Bell tents in Occitanie with horseback riding

France's southernmost region has ancient monuments, mountains, and Mediterranean beaches.

France
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Occitanie

Popular camping styles for Occitanie

Top bell tents sites in occitanie with horseback riding

Camp La Mafresie

1 unit · Glamping7 acres · Laparrouquial, Occitanie

Come and stay in a luxury 6 metre bell tent that sits in its own secluded field with a lovely view onto a rolling meadow. The valley is home to a wide variety of birds and butterflies, and deer come to drink at the spring in the meadow. Night skies are free of pollution, perfect for stargazing. It is a very tranquil special place, ideal for those wanting to get away from it all and be immersed in nature. It is a place for children to explore freely. There is an 11-metre swimming pool at our home for you to enjoy most of the day. The 6 metre bell tent is spacious and comfortable. There is a double bed and two singles, all with cotton sheets and throws. There is a chest and baskets to keep clothes, and children's games are provided. 360 degree mosquito netting around the tent makes it possible to open it for ventilation. Solar lighting and lanterns provide light. There is a pretty outdoor kitchen with a two ring gas stove for simple cooking. All crockery is provided. A barbeque and fridge are also available at a barn 2 minutes away where there is also washing up facilities. For dining, there is a wooden picnic table next to the tent, with a lovely view of the meadow. Your own private bathroom is 2 minutes walk away at the barn and has a shower, loo and washbasin. Towels, a hairdryer and toiletries are provided. All you need to do is turn up! There are lots of good walks and bike hire and horse riding are available nearby. In Laguepie, just 10 minutes drive, there is surveilled river swimming, and several restaurants and bars for dining. Half an hour's drive away is the pretty town of St Antonin, with kayaking down the Averyron Gorges, as well as a fantastic Sunday market. The area is rich in culture with the medieval town of Cordes-sur-Ciel just 10 minutes drive, and the city of Albi with its spectacular cathedral, a Unesco site, just 40 mins away. Albi is also home to the Toulouse Lautrec Museum and a lot of good restaurants. The Gaillac vineyards are a short drive and offer wine tastings and evening concerts. Summer is the time for festivals here, and there is usually some entertainment taking place in one of the nearby villages. The bell tent is available June, July and August for a minimum of 2 nights.

Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

Bell tents in Occitanie with horseback riding guide

Overview

Occitanie brings together two former French regions to make up the country's second-largest region, packing in plenty of variety. There's the coastal Languedoc-Roussillon, which curls around the southwest shore of the Mediterranean and affords some 125 miles (200 kilometres) of beaches, Cathar castles, and UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Inland, the landlocked Midi-Pyrénées stretches down from the Dordogne to the Pyrénées mountains along the Spanish border. Throw in some of France's sunniest cities—Toulouse, Montpellier, and Perpignan—and you've got road trip heaven. As for camping, there's everything from beachfront campgrounds and riverside getaways to mountain chalets.

Where to go

North Midi-Pyrénées

Some of Occitanie's most enchanting scenery sits in the northern Midi-Pyrénées' departments of Lot, Aveyron, and Tarn-et-Garonne. The dramatic river canyons, wooded valleys, and verdant hills of the Lot Valley harbour gems like the cliff-top village of Rocamadour and the Gouffre de Padirac caves, while Tarn-et-Garonne is home to bastide towns like Montauban and Beaumont-de-Lomagne. Not to be outshined, Aveyron has more of the 'most beautiful villages of France' than any other department.

Central Midi-Pyrénées

From the rolling countryside of the Gers department in the west to the historic towns of Cordes sur Ciel and Albi in the Tarn department, there's lots to explore the central Occitanie. The "pink city" of Toulouse is the headline act of the Haute-Garonne department, which extends down through the Pyrénées mountains to the border of Spain, and the Haut-Languedoc Regional Natural Park affords some of the region's best hiking and camping.

Haute-Pyrénées & Ariège

Tumbling down to the Spanish border, the wild landscapes of the Pyrenees National Park are the highlight of the southern Hautes-Pyrénées department for hikers and campers. Don't miss a visit to the pilgrimage town of Lourdes along the way, revered for its "healing" waters. Further east, the mountainous Ariège department is home to the Pyrenees-Ariegoises Regional Natural Park.

North Languedoc

The (mostly) coastal strip of Occitanie is the former Languedoc-Roussillon region, where history buffs and sun-seekers will be equally satisfied. Montpellier is the region's biggest hub, hemmed in by the Languedoc vineyards and glorious sandy beaches of Herault. Further up the coast, the Gard department is known for its Roman ruins and the Camargue National Park, while inland, the Lozere department offers outdoor activities at Cévennes National Park and the Tarn Gorge.

South Languedoc

The southern Aude and Pyrenees Orientales departments complete the Languedoc's Mediterranean coastline. There's great coastal camping around Narbonne, but history enthusiasts will want to head inland to discover the medieval city of Carcassonne or follow the Cathar Castle trail. Further south, the Pyrenees mountains meet the coast around Perpignan, providing plenty of choice for hiking and camping.