Hoteliers, proud of their regions
- Pierre & Claudette Carayon
A stay in the Midi Pyrenees, an authentic region
Direction to the Midi Pyrenees for a stay where you'll enjoy the charms of an authentic region... It's a land of heritage and character, where Toulouse - "la ville rose", capital of gascogny, sits as the only urban centre of the region. Either you're culturally, sportly or environmentally inclined, a stay in the Midi Pyrenees will certainly fulfil all your expectations.
It's in Saint-Sernin-sur Rance, situated in the national parkland of Causses, near Millau, that Pierre Carayon manages the INTER-HOTEL Les Residences Carayon, a welcoming hotel, where he is the 4th generation 'innkeeper' (a term that says much about his style of hotel keeping). "I was born in room number 8" he says, straightaway. That's how much he is rooted in this countryside. Pierre is passionate about his job. He does his best "day after day, to get clients to come off the beaten track, to a region a little bit tucked away. It's a style of tourism that has to be earned," he adds, slightly fearful of seeming a little presumptuous. But it's true that one of the major attractions of the beautiful Midi Pyrenees region, is its location away from sites of mass tourism.
Something you'll discover by yourself during a stay in the Midi Pyrenees.
- Sight on the viaduct of Millau
The Midi Pyrenees: between nature and heritage
The hotel Residences Carayon is situated on the border of two regions, the Tarn and the 'albigeois' countryside (town of Albi), a strategic location just 30 minutes from the fantastic gorges of the Tarn, a major attraction of this region, but also close to the viaduct of Millau, the highest bridge in the world, or even the Roquefort cheese cellars. The ideal starting point for a discovery tour, between nature and culture.
If you go to the Aveyron and catch a glimpse of the Notre Dame cathedral bell, 87 meters high, you'll know that you are in Rodez. The church bell, noticeable from the surroundings, guides the visitor (as a landmark) to pace the 2,000 years old city up and down.
Further north, in the Lot, is the town of Cahors, an historical town where the Valentré bridge is one of the best known landmarks. The town, built on a peninsula, overflows with architectural treasures and gardens, where you can discover those which have stayed secret...Don't miss the town of Figeac, near Decazeville, considered to be "one of the most beautiful detours of France".
In the town of Sauillac you'll discover the museum "de l'automate", a collection of mechanical toys and robots from the 19th and 20th centuries, unique in Europe.
At Loubressac, you'll have one of the most beautiful views of the Lot.
- The banks of the river Garonne, Toulouse
A stay between history and the conquest of space
If you plan a stay in the Midi Pyrennees, you'll discover the numerous cultural and scientific appeals of this region. Especially in the "ville attrayante" of Toulouse, "Second major capital of the south of France, with Marseilles", has developped an atypical form of tourism. The aeronautic and space industry located in the area attracts a clientele focused on scientific discovery: "a great opportunity to visit the Airbus A380 production sites".The Cité de l'espace will be enjoyed by young and old alike.
But Toulouse has many other attractions to discover by wandering its streets: the Capitole, the cathedral Saint Sernin, the Pont Neuf, considered to be one of the most beautiful bridges in France. Outside the town centre, you can stroll the banks of the Garonne, classified as a "World Heritage monument" by UNESCO. The gascony city highlights its identity through its street names, all translated into the local Occitan dialect, and also via its numerous cafés, highly frequented and equally welcoming.
The town of Labege was, like Toulouse, reputed for its pastel industry, of which the remaining signs are the villas and stately homes in Renaissance style, with numerous towers, which in the past were signs of power and wealth.
Sport and discoveries
- Mountain biker in the Lot
In love with nature, Pierre Carayon likes his region for the different landscapes available for hiking, especially the Haute Pyrenees, with the national park and the Tarbes region.
According to him, "to disconnect, nothing's better than a bike ride through the Larzac pass or in the Rance valley, borded by mountain streams". In this region, sporting activities in nature are plentiful: kayak, rafting... Numerous occasions to plan a sportive stay in the Midi Pyrenees.
Going down the gorges of the Tarn by canoe is a great way to discover the local landscape. Horse-riding or biking excursions "en famille" will help you discover the rhythm of the region, and rediscover the authenticity of times past.
You can also practise sports underground, as there are many grottos and other geological formations: Grottos at Lacave, in the Sauillac region, are a particularly spectacular example. The site is accessible via a small train.
Nearby, at Prehistologia, the largest full size reconstruction of prehistoric specimens, you can learn a lot about the habitat and lifestyle of people living at that time.
If the local people can seem shy at first , don't believe it... Once the ice is broken, they are "very friendly people" who will certainly share local "AOC" delicacies... L'aligot, le Chassel de Moissac, or the cheese from Laguiole, a competitor of Roquefort.
Between nature and countryside, the Midi Pyrenees are waiting for you to appreciate their countless charms and savours.
INTER-HOTEL is a brand of the