Are you visiting South West France and would like to discover some beautiful villages near Toulouse? Perfect!
Toulouse is a beautiful city with a rich history and while there are many things to do in the city, there are also many pretty villages near Toulouse that are worth checking out.
These villages have their own unique charm and offer visitors something more than what they would find in the city itself.
In this article, we’ve selected the most beautiful villages near Toulouse. Please note that they are all part of the ‘plus beaux villages de France’ association which means that they are small and stunning.
While some are very close to the city, we’ve also included some that are a bit further (1h30 to 2 hours drive) however be reassured, they can be visited on a day trip.
So, are you ready? Let’s take a look at some of these prettiest villages near Toulouse, France!
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Table of Contents
Cordes-sur-ciel
- Distance from Toulouse by car: 1 hour 15 minutes – 81 km
- Public transport: This day tour includes both Cordes-sur-Ciel and Albi.
Cordes-sur-Ciel is a beautiful village located about a 1h15 drive from Toulouse. The village is perched on a rocky outcrop and offers stunning views of the surrounding area.
Cordes-sur-Ciel is well known for its beautiful old houses and its unique location.
It looks like it’s in the sky!
As a matter of fact, it’s pretty much where its name comes from. Ciel means sky in French so it means Cordes on the sky.
There are many shops, restaurants and cafes in the village and it’s the perfect place to wander around and explore.
Make sure to check out the Halles, the Jardin du Paradis, the Maison du Grand Veneur as well as the Saint-Michel church.
If you are interested in museums, you’ll find three of them here:
- Chocolate and sugar museum
- Charles Portal museum
- Modern art gallery
Cordes-sur-ciel is also home to an annual festival which takes place every July and attracts visitors from all over the world so if you are visiting in summer, it’s worth considering it.
Bruniquel
- Distance from Toulouse by car: 1 hour and 10 minutes – 81 km
Bruniquel is a beautiful medieval village located about an hour drive from Toulouse.
The village is known for its impressive clifftop castle. It’s very pretty since it looks like it’s hanging from the cliff and it boasts stunning views of the river Aveyron.
The village is also home to many beautiful old houses and narrow streets. There are a few restaurants and cafes in the village where you can enjoy a nice meal.
A bit outside of the village, you can find the Bruniquel Cave which is also worth a visit. It’s an interesting archaeological site and a cool place to visit with kids or on a rainy day.
Lautrec
- Distance from Toulouse by car: 1 hour 10 minutes – 84 km
Located in the heart of the Tarn, Lautrec is a historic village near Toulouse that is particularly interesting for people who love art.
As the name might suggest, it’s where the family of the painter Toulouse-Lautrec used to be.
Lautrec is also known for producing pink garlic.
While it is small, the village itself is very pretty and you’ll enjoy wandering around the narrow streets and discovering the old houses.
Here you’ll find amazing examples of Corbel arches from the 14th century.
Before leaving, don’t forget to go to the church Saint-Rémy. Inside you’ll find beautiful murals made with the local pastel blue.
Najac
- Distance from Toulouse by car: 1 hour 45 minutes – 105 km
- Public transport: 1h25 by train. Direct from Matabiau Station. Tickets available here.
Najac is a beautiful medieval village that is about an hour and a half from Toulouse.
It’s one of the most picturesque villages in France and it’s easy to see why it’s a part of the ‘plus beaux villages de France’ association.
The village is perched on a cliff and overlooks the Aveyron river. It’s home to many beautiful old houses, cobbled streets and an absolutely stunning castle.
Make sure to wander around the village and check out all the different sights.
Ideally, walk all the way down the main street and back up to the castle.
You will find the visitor centre at the entrance of the village. It’s worth walking in to see what they have going on as they offer guided tours in summer.
There are a few restaurants and cafes in the village where you can get to try the local dish: the aligot.
The aligot is made with mashed potatoes and young Cantal cheese (called Tomme). It’s delicious!
