An Undiscovered Region in Southwest France
Travel with us to explore the tiny villages and the contrasting landscape of plains and mountain ranges. Here between the Pyrenees Mountains and the Mediterranean Sea, you can feel the spirit and romance of the troubadours, minstrels and poets who entertained the courts. Visit the castles and fortress ruins of nobles and chivalrous knights who fought to defend their people and their lands from invading armies of crusaders. Spend an entire day in Carcassonne, the most expansive and the best-preserved walled city in Europe. This fairy tale Medieval city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of top two most visited sites in all of France.
Enjoy An Incredible France Wine Tour in the Largest Wine Region in the World
Enjoy the amazing wines of Occitanie! This is the largest wine region in the world. New wines, organic wines, grape varieties that were nearly lost, the famous sparkling wines, the tiny producers as well as the fabulous wine estates all contribute to making Occitanie the “New Wine Capital” of France! Gastronomy! Occitanie puts the emphasis on “local” and “organic”. We work with restaurants, wine makers and merchants who use local products of the region. They call it “Terroir” here. It’s the way the sun, the wind, the soil, and all of the elements contribute to the freshness and high quality of the products used in their regional cuisine. You will have the chance to meet some of these very special people who literally work the soil with their own hands throughout this incredible France wine tour. You will get to taste these delights at “farm to table” restaurants and on the domain of an award winning winemaker.
Day 1. We will meet in the lobby at 9h30 and depart by luxury coach for the coast! We begin our Occitanie discovery today in a tiny local village for an event called “A Taste of the South”. Enjoy the stunning scenery as we drive past the hillside villages and vineyards to our private event. Keep an eye out for Cathar towers, and you may have a glimpse of the Pyrenees also! “A Taste of the South” is a very fun private wine and food tasting event where you will learn about the wines and foods of the Occitanie region. We will try eight different wines and each will be paired with a dish reflecting the gastronomy of the region. After our wonderful afternoon experience, we will drive to Sète on the Mediterranean, our base for 4 days to explore this captivating region.
Day 2. This morning we will begin with a visit to the winemaker of La Seigneurie de Peyrat for a wine tasting and “Pique-nique chic” of local fresh cheeses, meats, and tapas. Afterwards we will drive to the Abbaye de Valmagne, near Villeveyrac. Once one of the richest abbeys in the south of France, that abbey’s history dates back to the mid-1100’s and has survived religious and political wars, and is now a prized historical monument and winery.
Day 3. Market day in Sète! Sleep in or get up early and hit the market which opens at 8 AM. This is a large market that fills the square and meanders along several streets. You can find everything from clothing, shoes, sunglasses, baskets, jewelry, art, books, music, and of course, lots of food. Everyone will bring a delicious treat from the Markey for a shared picnic lunch!
Day 5. Today we will depart from Sète to drive to Carcassonne. On our way we will visit an olive cooperative, L’Oulibo. Established in 1942 they are the most important olive producer in the region, known for their table olives for munching as well as their fine olive oils. We will have a guided tour and a tasting of their different olive products afterwards. Time to shop in their boutique and purchase some olives to take away if you like. A delicious lunch at a family-owned and operated restaurant in a tiny village awaits.
Day 6. Enjoy a full day exploring the charming town of Carcassonne. It is market day today and the town will be a hive of activity. Why not explore the market and enjoy some time exploring the city center with its many varied boutiques, or spend time in Place Carnot at a local cafe and watch the world go by!
Day 9. We will travel north to the city of Albi, home of the amazing 13th century Cathedral Sainte Cécile, the world’s largest brick cathedral. Albi is full of unique shops, cobblestone streets, medieval architecture, churches, cafes and restaurants. It is a lively, cosmopolitan city located on the banks of the River Tarn. We will visit the Toulouse Lautrec Museum where you can see more than 1000 works created by Lautrec. This is the largest collection of the artist’s work in the world. The museum is housed in the former residence of the archbishops, Le Palais Berbie. Don’t miss the beautiful formal gardens beside the palace with a spectacular view of the Tarn River. We will continue onto to the 13th century Chateau de Mauriac, built by the Knights Templar. In more modern times, the once medieval military fortress has been meticulously restored by a local artist to showcase its great history as well as becoming a stunning events venue. We will enjoy a guided tour followed by a private wine tasting for our group.
Day 10. Departure Day. We will provide your transport to Toulouse train station, or Toulouse center if you are staying longer in France. If you are departing by air, it is a short walk into the airport terminal from the hotel through the connecting, internal walkway 
