The Grand Tour

The Grand Tour

The Midi-Pyrénées and Languedoc-Roussillon form the main body of France's traditional southwestern region. Sports and nature lovers flock here to enjoy the natural attributes of the area, of which Toulouse—a university town of rosy pink brick—is the cultural star.

Here, too, are Albi and its wonderful Toulouse-Lautrec Museum; the once-upon-a-timeliness of Carcassonne; and the relatively undiscovered city of Montpellier.

And when you see picturesque Collioure's stunning Mediterranean setting, you can understand why Matisse went color-berserk.

Getting to know this vast region would take several weeks, or even years. But it's possible to sample all its finest offerings in nine days, if that's all the time you have.

Begin by practicing your "Olé's" in Spanish-soul Toulouse; after two days and two nights in this exciting city, head west to the Gers département to spend Day 3 in Albi and take a virtual art class with Toulouse-Lautrec at the famous museum here devoted to his masterworks.

On Day 4 head some 112 km (70 mi) south to storybook Carcassonne to introduce your kids to the Puss in Boots fantasy of this castellated wonder. After a night filled with medieval history and glamour, head south on Day 5 to Céret, a town of rocky ridges and red rooftops immortalized by Picasso.

On Day 6, pack your crayons for a trip to Matisse Country on the Vermilion Coast and head to the Roussillon's coastal town of Collioure to channel the spirits of the famous Fauve painters. Then on Day 7, drive north to Perpignan, the historic hub city of the Roussillon, and head out of the region to discover the sights of Narbonne.

On Day 8, make a detour to Minerve, a medieval hilltop village, then head back northeast past the Languedoc frontier to spend your last night in Montpellier; on Day 9, tour this city's fascinating Vieille Ville, steeped in culture, history, and young blood (a famous university is based here).