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    Châteaux around Toulouse

    Within a radius of less than 100 km around Toulouse, a number of beautiful châteaux such as the Château de Merville, Château de Laréole and Château de Gramont will take you back to periods stretching from the Middle Ages to the Age of Enlightenment.

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    Starting from Toulouse, you can begin your tour of the châteaux of Midi-Pyrénées with the very stylish Château de Merville (18th century) that opens on to a boxwood maze unlike any other in Europe.
    Continue to the Renaissance Château de Laréole, which has been painstakingly restored. This stunning striped brick-and-stone building is today a venue for artists and exhibitions. Also, in the Albi region, don't miss the amazing Château de Mauriac (14th century), decorated by the contemporary artist Bernard Bistes.

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    Château de Mauriac - Mauriac (Tarn)Château de Gramont - Gramont (Tarn-et-Garonne)Château de Gramont - Gramont (Tarn-et-Garonne)Château de Bruniquel - Bruniquel (Tarn-et-Garonne)Château de Bruniquel - Bruniquel (Tarn-et-Garonne)

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      In Gers, near Samatan, the vast Château de Caumont (16th century) once played host to Henry IV. This fairytale castle still belongs to the Castelbajac family of French nobility.

      In Tarn et Garonne, the faithfully restored Château de Gramont overlooks the charming Val d’Arratz. The original 13th century château had a warlike past but in the 16th century it became the delightful residence you can enjoy today.

      At the other end of the département, the Château de Saint Projet looks back nostalgically on the time of Queen Margot, who stayed here in 1585. 
      Not far from there, the Château de Cas (13th-17th century) impresses with its richly furnished and decorated rooms. Continue to Bruniquel with its two châteaux (12th-17th century) overlooking the Aveyron Gorge. Your visit will take you around a maze of galleries, halls and corridors right on the cliff face.

      A potted history

      • Midi-Pyrénées is marked by the legacy of powerful feudal lords and princes in the lands of Béarn, Gascony, Rouergue and Quercy. Among them, certain significant figures have gone down in the annals of history, like Gaston Phébus, the counts of Toulouse, the counts of Armagnac and the Cardaillac family.
      • Independent from the kingdom of France until the 13th century, the region played a key role in the Hundred Years' War (1337-1453), its châteaux helping to defend strategic positions from neighbouring Aquitaine, which at the time was under English domination.
      • Wherever you are on holiday in Midi-Pyrénées, you'll also be impressed by the elegance of many châteaux, acquired during the Renaissance and later in the Age of Enlightenment. Ultimately, in these châteaux Midi-Pyrénées has one of the best preserved and most fascinating historical heritages in France.
       
      Project co-financed by the European Union. Europe is partnering Midi-Pyrénées with the European Regional Development Fund.