Two weeks in South-West France Itinerary: Occitaine & Nouvelle-Aquitaine

Last Updated on 19th August 2023 by Sophie Nadeau

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Wine, world-class food, breathtaking architecture and a little off the tourist track: if you want to see a fresh side to France, then it’s well worth heading West rather than East when travelling to the South. Here’s how to spend the perfect two weeks in South-West France itinerary; a guide to the best places to visit in the French regions of Occitanie and Nouvelle-Aquitaine.

From the off the beaten path city of Limoges, to the bright lights of foodie Bordeaux, this guide is all about French gastronomy, history, and the best this area of l’Hexagon has to offer. If you’re like me and wish to see the more touristic places, as well as discover a different side of France, then this itinerary is for you!

Limoges, Bordeaux, Toulouse, and Beziers all have international airports, meaning that getting to the south of France couldn’t be easier. Budget airlines run to all of them.

While Bordeaux, Toulouse, and Beziers all have public transport to-and-from the airport, it’s worth noting that to reach the centre of Limoges from the airport, you’ll need to order a taxi. Otherwise, all stops along this route are easy to reach via train!

Suggested itinerary for 2 weeks in South-West France

Limoges 

Stay: 1 night

Where to stay: Hôtel Campanile Limoges Centre Gare

The ancient city of Limoges can be found towards the very centre of France, in a place far removed from the sea and surrounded by French vineyards.

Home to a historic city centre, some of the best things to do in this off the beaten path French city include visiting the city’s historic cathedral, as well as wandering around the beautiful timber-framed district of the Quartier de la Boucherie.

While the city is well worthy of your time, most of its key attractions can be seen over the course of a day, meaning that you’ll only need to spend a night in the city.

The Musée des Beaux-Arts is home to lots of local archaeological finds and the Jardin Botanique de l’Eveche is the perfect place to admire the city from above.

Read more: Here’s why you need to visit Limoges ASAP

Bordeaux

Stay: 2 nights

Where to stay: Yndo Hôtel

Quite literally known as the wine region of France, once upon a time, Bordeaux was known as the capital of a principality during the 14th-century. And that’s not where the history ends. Instead, the city was known as Burdigala during the Classical Era, and was even part of the Kingdom of England for around three hundred years.

Full of architecture dating back to the Middle Ages as well as an incredible food scene (did I mention that Bordeaux is one of the top foodie restaurants in France?), you could easily spend several days getting to know the city.

Highlights of Bordeaux include a wine-tasting visit to the Cité du Vin, splashing around in the largest reflective pool in the world, the Miroir d’Eau, and seeing some impressive medieval history (the gothic cathedral and the Porte Cailhau).

Read more: Hidden gems of Bordeaux, Southern France

Essential tour: 2 hour river dinner cruise

Saint-Emilion

Stay: 1 night

Where to stay: Hostellerie de Plaisance

Although you could visit Saint-Emilion as a day trip from Bordeaux, in order to make the most of your time in this fairytale town, I recommend instead spending an overnight in the city so as to soak up as much of the ambience of the place as possible. Surrounded by vineyards, be sure not to miss sunrise or sunset in this stunning place.

Perched atop a limestone clifftop in the Dordogne region, the magical town of Saint-Emilion is known around the world for its world-class wine and no trip to South West France would be complete without a visit here.

Even if you’re not a fan of wine, there are still plenty of things to see and do in the city in the form of catacombs and cobbled lanes.

Read more: Breathtakingly beautiful places to visit in France

Agen

Stay: 1 night

Where to stay: Hostellerie de Plaisance

Situated on the train line, right between Bordeaux and Toulouse, the often overlooked city of Agen is a historical gem of museums, galleries, and timber-framed houses.

Also home to a hermitage overlooking the city (a nearby viewing platform makes for the best views of Agen), the best-known feature of this tiny city is the Agen Aqueduct, the second longest aqueduct in France.

Just as in Bordeaux, Agen (pronounced ‘ah-gen’) is located along the mighty River Garonne and can be found in the region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine. Other highlights of Agen include the city’s frescoed Cathedral, as well as the Musée des Beaux-Arts which is housed within a turreted former Maison Particulier.

Read more: Best things to do in Agen, South West France

Toulouse

Stay: 2 nights

Where to stay: La Cour des Consuls

Known in French as ‘La Ville Rose’, Toulouse is one of the largest cities in France and so merits a two-night stay (or more) within this South-West France itinerary.

So-called because of the pink-hued bricks which are used to construct many of the more famous buildings in the city, there’s no shortage of interesting and quirky attractions when it comes to Toulouse.

