Southwest France holidays

Southwestern France has a lot to offer travellers. Beautifully rural in parts, dramatically mountainous in others and fringed by the stunning beaches of the Atlantic coast to the west, this area of France encompasses the three great regions of the Midi Pyrenees, Languedoc-Roussillon and Aquitaine. Here you'll find the gorgeous rural plains of the Dordogne, the many miles of the Côte d'Argent's sandy beaches that rival those on the Côte d'Azur and the rugged mountain passes that ring the steep slopes of the Pyrenees.

Though dominated by beautiful countryside, Southwestern France is also home to the fine cities of Bordeaux, Toulouse and Montpellier. This trio are cosmopolitan and exciting destinations, and each has an intriguing historical centre, which make them some of France's most appealing city breaks. The cities and their surroundings are lovely places to travel, full of diversity and with plenty of charm.

Champagne to Bordeaux: Wine regions of France no-fly holiday

7-day no-fly holiday from £2,515 pp

Explore France's fabled wine regions on this no-fly itinerary from Reims to Bordeaux. Taste Champagne and wine direct from the source with included tours throughout.

Eurostar holidays

Tailor-made rail journeys from £1,090 pp

Discover our finest Eurostar offers, with options across France. Each has been tailor-made to feature fantastic hotels, private transfers and unique tours – get in contact to start designing your own trip.

Garonne River Cruise: Discover Bordeaux

8-day luxury river cruise

Please enquire for the latest prices

Explore Bordeaux and its surrounds on this all-inclusive river cruise, enjoying the likes of bicycle tours among the vineyards and visits to local farmers markets.

Avignon Bridge with Popes Palace in Provence, France

No-fly Paris, Lyon and Provence with Tauck

10-day luxury no-fly river cruise from £5,840 pp

Pair a luxury stay in Paris and an indulgent Rhône River cruise with gourmet dining, drinks and included touring. Bookended by convenient rail connections, there's no need to fly.

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Top places to stay in Southwestern France

Room at Grand Hotel de Bordeaux & Spa, Bordeaux

Grand Hotel de Bordeaux & Spa, Bordeaux, France

Accommodation

Created by architect Victor Louis in 1776 and located in the heart of Bordeaux's historic 'golden triangle', opposite the Grand Theatre, the Grand Hotel de Bordeaux & Spa enjoys a setting in perfect keeping with the grandeur of its spectacular neoclassical façade. Set just moments from Bordeaux's m…

La Maison D'Estournel, Bordeaux

Grand & elegant hotel

An elegant 18-century mansion offers country living in one of Bordeaux's most prestigious wine-growing regions. Whether lounging on the outdoor terrace or relaxing in your room, grapevines are usually within view.

Where to go in Southwestern France

Languedoc-Roussillon

Languedoc literally means ‘language of yes' - ‘oc' was the word for yes for the Occitan speaking inhabitants of this part of Southwestern France. It's a region rich in both pastoral and urban pleasures.

Midi Pyrenees

The Midi Pyrenees is France's largest region, bigger than both Belgium and Switzerland yet home to fewer than two million people. It's a young region, created during the French government's regionalisation campaign of the 1970s, and thus the Midi Pyrenees share many different and distinct identitie…

Aquitaine

Aquitaine is one of France's most absorbing regions. Stretching from the mountainous plains of the Massif Central in the north, dipping down to the central wine lands and rolling past a long stretch of Atlantic coastline before rising again into the Pyrenees in the south, Aquitaine is a region of g…

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When to go to Southwestern France

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Southwestern France articles

Six no-fly holidays to take in 2022

Save yourself the hassle of heading to the airport and cut down your carbon emissions by choosing one of these flight-free breaks as your next getaway.
The secret gastronomy of France’s southwest

Get to know to cuisine of Occitanie in France's sunny southwest, from the Mediterranean flavours of garlic and fish to some of the finest beef, wine, and full-bodied cheese in the world – this is the home of Grenache, Roquefort, and dishes flavoured with rich, flavoursome duck fat.
Make a self-drive holiday luxurious

From renting classic cars to planning high-end picnics, these tips will help you craft a luxury self-drive holiday.