Marché de Villefranche-de-Rouergue / D.Viet
Les Déferlantes (Céret)
Château de Peyrepertuse / CRTL Occitanie - G. Deschamps
What's Occitania like? It's it warm and sunny? What are the people like? Welcoming? Friendly? Here we go, let's give you a snapshot of our region.
Occitania's locals have a recognisable sing-sing "South" or "South-Western" accent and a reputation for being spontaneous, warm and direct.
They tend to be bons vivants with a natural sense of hospitality. They're great hosts who love "tchatcher" (chatting) and meeting up for laidback good times. Getting together is part of their everyday lives. Meals and parties, be they for friends, villages or festivals, are a big deal for them.
You'll love their relaxed attitude too: "hola, let's take our foot of the gas and switch to slow mode!" They may be passionate and easily excitable but Occitania's locals love life and live it to the full.
Festival en Occitanie / CRTL Occitanie - Patrice Thébault
Did you know?
Rugby isn't just a sport to us; it's an institution. Like in Great Britain! As is the pride and interest that locals have in their Occitan roots (symbolised by the Occitan cross) and Catalan roots (symbolised by the Senyera).
An average of over 300 days of sunshine a year! Occitania and its coastline is the sunniest region in France.
Early spring runs into a hot summer (25-30°C) that often continues into an Indian summer and warm autumn until the first snow falls in the Pyrenees. Winter is mild apart from in mountain areas, high plateaus and exceptional years.
Two winds blow through Occitania and make it what it is: the Autan and the Tramontane. The Autan comes from the South East with hot and wild gusts. It causes a little passing jumpiness but also delays and disruption coming in from the Atlantic.
The Tramontane comes from the North West: it blows over the coast and clears clouds as it cools the atmosphere.
L'Occitanie en résumé / CRTL Occitanie - C. Deschamps
Expert's tip
If you want to visit Occitania then the best time is April to October whilst late November to March is best for skiing.
Perfect for holidays in the great outdoors or by the sea, Occitania is the region of vast horizons and landscapes so beautiful you'll never forget them.
What you'll love here is the never-ending show staged by unspoilt nature: a wide variety of hilly areas means you'll never tire of countrysides bursting with valleys and pretty villages, large lakes and clear rivers.
You'll see outstanding sites such as the Gorges du Tarn, Camargue and Dordogne Valley. You can also spend your holiday at one of our Nature Parks be it regional, natural and even marine.
Our Mediterranean coast to the south brings you over 200km of beaches and coves from Le Grau-du-Roi to Banyuls-sur-Mer.
The coastline hands over to the Pyrenees whose long and fabulous mountain range borders Spain. The Massif Central is the region's other big mountain range with its high plateaus (Aubrac, Margeride, Gévaudan) and Cévennes mountains.
Cirque de Gavarnie / CRTL Occitanie - Patrice Thébault
Regional Committee for Tourism and Leisure Occitanie
Others websites
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