Castres is a large town in the Midi-Pyrénées region of France, which is known as the Languedoc. The town is close to both Toulouse and Montpellier, and has a tradition of charcuterie, cured meats, and large street markets. Castres is known for its history and being the birthplace of social politician and newspaper publisher, Jean Jaurès. With the town's history, it is recommended to hire a car from Castres to explore the Cathar monuments, which still stand in the local area. There are also five beautiful public gardens in Castres, one being the Bishop's Palace is a paradise of sculpted gardens that mimic the embroidery style in the 17th century.
In this particular region of France, Castres has a distinctive culture of French food, as well as a beautiful countryside and history. Hiring a car in Castres will enable you to explore the main points of interest, one attraction being the Goya Museum, famous for the largest collection of Spanish paintings in France. The museum was built in 1675 and located in the old Bishop's Place. Alternatively you could rent a car from Castres and make for Carcassonne, which has a rebuilt medieval citadel. It is an accurate representation of what the city looked like over 1000 years ago, and there are lots of authentic French restaurants that serve traditional dishes.
