UNESCO sites in Occitania : world heritage and places not to be missed

Founded on November 16, 1945, in London, United Kingdom, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is a major initiative born of the collaboration of several nations. With 20 founding members, including France, this international organization has set itself the mission of promoting peace and international cooperation in the fields of education, science and culture.

Strongly committed to this mission, the organization currently has 194 member states. In order to be listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, 10 specific criteria must be met, reflecting the cultural and natural diversity of our planet. Any site aspiring to this honor must meet a certain number of these criteria, thus underlining its exceptional importance on the world stage. Through its ongoing commitment, it is working to preserve our heritage.

The Occitanie region, with its landmarks in the south of France, is home to several sites on this prestigious list. These 9 exceptional sites bear witness to the region's rich historical, architectural and natural heritage. From the splendor of medieval cities to preserved natural wonders, UNESCO Occitanie sites reflect the diversity and grandeur of Occitanie's world heritage.

UNESCO monuments and sites in Occitanie

The Episcopal City of Albi

The Cité épiscopale d'Albi is a historic Occitanie site which, as its name suggests, is located in Albi in the department of Tarn. It has been a UNESCO Occitanie site since 2010, due to its architectural importance and history.

The main attraction of the Cité Episcopale is the Cathedral Sainte-Cécile d'Albi, which is the largest brick cathedral in the world, making it a must-see in Occitanie. Construction of the cathedral began in the 13th century and lasted over two centuries. It is renowned for its fortified architecture and its imposing bell tower, known as the “clocher-porche”, which dominates the landscape.

In addition to the cathedral, the Cité Episcopale also includes the Palais de la Berbie, now home to the Toulouse-Lautrec Museum, a stronghold of Occitanie's cultural heritage. The palace was once the residence of the bishops of Albi. It is surrounded by gardens offering panoramic views over the Tarn and the city.

The architectural ensemble of the bishop's palace is a remarkable example of the medieval architecture of southern France and the power of the Catholic Church at the time.

The Historic Fortified City of Carcassonne

The city of Carcassonne, located in the Aude department, has been a UNESCO Occitanie World Heritage Site since 1997. It is renowned for its impressive medieval fortifications and is an outstanding example of a preserved medieval city.

Its main features are its massive ramparts, imposing towers and castle. The architectural ensemble, a must-see site in Occitanie, dates back mainly to the Middle Ages, although modifications have been made over the centuries. It was also restored in the 19th century under the direction of the architect Viollet-le-Duc, who sought to preserve and restore the city's medieval appearance. Inside, you'll find cobbled streets, old houses, stores, restaurants and even a château comtal, once the residence of the Counts of Carcassonne.

The city, perched on a hill, offers panoramic views over the Aude valley. It's also a must-see in the South of France, and is one of the most emblematic tourist excursions in Occitanie.

The Fortifications of Vauban

Vauban fortifications refer to a set of fortifications designed by the famous French military engineer Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban in the 17th century. Vauban worked under the reign of Louis XIV, and is best known for his many contributions to military architecture and fortifications.

These fortifications are renowned for their ingenuity, efficiency and adaptation to the technologies of the time. Vauban modernized and improved existing defensive systems using innovative ideas. His fortifications were designed to withstand enemy assaults while minimizing the structures' vulnerability to new methods of attack, such as artillery.

Vauban's fortifications are scattered throughout France, and 12 sites were highlighted in 2008, including a fortification at Villefranche de Conflent in the Pyrénées Orientales, now recognized as a UNESCO Occitanie site. With its medieval charm, fortifications and mountainous setting, Villefranche-de-Conflent is a must-see in Occitanie.

The Pont du Gard

The Pont du Gard is an ancient Roman aqueduct bridge near Nîmes, in the Gard département. It was built by the Romans in the 1st century AD. The Pont du Gard was part of a system of aqueducts that carried water from the Eure spring near Uzès to the town of Nemausus (now the city of Nîmes). It was also built to cross the Gardon river to supply the city with drinking water and fill its fountains and thermal baths.

The bridge is considered a masterpiece of Roman engineering, thanks to its architecture of three levels of superimposed arches. It is approximately 49 meters high and 275 meters long. It's a must-see in the Occitanie region.

Today, the Pont du Gard is one of France's most visited tourist sites, thanks to its architectural beauty and its importance as a Roman relic. It has been listed as an Occitanie World Heritage site since 1985, and was the first site in Occitanie to be included on this prestigious list.

