Camping et Village Vacances Le Lac

Time to stop and smell the roses? Wander among the plants at the botanical gardens Les Jardins de la Poterie Hillen (five-minute drive) or seek out the wild flowers growing at the Gorges de la Save canyon (10 minutes). To check out architecture as well as horticulture, venture to the Villa Gallo-Romaine de Montmaurin ruins and museum (15 minutes) or amble to Aurignac, a village prettily placed on a rocky outcrop, for medieval masterpieces like a castle and the Notre-Dame de Lorette church. Once you’ve investigated the lesser-known settlements in the region, Lourdes (an hour) – one of France’s most famed towns – is of course a must-visit. The Catholic pilgrimage site welcomes millions of visitors annually to the Grotto of Massabielle, a place where the Virgin Mary is believed to have appeared in front of a local lady. Set off to another cavern, the Grottes de Bétharram (an hour and 15 minutes), for another subterranean expedition – this underground destination is made up of five levels sitting on top of one another. Back out in the open, the sights of Toulouse, like the Basilique Saint-Sernin de Toulouse, Musée des Augustins and Cité de l'Espace science discovery centre, take an hour and 20 minutes to reach.