SOUTH OF FRANCE TRAVEL GUIDE

Visite the South of france with homeliways.com ,Whether the South of France conjures images of the glamour of the Côte D’Azur, the idyllic countryside of Aquitaine, or the peaceful vineyards and history of Languedoc, it most likely holds your ideal holiday. The snow-capped mountains of the Midi-Pyrénées and stunningly beautiful towns beckon in the winter months, and sun-soaked beaches, festivals and locally grown Mediterranean foods draw in the summer crowds, and yet the dreamy laid-back areas, like those found in the Dordogne offer space enough for everyone.

– BEST TIME TO VISIT THE SOUTH OF FRANCE –

Annual Events not to miss

• A must for film fans the world over, the Cannes Film Festival is essentially a pilgrimage for cinephiles. Held every May, it’s the biggest festival in the film industry, with blockbusters and independents all carefully curated. Director, actor and miscellaneous celebrity sightings are a given.

• June sees the Bordeaux Wine Festival celebrate all things grape throughout one of France’s favourite wine regions. Expect to taste lots and lots of wine, and see fantastic multimedia and fireworks displays.

• The Midi- Pyrénées loves a good festival or celebration, it has things going on for all tastes all year round, from jazz concerts and flower displays to the Tour de France.

Best time to catch

• Celebs on the beach: Head to the French Riviera from May to September to hob-nob with the celebrities on the sand and in the chic bars and restaurants. Take your credit card!

• All the grapes: Grape harvesting is normally in September and October, and many of the wineries are happy to let you help out with the picking. It’ll be happening all over France, but Aquitaine is a good bet.

• Truffle mania: Prized black truffles are in season in the Dordogne between December and March. If you’re foodie fanatic, bundle up and brave the chilly weather to get your own taste of nature’s gold.

Rainiest month

Although you might get the odd thunderstorm in late summer, the rainiest months are Southern France are October and November.

Hottest months

Temperatures can reach 40˚C. in July and August. If you’re sensitive to heat, consider either a pad with air con and a pool or timing your visit for the balmier months of June and September.

Busiest season

For those seeking the sunshine, crowds tend to flock to the beaches in the South of France during peak school holiday times. If you can avoid July and August, you’ll have more space to sunbathe during June and September. If you’re a snow bunny, the slopes of the Midi-Pyrenees are busiest during UK and France school holidays, when flights are often also at a high. If you’re not governed by term-time, it’s worth planning your villa holidays ahead for some blissfully empty runs.

– SOUTH OF FRANCE: TRANSPORT TIPS –

Getting around the South of France is a lot easier than both the North and Central France. Public transport is a lot more reliable in certain areas, cycling is a breath of fresh air but of course, driving will almost always be your best bet. We’ve broken each city down by transport links and tips!

Midi-Pyrenees transport: Rail connections from Toulouse link up the regional capital with other major stations, including Albi, Lourdes, Rocamadour and Millau, among others. But if you’re looking for an adventure, the Midi-Pyrénées is walking country par excellence.

Languedoc transport: Hailing taxis is generally not the done thing in Languedoc; you’ll have more luck finding them at taxi stands or by booking ahead by phone. But driving in Languedoc is the best way to get around, and allows for access to those remote and rarely explored areas that can’t be reached by public transport.

Dordogne transport: Getting around the Dordogne without a car can prove restricting. Train services in the region are slow, irregular and infrequent. Buses, alas, are even worse.

Provence transport: The TGV system – an abbreviation that literally stands for ‘really fast trains’ – is the best way to get into the region from elsewhere in France.

Aquitaine transport: Driving is the best way to cover all corners of the region, but for those who don’t have the means to a car, the rail network is actually really good (we