For this itinerary, I’ve focused on western Aveyron, around Rodez, the heights of Capdenac, and the valleys near Najac. AVEYRON OVERVIEW WHERE | Aveyron region, Occitanie, France GETTING THERE | Train, bus, international & domestic airport GETTING AROUND | Walk, Bus, Bike & Car rental TOP THINGS TO SEE | Rodez, Najac, Millau, Belcastel, Conques, Estaing, Villefranche-de-Rouergue, Capdenac, Plateau de…

Toulouse is, I believe, France’s most overlooked big city — by far. And yet, it’s one of the liveliest provincial cities in the country. Known as “La Ville Rose” (the Pink City) for the pink bricks that adorn many of its buildings, Toulouse, capital of Occitanie region, offers a delightful mix of bustling markets, a world-famous rugby team, a historic…

Whenever I’m in Paris, I’m the first to head straight for the Louvre. It’s one of the most comprehensive museums in the world, with more than 30,000 works on display in 9 departments, ranging from Oriental, Greek and Egyptian antiquities to more modern collections of paintings and sculptures. But the Louvre is often overcrowded, being the most visited museum in…

Often overlooked in favour of the South of France’s glamorous Cannes or multicultural Marseille, Avignon is a city unlike any other. Set along the banks of the Rhône River, this former papal seat was home to seven popes during the 14th century — a legacy still visible in its breathtaking Gothic architecture, at the heart of which stands the monumental…