Things to Do in Occitania, France: City Guides

The best things to do in Occitania include exploring historic cities, religious landmarks and towns shaped by several distinct southern French traditions. Created in 2016 by joining Languedoc-Roussillon and Midi-Pyrénées, Occitania stretches from the Mediterranean coast to the borders with Spain and Andorra. Neywo offers free audio guides for 15 cities in Occitania, with 754 narrated places in total.

Occitania travel guide: understanding the region

Occitania is a modern French administrative region, but its name refers to a much older cultural area where Occitan and its many dialects were once widely spoken. The word comes from òc, the Occitan word for “yes”. The Occitan cross, once the banner of the Counts of Toulouse, is now used by the region and remains a prominent cultural symbol.

The present region covers territory similar to the lands ruled by those counts in the 12th and 13th centuries, but Occitania does not represent one single historical tradition. It brings together Languedoc, parts of the old Gascon and Guyenne lands, the County of Foix, and Catalan areas including Roussillon. The name was selected after a public consultation, although many French Catalans felt that it did not reflect their presence in the region.

Occitania is France’s second-largest mainland region. Its territory reaches the Mediterranean in the southeast and meets both Spain and Andorra along its southern boundary. Across the Spanish border are Aragon and Catalonia. Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur lies to the east, Nouvelle-Aquitaine to the west and northwest, and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes to the northeast. More than six million people lived in the region in 2022.

The region’s current form began with the 2016 merger. Its provisional name combined the names of the two former regions, before the Regional Council chose Occitania as its permanent name. That name took effect in September of the same year. Today, the Regional Council meets in Toulouse, while Toulouse-Blagnac and Montpellier-Méditerranée are the largest airports. Smaller airports serve Perpignan, Carcassonne and Rodez.

What to see in Occitania

The region’s cities and towns offer different ways to experience its layered history. From Toulouse and Montpellier to smaller places such as Collioure and Rocamadour, these are some of the main destinations to consider.

Toulouse

Toulouse is the seat of Occitania’s Regional Council and one of the region’s principal cities. Its narrated places include the Basilica of St. Sernin, Toulouse Cathedral, the Musée des Augustins and the Monastery of the Jacobins. Together, these sites introduce the city’s religious and artistic heritage.

With 258 narrated places, Toulouse has the largest selection of Neywo-covered locations in Occitania.

Montpellier

Montpellier is another major regional destination, with 171 narrated places. Among the highlights are Montpellier Cathedral, the Porte de la Blanquerie, the convent of the Ursulines of Montpellier and Château d’O. The city provides a way to explore the Mediterranean side of Occitania through its architecture and historic institutions.

Carcassonne

The Cité de Carcassonne is one of the region’s most recognisable historic sites. The city’s audio-guide selection also includes Carcassonne Cathedral, the Basilica of St. Nazaire and St. Celse, and the Portail des Jacobins. With 54 narrated places, Carcassonne is one of the most extensively covered destinations in the region.

Nîmes

Nîmes brings together ancient, religious and artistic landmarks. Its narrated places include the Maison Carrée, the Amphitheater of Nîmes, Cathédrale Notre-Dame et Saint-Castor and the Jules Salles gallery. The city has 81 narrated places available through Neywo.

Narbonne

Narbonne’s sites include Narbonne Cathedral, the Basilique Saint-Paul de Narbonne, the Horreum and Fontfroide Abbey. These places reflect the city’s religious and historical importance within the region. The Narbonne audio guide covers 35 narrated places.

Albi

Albi is known through landmarks such as Albi Cathedral and the Musée Toulouse-Lautrec. The Temple réformé d’Albi and église Notre-Dame du Breuil are also among the city’s narrated places. Neywo covers 18 locations in Albi.

Béziers

Béziers offers several important religious buildings, including Béziers Cathedral, the Basilique Saint-Aphrodise de Béziers, Église de la Madeleine de Béziers and Église Saint-Jacques de Béziers. Its guide includes 30 narrated places.

Cahors

In Cahors, the main narrated sites include Cahors Cathedral, the Musée de Cahors Henri-Martin, the Hôtel de Roaldès and Pont Valentré. The city has 19 narrated places, making it a compact destination for discovering another strand of Occitania’s architectural history.

Collioure

Collioure reflects the Catalan presence within the region. Its narrated places include Fort Saint-Elme, Château Royal de Collioure, Fort Dugommier and Église Notre-Dame-des-Anges de Collioure. The town has nine narrated places.

Lourdes

Lourdes is home to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes and the Massabielle Grotto. Other narrated places include Château fort de Lourdes and Moulin de Boly. The Lourdes guide covers 17 locations.

Millau

Millau’s narrated places include Hôtel de Sambucy, Église Notre-Dame de l’Espinasse, Beffroi de Millau and Halles de Millau. The city has 19 narrated places.

Rocamadour

Rocamadour’s five narrated places include the Basilique Saint-Sauveur de Rocamadour, Église de l’Hospitalet, Église Saint-Martin de Mayrinhac-le-Francal and Hôpital de l’Hospitalet de Rocamadour. Its small selection focuses on the town’s principal religious and historic landmarks.

Sète

Sète’s guide includes église Saint-Louis de Sète, Fort Richelieu, Théâtre municipal Molière and Redoute du Castellas. Twenty narrated places make it possible to explore the town’s religious, military and cultural sites.

Uzès

In Uzès, the narrated places include Uzès Cathedral, Église Saint-Étienne, the Palais épiscopal and the Haribo Sweet Museum. The town has eight narrated places.

Villeneuve-lès-Avignon

Villeneuve-lès-Avignon includes the Tower of Philip the Fair, the charterhouse Notre-Dame du Val de Bénédiction, Abbaye Saint-André de Villeneuve-lès-Avignon and Collégiale Notre-Dame. Its guide covers ten narrated places.

Explore Occitania with Neywo’s free audio guide

Neywo has free audio guides for 15 cities in Occitania, with 754 narrated places and 34 walking tours in total. Narration is available in 11 languages.

The app tells the story of each place as you reach it, at your own pace, with no group and no schedule. Download Neywo to explore the region independently, whether you begin with the major cities or choose a smaller destination such as Collioure, Cahors or Uzès.