Finally, if you want to do something a bit different afterwards, you should check out the hiking trails and local kayak rentals.
Puycelsi
- Distance from Toulouse by car: 1 hour 10 minutes – 73 km
Puycelsi is another beautiful medieval village that is about an hour drive from Toulouse. It’s very close to Gaillac which is a pretty town near Toulouse. If you want to hit two birds with the same stone, you should consider stopping there on the way back.
The village is located on a small hill and is surrounded by the beautiful Grésigne forest.
It’s home to many interesting historical sites, including a castle (forteresse de Puycelsi), the Sainte Corneille church and the fortified walls.
There are also some lovely walks in the area that will take you through forests and meadows.
When you’re done exploring the village, make sure to go to the restaurant Au Cabanon. They have a beautiful terrace overlooking the valley and serve traditional French cuisine.
Sarrant
- Distance from Toulouse by car: 1 hour – 62 km
Sarrant is a quaint French village a bit closer to Toulouse than the ones previously mentioned.
It is a nice place to explore and wander. Here you will discover timber frame houses (which is not that common in the South of France).
The church Saint-Vincent is also worth a visit, especially as it’s free to enter.
You will also find a lovely restaurant in the village called Le Family.
Saint-Cirq-Lapopie
- Distance from Toulouse by car: 1 hour 45 minutes – 125 km
Saint-Cirq Lapopie is a bit further from but it’s such a stunning and unique place to visit near Toulouse that it had to be mentioned!
It’s one of the most picturesque villages in France and it’s easy to see why it’s a part of the ‘plus beaux villages de France’ association.
The village is perched on a cliff and overlooks the Lot river. It’s home to many beautiful old houses, cobbled streets and an absolutely stunning church located on the edge of the cliff.
Make sure to wander around and check out all the different sights.
The village is quite small so it’s easy to see everything in a few hours.
There are a few restaurants and cafes in the village where you grab a drink while looking at the breath-taking views over the valley.
Finally, if you want to do something different afterwards, consider checking out some of these activities nearby :
- Kayaking. You can rent a kayak from Bouziès and paddle along the river Lot or Célé. You’ll get to discover views of Saint-Cirq-Lapopie from a very different angle.
- Checking out the Chemin de Halage.
- Ziplining (check out the local company Kalapca Loisirs for that).
- Via Ferrata
Auvillar
- Distance from Toulouse by car: 1 hour 5 minutes – 90 km
Auvillar is another picturesque village near Toulouse that is worth adding to your list of places to visit.
Located between Agen and Moissac, it’s a famous stop on the Camino de Santiago.
It’s located on a hill overlooking the river Garonne. Back in the days, there used to be a toll here so needless to say that it was a rather strategic location.
Today, you won’t need to pay a toll so don’t worry about but it’s quite interesting since a lot of the history of Auvillar is linked to that. You can see where the toll was at the Port d’Auvillar.
The main attractions include La Halle aux grains and the church of Saint-Pierre which was built during the 13th century and made out of pink sandstone.
Make sure to wander around the village and check out all the different sights. There are a few restaurants and cafes in the village where you can try some local dishes.
Since this village is on the Camino, you’ll find quite a few restaurants here that serve delicious food for quite an affordable price.
These pilgrim menus were obviously created for people who are doing the Camino but you can get them as well so don’t worry.
Rocamadour
- Distance from Toulouse by car: 2 hours – 165 km
Although Rocamadour is a bit further compared to the other villages mentioned, it definitely belongs on this list!
Rocamadour is one of the most beautiful villages in South West France and a famous stop for pilgrims.
It’s a clifftop village located in the heart of the Lot. It’s also part of the ‘plus beaux villages de France’ association.
Here are some ideas of things to do in Rocamadour:
- Go up to the Chapel Notre Dame. It’s perched on a cliff overlooking the valley and home to the famous Black Madonna Statue.
- Visit the Basilica of Saint-Sauveur.
