Experienced agents with houses for sale in all areas of Midi Pyrenees

The Midi Pyrenees is the largest region in France with a total area of over 45,000 km2. The metropolitan area around Toulouse is densely populated but parts of the region are remote with the lowest areas averaging just 12 inhabitants per square kilometre. The region is made up of eight departments ranging from the northern limits which border the Dordogne & Correze to the southern limits which border Spain.

Ariege
The Ariege takes after the river of the same name and has the medieval town of Foix as its capital. The Pyrenees mountains form a fantastic backdrop to this beautiful department and it is one of the least populated and most unspoilt areas of France. There are a number of fresh water lakes which make it perfect for fishing, canoeing, sailboarding or simply having a picnic. The mountains offer terrific skiing, snow boarding, hiking and biking.

Aveyron
The Aveyron is one of the original departments created during the French revolution in 1790, its administrative capital is the ancient and historic town of Rodez. The department is famous for the quality and beauty of the cathedrals, castles and monasteries - the abbey in Conques sits astride one of the most beautiful villages in Europe. The Millau bridge is the tallest in the world and attracts visitors throughout the year - it is truly a stunning piece of architecture.

Gers
The Gers is another department named after the river that flows through it. The capital, Auch, is named after the tribe that lived there before the Romans came in 50BC and the cathedral in the city centre is a sight to behold. This is an agricultural department, famous for Armagnac which is the oldest brandy distilled in France. Other specialities include foie gras and the wines produced from the famous Cotes de Gascogne vineyards.

Haute-Garonne
The Haute-Garonne is home to the vibrant and important city of Toulouse, home of the European airspace industry. As such the city has a growing population (over 1m in the greater area) and a business district that drives the regional economy. It also boasts one of the most prestigious and popular universities in France. Outside its capital the Haute-Garonne also boasts four ski resorts and some beautiful countryside.

Hautes-Pyrenees
The Hautes-Pyrenees is composed of several distinct geographical areas. The southern part borders Spain and is mountainous while the northern territory is flatland and agricultural. The capital of the department is Tarbes which is second only to Toulouse in size within the region. The Pic du Midi mountain is home to a world famous observatory which dates back to 1908. The area boasts some famous ski resorts as well as the mythical Col du Tourmalet which is a near permanent fixture on the Tour de France route.

Lot
This department is named after the beautiful river Lot and boasts a large number of pretty and historic villages. The capital of the department is Cahors, a town that was prominent in the middle ages and is famous for it's medieval centre and beautiful 14th century bridge that spans the river and dates back to the 1300's. Other, larger, towns worth visiting in the Lot are Figeac and Prayssac.

Tarn
The department of the tarn was formed in 1790 of the three dioceses of Albi, Castres and Lavaur, indeed Albi remains the capital of the department. The Tarn boasts three mountain ranges including the famous "black mountains" and it hosts some beautiful towns and villages. The centre of the capital city of Albi is a UNESCO heritage site and the towns of Castres, Gaillac and Cordes are all well worth visiting.

Tarn et Garonne
The rivers Tarn and Garonne give this department its distinctive name. The Tarn is 381 km long and the Garonne flows for 602km's. The capital of the department is Montauban which lies 50km's north of Toulouse and sits on the right bank of the river Tarn. Montauban is the second oldest "Bastide" town in southern France with foundations dating back to 1144.

The Midi Pyrenees boasts a wide range of architecture and house prices. The average house price in the region is €172,000 but this only tells a small part of the story. Set out below are average prices within each department as well as a look at house price fluctuations in 2010/11.

Ariege - average price of €115,000 with a 10.2% increase in 2010/11. Best value to be found around St Girons
Aveyron - average price of €127,500 with a 2.8% increase in 2010/11. Premium prices are paid around Rodez
Gers - average price of €150,000 with a 10.7% increase in 2010/11. Premium prices are paid around Auch
Haute-Garonne - average price of €235,000 with a 6.7% increase in 2010/11. Premium prices are paid around Toulouse
Haute-Pyrenees - average price of €145,000 with a 3.2% increase in 2010/11. Lowest prices to be found around Bagneres de Bigorre
Lot - average price of €134,000 with a 2.1% increase in 2010/11. Premium prices are paid around Cahors
Tarn - average price of €138,800 with a 7.3% increase in 2010/11. Best value to be found around Castres
Tarn et Garonne - average price of €150,000 with a 4.1% increase in 2010/11. Premium prices are paid around Montauban

The thrill of skiing and snowboarding in the Midi Pyrenees remains largely undiscovered, enjoyed by locals and those "in the know". You can ski or snowboard fresh pistes without the crowds you get in the Alps, or ski cross country whilst enjoying tree lined routes and spectacular panoramic views.

There are over 50 specialist ski resorts to choose from and huge investment over recent years has created fast, efficient lift systems to rival the best worldwide resorts. As the local "comité du tourisme" says:

"Some are made up of several smaller resorts, for example the ‘Domaine du Tourmalet’ which is composed of two resorts, Barèges and La Mongie. This is the largest ski resort in the Pyrenees with 69 trails and 43 lifts. The resort has around 100 kilometres of slopes and peaks that go up to 2,500 meters. Other large and medium-sized resorts are those of Les Angles, Luz-Ardiden, Peyragudes, Piau-Engaly, Font-Romeu and Ax-3. For those specialist free riders, the Pic du Midi is a great place to ‘shread’, offering an exceptional and unique descent of the Pyrenees".

But activities in the Midi Pyrenees are more than just first class skiing. The previously mentioned Col du Tourmalet is one of the most famous climbs in the Tour de France and enthusiasts can be seen grinding their way up the mountain throughout the summer months. The western side is 19km's long with an average gradient of 7.4% and the efforts on the ascent are more than made up for by the views from the top and the breathtaking descent down the other side. The mountains offer easier (but still challenging) cycling and are also superb for rock climbing and caving.

There are also over 2,000 km's of waterways in the region for you to kayak, canoe, raft, tube or simply swim.

Golfers are well catered for with almost 40 courses to choose from ranging from the 18 holf "Golf de l'Ariege" with views over the mountains to the championship "Golf de Lannemezan" close to Toulouse which has narrow fairways and over 4,500 trees for your ball to nestle behind!

Whether you are sat at a Michelin starred restaurant or simply taking the "plat de jour" in your local bistro you will find that fresh, local, produce plays a big part of your meal in the Midi Pyrenees.

If kicking off your meal with an aperitif you may well be offered red or white "Floc de Gascogne", which combines fresh grape juice with Armagnac. It's likely that Foie Gras will be on the menu as a starter, you may not be so familiar with "Garbure" though - this is a rich soup containing pork, beans, cabbages and potatoes.

Toulouse is seen as the home of "Cassoulet" although every town and village in the area will have a slight variation of recipe and each will claim to be the original and the best. In the Aveyron, long threads of fresh tome cheese are combined with potato to create "Aligot" while unsalted cod is the basic ingredient of the delicious and filling "Estofinado".

We don't have enough space to list all of the regional cheeses that are available. Most people will know (and have tasted) Roquefort and Tomme des Gavaches but you may not know the soft and creamy Rocamadour, made from goats milk or the semi hard Bethmale from the area around St Girons. The Bleu des Causses is a milder blue than Roquefort and the equally mild Crottins du Tarn is perfect for grilling on a baguette freshly bought from your local boulangerie.

The wine trail of the Midi Pyrenees is well trodden - the most prestigious AOC wines of the region include Cahors, Gaillac, Fronton, Madiran, Pacherenc du Vic Bilh and Marcillac and, of course, Armagnac is one of the best known and loved digestifs in the world.