Winters are generally cold (average temperatures hover around 6 degrees) and summers are hot (with highs in the upper 20s).The more temperate Autumn and Spring months, especially May to June and September to October are a good time for sightseeing.

The area?s capital city, Toulouse, is well-connected to both France and Spain by air, train and highway. The airport (Toulouse Blagnac International Airport) is just a short drive out of town, though reliable buses are available for those without their own car. A web of trains run through the area, connecting it to most other points in France. The rail ride down from Paris will take about 5 hours. If you choose to drive, the nearly 450 miles between Toulouse and Paris take about 9 hours, while Barcelona is just under 4 hours away.

This is a largely rural region, where the mountains and forests provide the backdrop for many activities. The Pyrenees National Park is an obvious starting place for nature lovers. Stretching 100 km along the Spanish border, the park includes several unique valleys with lakes, forests and incredible mountain scenery. Hiking trails crisscross the park, many of them following the same routes goat shepherds have used for centuries. Both in and outside the park, biking, walking and, in autumn, mushroom collecting (always check with an expert before eating!) are popular as well.

Cultural activities abound too. Toulouse alone offers more than a half-dozen art museums, and a fine museum dedicated to the 19th century artist Ingr?s in is Montauban. In Roquefort, learn about the famous moldy cheese by taking a tour in one of the caves where cheese is aged. And of course, countless castles, cathedrals and palaces can be visited throughout the region; don?t miss the Palais de Berbie in Albi, an episcopal palace with gorgeous gardens.