Best places to visit in Occitania

Occitanie's Absolute Essentials

Occitanie showcases a dense concentration of UNESCO World Heritage sites and ancient Roman engineering. This selection spans from the first-century Roman aqueduct of Pont du Gard and the preserved Maison Carrée temple in Nîmes to the fortified Palais des Papes in Avignon. The region’s architectural history is further represented by the red-brick Gothic Albi Cathedral and the Romanesque Basilica of Saint-Sernin in Toulouse. Coastal fortifications like the Château Royal de Collioure and the 240-kilometer Canal du Midi highlight the strategic and commercial importance of Southern France through the centuries.

Occitanie's Absolute Essentials — Map

A

Popes' Palace

The Palais des Papes is a historical palace located in Avignon, Southern France.

Ad Meskens / cc-by-sa-3.0

B

Pont du Gard

A three-tier Roman aqueduct bridge built in the 1st century AD. Standing nearly 50 meters high, it was part of a 50-kilometer system designed to carry water to the colony of Nemausus (Nîmes). It remains a masterpiece of ancient hydraulic engineering.

José Luiz / CC BY-SA 3.0

C

Basilica of St. Sernin

The Basilica of Saint-Sernin is a church in Toulouse, France, the former abbey church of the Abbey of Saint-Sernin or St Saturnin.

D

Arles Amphitheatre

The Arles Amphitheatre is a Roman amphitheatre in Arles, southern France.

E

Arles Roman Theatre

The Roman Theatre of Arles is a 1st-century Roman theatre, built during the reign of Caesar Augustus.

Sygic Travel User / CC-BY-SA

F

Albi Cathedral

The Cathedral of Saint Cecilia of Albi, also known as Albi Cathedral, is the seat of the Catholic Archbishop of Albi.

G

Church of St. Trophime

The Church of St. Trophime is a Roman Catholic church and former cathedral located in the city of Arles, in the Bouches-du-Rhône Department…

H

Canal du Midi

The Canal du Midi is a 240 km long canal in Southern France. Originally named the Canal Royal en Languedoc and renamed by French…

I

Maison Carrée

The Maison carrée is an ancient Roman temple in Nîmes, southern France; it is one of the best-preserved Roman temples to survive in the…

J

Magne Tower

The Magne Tower is a Gallo-Roman monument. An impressive vestige of the long Roman wall of Nîmes, it dominates the Fountain Gardens on Mount…

K

Château de Tarascon

The majestic seat of the once powerful Anjou dynasty, and the most beautiful castle in the Provence region. Great trip destination.

Jacques Laumosnier / Public domain

L

Château Royal de Collioure

The Château Royal de Collioure is a massive French royal castle in the town of Collioure, a few kilometers north of the Spanish border in…

M

Sautadet Waterfalls

Situated on the Cèze river, this natural wonder is an absolute must-see. See how the river made its way through the enormous limestone block.

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French Heritage Treasures French Religious Heritage Castles and Forts of France Archaeological and Natural Wonders Regional Flavors and Markets Scenic Viewpoints and Mountain Passes