The area
The Midi Pyrénées is the largest region in the country and because of its size and location it offers a huge diversity of scenery, cuisine and activities to suit all tastes.
Lassalle is only a few minutes away from the unspoilt medieval market town of Caylus with resturants, bars and cafés, as well as an excellent range of shops, including top-class butchers and patisseries. There is also a swimming pool and children's pool next to a beautiful lake with café and outdoor games.
Lying midway between the dramatic gorge of the Aveyron and the lush valley of the Lot, within 30 minutes there are an incredible variety of places to visit and activities to try. Numerous medieval bastide villages, including Najac and Cordes, are great for exploring. The larger towns of Villefranche, Albi, Montauban, Cahors and Toulouse are all within easy reach. And the extraordinary Millau viaduct is an easy day trip away through stunning scenery. The area produces good Appelation Controlé wine (Cahors, Gaillac and Quercy), and there are numerous vineyards nearby to visit.
For the energetic there is hang-gliding, paragliding, climbing and caving all available locally, and the area is particularly renowned for canoeing (safe for all the family). A highlight of 2009 was donkey chasing, involving the Lassalleoise chasing two escaped donkeys through the hamlet. In August there are boules competitions (not taken seriously) in the square.
There are markets in Caylus on Tuesdays and Saturdays with fresh and organic locally produced goods. This region is renowned for its wild mushrooms, truffles, chestnuts, garlic and walnut oil. A variety of cheeses are also produced from cows, sheep and goats. There are larger markets in St Antonin on Sundays, Caussade on Mondays and Villefranche de Rouergue on Thursdays.
In the summer months there are many festivals - usually free - in the local towns and villages, as well as 'repas gourmand' where everyone sits at long tables in the evening sun tasting local foods and wines.
And most importantly, there are over 50 restaurants within 25 minutes drive of Lassalle offering superb local food at great prices. Free-range duck is a speciality and forms the basis of many local dishes such as magret de canard, foie gras and cassoulet.
