About the Tarn et Garonne in SW France

Originally posted on & updated on 10th February, 2024

The Tarn-et-Garonne department is part of the Midi-Pyrénées region and is home to some of the most beautiful villages in south-west France. It borders the departments of the Lot, Aveyron, Tarn, Haute-Garonne, Gers and Lot-et-Garonne and lies in the very heart of the Occitanie region. This ancient province is famous for its breathtaking rolling landscapes and abundant sunshine as well as its foie gras and Armagnac brandy.

Popular Montaigu de Quercy

Notable locations popular for property investment are the bastide town of Lauzerte – which has been listed since the nineties as one of the most beautiful villages in France – and the medieval Montaigu de Quercy, which offers a bustling Saturday market and a thriving expat community.

Moissac is also a popular place for property investment and is known for the medieval Saint-Pierre Abbey and for producing the first true greengages or Reine Claudes as they are known in France. The Tarn-et-Garonne as a whole is famed for its fruit growing and the majority of the fruit grown in the Midi-Pyrénées is produced here – it is one of France’s biggest melon-producing departments.

Pays de Lomagne & Grands Causses

At the south of the Tarn-et-Garonne you can find Gascony’s Lomagne region where the mild climate and rich clay soil means that garlic grows in perfect conditions. The area is legendary for its excellent ail and each July Beaumont-de-Lomagne, a pretty bastide town, hosts a garlic festival, the fête de l’ail.

Over to the east in the Grands Causses nature park – which offers over 1,500 plant species and a range of historic buildings from Neolithic tombs built in 5,000BC to the incredible Millau Viadcut, constructed in 2004 – towns such as Caylus offer culture, history, excellent access, fine cuisine and exquisite surroundings. Caylus itself has a fortified church and dates back to Gallo-Roman times and offers a wide range of properties types and styles.

Picturesque Najac

Just about 25km east of Caylus is another town popular with those wanting to invest in either a primary residence or a second home: Najac. Situated in the neighbouring Aveyron department, it is a picturesque village set above the Aveyron River. Najac and the surrounding areas offer properties such as country homes, traditional farmhouses and character homes. Caylus and Najac are easily accessible from both Rodez and Toulouse airport.

European Hub

In fact when it comes to access, particularly that of the aviation kind, this department has many options. The European aerospace hub of Toulouse is the “chef-lieu” of the region and provides direct flights to plenty of international locations. In addition to Toulouse and Rodez, the Tarn-et-Garonne could also be accessed through Bergerac and Bordeaux airport. The TGV means fast train travel from Paris to Toulouse is also possible.

With such a wealth of culture, history, regional specialities, good access and beautiful landscapes, the Tarn-et-Garonne offers the perfect setting for a complete lifestyle change or holiday home destination. See all properties for sale in Tarn and Garonne,

Back to articles