- Wander around the quaint and picturesque streets. Make sure to head down the town and check out the local shops in search of some souvenirs or gifts for family back home.
The Lot is also a region known for its culinary traditions so make sure to experience the food while you’re here.
There are many restaurants all around the village including some with terraces boasting incredible views over the valley.
As you walk around, don’t forget to go to a cheese shop (fromagerie) and try the local goat cheese (cabécou).
Travelling with kids? Then you should consider visiting the Monkey forest or the Eagles Rock as well.
St Antonin Noble Val
- Distance from Toulouse by car: 1 hour 20 minutes – 60 km
St Antonin Noble Val is another picturesque village near Toulouse that you should add to your list of places to visit.
It’s located in the Gorges de l’Aveyron, making it a nice place for people who want a relaxing day, walk along the river or even go kayaking.
Here are some of the best places to check out in Saint Antonin Noble Val:
- Maison Romane. This romanesque house is the former town hall and was built in the 12th century.
- Wandering around. The houses are incredibly pretty in St Antonin so walking around and just discovering all these hidden gems is a great thing to do. You’ll even find a house called ‘Maison de l’amour’.
- Walk along the riverside and the bridge.
Camon
- Distance from Toulouse by car: 1 hour 20 minutes – 103 km
If you are looking for a bit of a hidden gem in the South West, Camon will be the perfect place to visit.
This beautiful medieval village is not famous as Saint-Cirq-Lapopie or Rocamadour but it has a lot to offer.
Firstly, it’s important to note that Camon is in the Ariège which means you can easily go there for a day and then enjoy some time in the mountains.
Here are some of my favourite things to do in this picturesque village:
- Check out the village gate. It’s a beautiful bell tower
- The abbey. It was converted into a restaurant so it’s quite a cool and unique place to go for a meal
- The village walls.
Caylus
- Distance from Toulouse by car: 1 hour 25 minutes – 100 km
Caylus is located in the department of the Tarn-et-Garonne and it’s a beautiful village that has been able to preserve its authenticity.
Though it’s not part of the ‘plus beaux villages de France’ association, it’s still a beautiful village / small town to discover. A lot of people drive through it on their way to Villefranche de Rouergue without even noticing how beautiful it is!
The stone houses, narrow streets and views are just so lovely.
Here are some of the best things to do in Caylus:
- Cascade Pétrifiante is a beautiful waterfall to check out. It’s located in Les Cabannes, just a couple of minutes drive from Caylus town centre.
- Place de la mairie. In the middle of the town, you can find a beautiful example of medieval market place (les halles).
- The visitor centre. If you want to learn more and get some other ideas of things to do, the staff of the visitor centre will be more than happy to help you. Regardless, it’s a nice place to check out because it’s located in a traditional medieval house with stunning arches.
There are also several cafes and restaurants around the village. Le Lagardere for example is a tradition French restaurant that serves local food at a very affordable price.
Lauzerte
- Distance from Toulouse by car: 1 hour 20 minutes – 95 km
Lauzerte is a cute small town located in the department of Tarn and Garonne.
It’s located only 15 km from Moissac which means you can easily visit both in the same day if you want to.
Lauzerte is a medieval fortified town where you can find incredible examples of French medieval architecture such as arches and timber frame houses.
Here are some of the best things you can do while in Lauzerte:
- Discovering the Place des Cornières. This is the central square and it’s surrounded of very unique houses. You can literally see centuries worth of architecture styles here.
- Saint-Bathelemy Church. Initially built in the 13th century, this church has survived centuries of history and is a great place to visit in Lauzerte.
The villages near Toulouse are all beautiful in their own way, and each has a unique history that makes it worth visiting.
Whether you’re looking for a place to relax and take in the stunning French countryside or you want to explore some of the area’s fascinating historical attractions, these pretty villages near Toulouse are sure to please.
So what are you waiting for? Start planning your trip today!
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