The Maison Carrée of Nîmes

The Maison Carrée de Nîmes is a well-preserved ancient Roman temple located in the center of the city of Nîmes, in the Gard département. It is one of the finest examples of Roman architecture preserved in Europe. The Maison Carrée was built in the early 1st century A.D. and is dedicated to the grandsons of Emperor Augustus, Caius Caesar and Lucius Caesar.

The Maison Carrée, a must-see for cultural tourism in Occitanie, is a Corinthian-style temple with a porticoed façade supported by columns. It was originally used as a place of worship, but over the centuries has been adapted to different functions, including residence, church and town hall, and is now used as a cultural venue for temporary exhibitions.

Today, the Maison Carrée has been listed as a UNESCO Occitanie site since 2023. This major tourist site is also part of the region's well-preserved Roman architectural heritage, and bears witness to the influence and presence of the Roman Empire in the city of Nîmes.

The landscapes of Occitanie listed by UNESCO

The Causses and Cévennes

The Causses and Cévennes are a natural region located mainly in the departments of Lozère, Gard, Aveyron and Loire. In 2011, the Causses and Cévennes were inscribed on the Occitanie World Heritage List as cultural landscapes of Mediterranean agro-pastoralism. This distinction recognizes the interaction between man and nature in the region, highlighting traditional farming practices, rural architecture and natural resource management. The region is also rich in flora and fauna, home to numerous plant and animal species.

The Causses are the region's characteristic limestone plateaus, forming karst landscapes with gorges, avens (deep holes in the limestone ground) and dolines. The main Causses in the region are Causse Méjean, Causse Noir, Causse du Larzac and Causse de Sauveterre. They are ideal for excursions in Occitanie.

The Cévennes is a mountain range stretching across the Gard and Lozère départements. The Cévennes offer mountainous landscapes, deep valleys, tumultuous rivers and dense vegetation. The Cévennes are also known for their historical importance, notably as the home of French Protestants who resisted religious persecution in the 17th century.

The Cirque de Gavarnie

The Cirque de Gavarnie, listed as a UNESCO Occitanie site in 1997, captivates visitors with its breathtaking beauty. Nestled in the heart of the Hautes-Pyrénées, this semi-circular glacial cirque boasts imposing cliffs, dominated by the great Gavarnie waterfall, one of the highest in Europe. The peaks, including Mont Perdu, add to the grandeur of the landscape, while wildlife, from isards to golden eagles, thrives in this natural area.

The cirque, a place of adventure, offers hiking trails with spectacular views, rock faces for climbers, and in winter, a terrain suitable for winter sports. Exceptional biodiversity and a variety of seasons add to the richness of this region, for unforgettable excursions in Occitanie. The cirque remains an unspoilt treasure trove, offering a memorable experience of nature in its purest form.

Le chemin de Saint Jacques-de-Compostelle

The Camino de Santiago de Compostela, a thousand-year-old pilgrimage converging on Santiago de Compostela in the Spanish region of Galicia, is much more than a sacred route. They offer a spiritual and cultural adventure, with variants such as the Camino Francès and the Camino del Norte, each marked by the scallop shell, which has become the emblematic symbol of the pilgrimage.

The varied motivations of pilgrims, whether spiritual, physical or hiking-related, contribute to the essence of this journey. Listed as an Occitanie World Heritage Site in 1998, the Pilgrim's Way to Santiago de Compostela continues to attract walkers from all over the world, creating a unique experience of inner quest, connection and sharing, particularly when pilgrims gather in hostels.

In the south of France, the pilgrimage passes through some of Occitanie's most famous sites, starting in Toulouse or Arles and crossing a variety of landscapes and emblematic sites such as Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert, a medieval village classified as one of France's Most Beautiful Villages..

The Canal du Midi

The Canal du Midi, a 17th-century masterpiece designed by Pierre-Paul Riquet between 1667 and 1694, is a 360 km waterway linking the Atlantic to the Mediterranean, passing through a number of emblematic Occitan towns such as Toulouse and Béziers. With its 328 locks, bridges, tunnels and aqueducts, it has been a UNESCO Occitanie site since 1996.

Today, it's a popular destination in south of France for navigation, but it offers much more than just a river corridor: it's also a peaceful setting for a wide range of activities, including cycling and walking.

The Canal du Midi showcases the traditional skills of lock-keepers and bears witness to the human ingenuity, history and timeless beauty of southern France.