own trip followed. For the villages, abbeys and viewpoints between them, a car opens up the best of the countryside — and in a region this size (the largest in France, spanning 13 departments), you will never run out of road. Slow travellers should consider following the plane-tree-lined Canal du Midi — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — which threads from Toulouse to the Mediterranean past locks, vineyards and impossibly photogenic villages.

Written by

Mayi

Mayi is the writer and photographer behind SecretMoona — a space for travellers who care more about culture and quiet corners than tick-box sights. She writes honest, first-hand guides to France, Japan and beyond, a journey that began with a solo trip to Japan in 2017.

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