Toulouse is best-visited over the course of several days because of the sheer size of the city, as well as the number of cultural sites to see and off the beaten path locations.

Some of the top things to do in Toulouse include wandering around the Saint Sernin Basilica (one of the largest basilicas in Europe), as well as seeing where the relics of St Thomas of Aquinas now lie in the Couvent des Jacobins.

Read more: Where to find the best secret spots in Toulouse!

Essential tour 2.5-Hour Private Walking Tour of Toulouse

Carcassonne

Stay: 1 night

Where to stay: Hotel de la Cité

The ancient city of Carcassonne is best known for its historic city centre which was heavily restored (and made more ‘magical’) by the architect Viollet-le-Duc in the 19th-century. Walled, fortified, and now considered a UNESCO world heritage site, no trip to South West France would be complete without a stopover in Carcassonne.

The history of the most famous medieval walled city in France dates all the way back to the Neolithic Period and the place was even used during the Roman period as a fortified location.

Head here, and you’re guaranteed to feel as though you’ve stepped back in time and been transported right into the Middle Ages. Just be sure to bring your camera along- you’ll surely want to snap a fair few photos along the way!

Read more: Breathtakingly beautiful places to visit in France

Essential tour: 2-Hour Private Walking Tour of Carcassonne

Narbonne

Stay: 1 night

Where to stay: Hôtel de France Narbonne

Narbonne is a former Roman port city which now lies some 15 km away from the shoreline. What was once a seafaring town is now a historic city filled with cobbled lanes, architecture dating back to the middle ages, and a myriad of restaurants and bistros serving traditional French fare.

Although the town, which also happens to be the birthplace of iconic singer Charles Trenet (search for th song ‘La Mer!’), has little by way of attractions in comparison with larger French cities, the charm of the place lies in its off the beaten track nature.

Narbonne boasts stunning houses and quintessentially French architecture. And I personally have to say that of all the destinations I’ve visited in South West France, Narbonne ranks among my top three favourites!

Read more: The complete Narbonne travel guide!

Beziers

Stay: 1 night

Where to stay: L’Hotel Particulier Beziers

Best-known for its imposing and fortified citadel-like Cathedral, Beziers is often overlooked in favour of more famous nearby neighbours such as the seaside resort of Agde. However, if you’re looking to see a side of France which fewer tourists venture to, then the city is well worth exploring over the course of a day or two.

Some of the very best things to do in Beziers include wandering around the 9 stepped locks of the Fonserannes (which are now part of the designated Canal du Midi UNESCO world heritage site), seeing the historic heart of the city, and learning about Cathar history.

Read more: Where to find the best view in Beziers

Montpellier

Stay: 2 nights

Where to stay: Baudon de Mauny

Montpellier is one of the larger cities in France, meaning that the city is home to a multitude of bars, cafés, bistros, and cultural attractions. Although the city is sprawling in size, many of the main highlights of Montpellier can be found in the rather condensed historic city centre.

Best-seen on foot, this maze of cobbled lanes, ecclesiastical buildings, and small museums should be seen over the course of several days. While in Montpellier, be sure to also see the Place de la Comédie, where much of the city’s action is centred around. 

On your second day, be sure to make the trip to the fringes of the city to enjoy one of the most beautiful castles in France, Château des Flaguergues.

Read more: Free & self-guided Montpellier walking tour

Essential tour:Wine & Food Day Trip to Pic Saint-Loup

Nîmes

Stay: 1 night

Where to stay: Hôtel Jardins Secrets

The Roman city of Nimes can be found in the Occitanie region of France and is filled with Roman ruins. Midway between the Cévennes mountains and the Mediterranean Sea, the town is often referred to as the ‘French Rome’ thanks to its impressive well-preserved Nîmes Arena and the Maison Carée (a stunning ancient building complete with Roman temple facçade).

Essential tour: Pont du Gard, Uzès & Nîmes- 5-Hour Tour with Entry Fees

Things to know before visiting South West France for the first time

In more off the beaten path cities such as Beziers and Narbonne, though many people working in the tourist industry will still speak English, you’ll likely want a simple French phrasebook with you like this one if you’re planning to frequent any non-touristy restaurants or cafés.

Although you can rent a car to undertake this two weeks in South West France itinerary, all of the destinations listed within this guide have their own train stations with easy links to the rest of France.

As such, a car is not really necessary, and you most certainly won’t want to be driving in some of the larger cities like Toulouse and Bordeaux. With this being said, if you want to go to smaller off the beaten towns, then you’ll probably need a car. Check here for the best car rental comparisons.

