It is no secret that the tourist trade has been the hardest hit industry by the pandemic. Absolutely Southern France, based in Occitanie, is no exception. We are delighted to announce that Absolutely Southern France has been awarded a grant by the Occitanie Tourist Board (Région Occitanie) for our promotion of the exceptional sites and experiences to be found here.
This generous grant has allowed me to provide freelance work to talented local residents – webmaster, project manager, community manager and branding manager. It will also partially fund my booth at the 2021 Àtout France professional tourist trade fair where I will welcome travel agents and tour operators from Canada, the USA and Australia.
A Few of My Favorite Spots
Occitanie is a vast region on the Mediterranean, bordering Provence to the west. It offers something to please every traveler – history, culture, quaint fishing towns and authentic villages. It is the world’s largest wine producing region and the largest organic wine producing region in Europe.
Whether you are a food and wine enthusiast, love history, art and culture – this region has it all.
Sète, referred to as the Venice of (southern?) France, is the largest fishing port of the French Mediterranean coast and an incredible source for oysters. The town is also known for art, music, museums and some of the finest beaches in the French Mediterranean. You’ll love the beachfront cafés and restaurants in summer.
Carcassonne is an imposing medieval fortress city and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Of note are 52-tower ramparts, monumental gates, and outdoor theatre.
Pont du Gard bridge is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, this bridge-aqueduct is a masterpiece of Roman architecture.
Uzès and Saint Quentin-la-Potèrie are ancient villages with colorful ancient buildings and doorways. St Quentin’s narrow streets are lined with local potters’ workshops – ideal for gift ideas and souvenirs “made in France”. The popular Provençal market on Saturdays is not to be missed and a visit to the majestic Duché fortified castle in Uzès is a must see!
Collioure is a colorful seaside town that was the muse for Fauvism painters Henri Matisse and André Derain. Collioure is known for the world’s best anchovies.
Albi is another UNESCO World Heritage Site, the episcolal city with the fortress-like cathedral housing colorful frescos. Next door is the Toulouse-Lautrec Museum, another must-see.
In Camargue Regional Park you can enjoy 4×4 safaris or horseback riding, both ideal ways to discover the diverse landscapes with pink salt marshes, a wide range of flora and fauna, bull and white horse ranches, pink flamingos, olive groves and vineyards.
If you would like to discover this off the beaten track destination, let me help you plan your trip and even be your guide for an unforgettable day in Occitanie.
How does it work? I’ll make an appointment with you to chat about your centers of interest, number of people in your party, dates of travel and budget. I’ll take it from there to make your travel memorable from beginning to end.
