The Départements of Midi-Pyrénées

Ariège
The Département of Ariège is adjacent to Spain, and Andorra, in the south, about two thirds of the distance of the Franco-Spanish border, from the Atlantic, going west to east.  It is bounded by the départements of Haute-Garonne to the west and north, Aude [region of Languedoc-Roussillon] on the northeast and Pyrénées-Orientales [region of Languedoc-Roussillon] on the southeast.  Its capital is Foix.   

The département was formed in 1790 from the ancient countship of Foix together with parts of the old provinces of Gascony and Languedoc.  It is situated in the highest and widest area of the Pyrénées where there are passes as high as 6000 feet with peaks rising above 9000. 

The economy of the higher elevations is principally pastoral.  In the lowlands, beans, corn, deciduous fruits and potatoes are cultivated along with wheat.  There is also some mining of low-grade deposits of such minerals as iron, lead and zinc as well as anhydrite and gypsum.  Aluminum refining, based upon the area’s hydroelectric generation, is located at Sabart.  The old spas, such as those at Ax-les-Thermes, which were known to the Romans, have been revived by the growing tourist industry. 

Aveyron
The Département of Aveyron, with its capital at Rodez, was formed from the old province of Guyenne.  It is located in the southwest sector of the Massif Central and consists of an eroded basalt plateau in the north, an unproductive plateau in the center and fertile valleys in the south and west.  The area is deeply eroded by the Aveyron, Lot and Tarn rivers.  It is bounded by the départements of Cantal [region of Auvergne] on the north, the Languedoc-Roussillon départements of Lozère and Gard on the east, Hérault [region of Languedoc-Roussillon] and Tarn on the south.  The départements of Tarn-et-Garonne and Lot are located to its west. 

Orchards and vineyards are found in the low valleys of Aveyron.  The higher plateaus are dedicated to sheep grazing.  The sheep milk is used for making Roquefort cheese which they age in the limestone caves of the area. 
 

Gers
In 1790, the Département of Gers was formed in the hilly Armagnac region of southwestern France from the old province of Gascony.  Gers is bordered by the département of  Lot-et-Garonne [region of Aquitaine] to the north, Tarn-et-Garonne to the northeast, Haute-Garonne to the east and southeast, Hautes-Pyrénées to the south, and Landes [region of Aquitaine] to the east.  The Gers River bisects the département from souch to north and passes through its capital of Auch. 

Gers is one of France’s richest agricultural areas.  There are fruit orchards, vineyards, cereal cultivation and cattle raising.  It is here that Armagnac, a type of brandy, is distilled.

During the Hundred Years' War, both the French and English kings built castles along the frontier that was established in the late 13th century.
 

Haute-Garonne 
The Département of Haute-Garonne covers the entire basin of the upper Garonne River in southwestern France.  It was created primarily from the historic province of Languedoc and from the northeastern part of Gascony.  It is bordered, to the north, by the département of Tarn-et-Garonne, to the northeast by Tarn, to the southeast by Ariège, to the south by Spain, to the southwest by Hautes-Pyrénées and to the west by Gers.  The département’s capital, Toulouse, is split by the Garonne River and the intersection of the Midi Canal. 

A substantial tourist industry has grown in the mountainous southern part of the region due principally to its magnificent mountain scenery.  Other economic activity, in the south, includes hydroelectric power generation, chemical production and sheep raising.  In the non-mountainous areas, of the region, there is considerable cattle raising, cereals cultivation, market gardening, fruit orchards and grape growing.  Aircraft manufacturing, food processing, leather processing and textile manufacturing are important industries in the Toulouse district. 
 

Hautes-Pyrénées
The Département of Hautes-Pyrénées is located primarily in the central Pyrénées mountains, north of the Franco-Spanish border.  The mountain passes into Spain are very high and difficult to use.  It is surrounded by the Département of Gers to the north, Haute-Garonne to the east, Spain to the south and the département of Pyrénées-Atlantiques [region of Aquitaine] to the west.  Its capital is Tarbes. 

A tourism industry has replaces Hautes-Pyrénées’ traditional craft industries.  Its tourism is centered primarily about the popular spas of Bagneres-de-Bigorre and Cauterets and the old fortress town of Lourdes which has become one of the world’s most popular pilgrimage venues.  Winter sports also attract tourist to Hautes-Pyrénées.  Other economic activities include hydroelectric generation, beans and corn cultivation, deciduous fruit growing and sheep raising.  
 

Lot 
The département of Lot is located on the northwestern edge of Midi-Pyrénées region.  It is bordered by the départements of Correze [region of Limousin] to the north, Cantal [region of Auvergne] to the northeast, Aveyron to the east, Tarn-et-Garonne to the south, and the départements of Aquitaine: Lot-et-Garonne  to the east and Dordogne to the northwest.  Its capital is Cahors, one of the most ancient towns in France. 

Lot was formed from the historic district of Quercy, in the province of Guyenne, in 1790.  It extends from the Aquitaine Basin to the western part of the Massif Central.  The western and southwestern areas of Lot are hilly whereas the central and northern sections are located on a limestone plateau known as the Causses [chaux means limestone in French].  The Lot River has cut a deep east-west valley through the Causses and meanders about Cahors.  Another river, the Dordogne, flows across the northeastern part of Lot. 

The agriculture of cereals, fruit trees, tobacco and vegetables is found in the valleys, with grape vines flourishing along the valleys’ lower slopes.  Cattle and sheep are raised on the plateaus.  Truffles are also found on the plateaus.  Industry is almost non-existent with the exception of an aeronautical factory at Figeac. 

A tourist industry has been growing in the département mainly due to the charm of the ancient towns and villages and the beauty of the countryside.  Other contributing factors to this industry is the pilgrimage center at Rocamadour, which is located near the spectacular Gouffre de Padirac sinkhole.  And, at Pech-Merle, which is located east of Cahors, there is a cave with prehistoric wall paintings.
 

Tarn 
The département of Tarn is located between the Massif Central, in the northeast, and the Aquitaine basin in the west.  It is surrounded by the départements of Aveyron to the northeast, the Languedoc-Roussillon départements of Hérault  to the southeast [which separates it from the Mediterranean Sea to the east] and Aude to the south, Haute-Garonne to the southwest, and Tarn-et-Garonne to the northwest.  Its capital is Albi, which is located on the Tarn River. 

Tarn was created in 1790 from part of the historic province of Languedoc.  In the northeast is the wooded plateau known as Segala.  In the southeast are several mountain chains separated by the Agout and Thoré valleys. 

Tarn’s primary agricultural products are cattle, cereals, chestnuts, fruits, mulberry trees, sparkling wines and vegetables.  The local industry consists mainly of engineering, food processing, metal fabrication, paper production and synthetic fiber production.  The coal mines, in the Albi-Carmaux area, supply this industry.
 

Tarn-et-Garonne 
The département of Tarn-et-Garonne is located to the north of Toulouse.  It is encircled by the départements of Lot to the north, Aveyron to the east, Tarn, Haute-Garonne and Gers to the south and Lot-et-Garonne [region of Aquitaine] to the northwest.  Its capital, Mantauban, is situated on the Tarn River, which enters the département from the southeast and flows northwest through the capital, to join the Aveyron River.  It finally empties into the Garonne River.  The river crosses the département from southeast to the northwest. 

The département was established in 1808 from areas originally belonging to the historic regions of Gascony, Guyenne and Languedoc.  For the most part, Tarn-et-Garonne is low-lying and fertile.  Corn and wheat are grown, cattle raised and vineyards and orchards are cultivated.  The département’s industry consists of some textile and mechanical manufacturing.