Finally, you’ll want to bring a universal travel adaptor with you like this one as French plug sockets are different from what you’ll be used to back home! Still keen on learning a little about this beautiful region of France? This introduction to the history of France explores l’Hexagon from the time of the Romans, right up until more modern times.

What if you only have a few days in the southwest of France?

If you don’t have very much time to explore southwest France, then don’t worry. You can still enjoy a few highlights of the region by simply going to one city per day and avoiding a car rental (instead, opt to travel by train). Here is my itinerary for 3 days in southwest France.

3 days in southwest France

It was a sunny French afternoon as our plane began its descent into Beziers, a historical French city first founded by the Romans some two millennia ago.

The clouds parted and I peered out of my tiny plane window. Below me lay a sea of terracotta rooftops, sprawling vineyards, and even the unmistakeable turret of a French château. And just like that, my solo adventure in the South of France had begun…

In the mood for some sun, soaking up a little history and always on the lookout for a good deal on flights, I used Skyscanner’s ‘everywhere’ function last Friday for the following Monday. I wanted somewhere affordable, a little off the beaten tourist tracks, and a location where the transport links were good… And so stumbled in: Béziers.

I must admit that prior to my plane search I’d heard little about the Languedoc (now incorporated into the wider French region of Occitanie) and even less about the cities within it. Apart from a little Cathar history, I knew little of what to expect. However, soon enough my flight had landed and I’d boarded a bus to Beziers, followed by a train to Montpellier.

In actual fact, the Languedoc region is well known for its rich Roman history, stunning vistas, pink flamingoes, and of course, wine production. Picpoul is probably the area’s most famous wine, and it’s well worth noting that Languedoc-Roussillon actually produces more wine than Chile, Bordeaux, and Australia put together!

Montpellier

I spent my first night in the capital of the Languedoc, Montpellier. Characterised by its Haussmannian style architecture, it’s often referred to as the ‘Little Paris of the South’.

While I found it had more of a Southern French feel than I was expecting (everything was incredibly laid back- as were bus times!), I had a wonderful time exploring the maze of many streets which makes Montpellier so exciting.

On the way to Montpellier, I even managed to spy some of the pink flamingoes that are so synonymous with the region from the train window. Should you opt to visit the Languedoc-Roussillon capital for yourself, look out the window on the train between Beziers and Montpellier, and you’ll also see the fishing town of Sete.

Once in Montpellier itself, be sure not to miss Montpellier’s very own Arc de Triomphe (the Porte du Peyrou), as well as its extensive old town.

Other highlights of the eighth largest city in France include a trip to the suburbs to visit the early 19th-century Château de Flageurgues, as well as wandering through the Montpellier’s many squares- which, more often than not, are filled with small eateries and open-air dining experiences! For more inspiration, check out our suggestions for how to spend one day in Montpellier.

Narbonne

Of all the places I visited during my three days in the Southwest of France, Narbonne was the place that perhaps surprised me the most. First constructed as a trading port during antiquity, silt and sand have since built up in the region to such an extent that Narbonne now sits at least 15 km from the sea.

I selected to stay in Narbonne rather than the nearby coastal city of Sete on a whim and was pleasantly surprised. Luckily, the town’s charming nature and oodles of French coffee shops meant that it was more than worth spending a night in. 

As it turns out, my favourite French wine (which can be bought for as little as €5 at any generalised supermarket in France) is actually bottled in Narbonne! Elsewhere in the city, there’s plenty of Southern French architecture to be spotted: think warm stone and shuttered windows.

Although Narbonne was founded during antiquity, there is little of the Roman architecture left, with the exception of an underground grain house known as the ‘Horreum’. 

Highlights of Narbonne include climbing to the very top of the Donjon Gilles Aycelin, as well as entering the part of Narbonne Cathedral. Or rather, the choir of Narbonne Cathedral! After all, only a quarter of the cathedral was ever built due to financial and logistical reasons.

Béziers

Best-known for its fortified cathedral and canal locks a little way out of the city centre, Béziers is likely where you’ll fly to should you choose to visit the Languedoc region for yourself.

The city is the birthplace of Pierre Paul-Riquet, who was the mastermind behind the Canal du Midi, an impressive feat of engineering that’s now designated a UNESCO world heritage site.

In the Middle Ages Beziers was also the place where Simon de Montfort first mounted his crusade against the Cathars. Today, Beziers is a busy city with an international airport and easy transport links to the rest of the region.

From there, it’s easy to reach Arles, Carcassonne, and even Paris within a matter of hours. The Southern French city is also widely regarded as the region’s capital of wine production and an annual grape and wine festival is held every October.

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