Hi..In September we will be with friends rent houses in the Durdogne for a week and in Languedoc for a week. We are coming into Toulouse 2 days early. We want to spend those days somewhere that we won't be touring during our house rentals. thinking of the Pyrenees. Is that a good idea? We know we can't go far in that amount of time, but it someplace i would like to see.
Ideas?
Jean

How about the Ariege? Mirepoix is a sweet little town, not quite as far from Toulouse as the Pyrenees. I think they have some festivals in the fall. Plus, it's a pretty good location for visiting the Cathar chateaux and tasting some sparkling wine in Limoux.

For an experience very different to the Languedoc and Dordogne, I think your first suggestion very goo. It will take about 2 hours on the motorway to drive to Pau, which is a lovely wee town in its own right. You're close to Lourdes if taht sort of experience floats your boat, and if not, then zip up into the mountains, see how hard you car finds it to cross the Col de Tourmelay and wonder at how your boy(I'm assuming you're American) did it without even seeming to break sweat, on a bike.

Stay in Pau or Bareges.

What date does your flight get in?

We arrive the 22nd of September. Yes, I am American. I can't beging to imageine how ANY of the bikers did it...even without seeing the mountains.
Jean

Very good suggestions thusfar, but here's another to ponder: Gascony. Yuo can be in Auch in about an hour, and there's plenty to explore in that area (and really good food, too!).

We went to Ax-les-Thermes for an overnight in May 2003 from Toulouse. It was one of the towns the Tour de France went through this year and in 2003. With a stop in Foix, a visit to a prehistoric cave, a drive up the Port de Pailheres not to mention the "hot bath" in the town there is plenty to do in the area. We really enjoyed our quick trip to Ax-les-Thermes and I'm sure you would also. Deborah

I suppose each of us has our own favorites. Mine would be:
-to the south, the village of Foix. Very charming, lots of character.
-to the northeast, the town of Albi, home of Toulouse Lautrec.

Good luck.

In spite of the Armstrong appeal for the Tourmalet, I would recommend the Cirque de Gavarnie if going to that area.

Near Gaillac (between Toulouse and Albi) in a beautiful village called Castelnau de Montmiral, a very special place to stay: Chateau de Mayragues

Another thought: Toulouse is worth a visit, it has some interestsing churches. Albi, Moissac with its famous abbaye, and Montauban (its square and Ingres museum) are all sites which are far from the Dordogne to be included in that touring, and may be far from your Languedoc location.

Thank you everyone...I now have more ideas than i have time!
Jean

hello "going places",

Toulouse is definately worth a look! If you are there on a Wednesday make sure you go to the downtown Plaza for the "Flea Market", you can get some really good deals on just about anything! I wish I could go back right now, but, I am out of vacation!