"Hasta la vista" is a Spanish expression that literally translates to "until seeing you". It is used as a farewell greeting and means something like "see you later", "see you later" or "farewell". The routes under the umbrella Hasta la Vista have in common that they all head towards the Spanish sun and along the way you will encounter the (almost) forgotten sights again, refresh your memories and revive the fun.

Castres, your starting point for this tour, has a historic centre that is worth visiting. The combination of the old, narrow streets with the many shops and terraces ensures that you can easily spend a day here. Castres is also an ideal base for a wonderful holiday due to its favourable location. For example, trips to Albi, where you can admire the impressive Sainte-Cécile cathedral and the beautiful town of Mazamet are among the possibilities. A visit to the special nature reserve Le Sidobre, known for its special rock formations, is also highly recommended.

On the way to Mazamet you will pass a petrol station. Here you will drive through the Parc Naturel Régional du Haute-Langedoc, which is characterised by a vast natural area with rolling forests, deep lakes, a rugged mountain range, but also lovely vineyards.

The main sights of Mazamet are in particular the Protestant church, called Temple Saint-Jaques from the 16th century, the Église Saint-Sauveur from the 18th century and the Église Notre-Dame from the 19th century. There are also several nice shops, restaurants and terraces in the village, where it is wonderful to stay during the warm summer days.

Bordering Mazamet lies the medieval village of Hautpoul, connected by a very long footbridge over a ravine. The footbridge promises you an unforgettable experience. Suspended 70 metres above the ground, the bridge offers breathtaking views over the Arnette valley and the town of Mazamet. Hautpoul has managed to retain its medieval character, which is reflected in the beautiful streets and old buildings. Although the castle is now nothing more than a ruin, a walk through this town will make you understand why this special place was of great strategic value. For an extensive visit to this place, you can easily take an afternoon.

South of Mazamet lies a vast forest area of the Montagne Noire with hidden valleys, ideal for making a nice road trip or long walks. Not to be missed is a visit to the Cascade de Cubserviès, one of the highest waterfalls in Europe. The Montagne Noire is located on the dividing line between the Mediterranean and Atlantic climates, so you will find a great wealth and diversity of plants and trees.

You can combine your visit to the waterfall with a stop in Roquefère.
This typical and characterful village with castle is situated in a meander of the Rieutort valley, in the hollow of the Montagne Noire. It therefore benefits from a natural protection. This village is also the scene of the music festival “Jazz Under The Chestnut” every summer. An idyllic setting for a jazz evening!

Limoux also has many interesting sights, such as the Pont-Neuf de Limoux. This old bridge dates from the 18th century. In various places in the city, remains of various fortifications from the 14th century are still visible. The basilica Notre-Dame de Marceille is a must-see, because the basilica is a beautiful example of the Romanesque style.

There are a few restaurants on the central square of Quillan. The old stone bridge over the river is one of the main attractions of the town, as are the remains of the old castle, which has been partially restored. When you leave the castle via the old bridge and cross the Place de la République, you will see a square tower that rises to a height of 30 metres. This is the church tower. It is a Romanesque building from the 14th century. The richness of the interior will amaze you: a 19th-century wooden pulpit with a cast iron staircase, coming from the Cathédrale d'Alet and the choir wall made of marble from Caunes-Minervois, a beautiful "Pietà", an organ from 1793, a set of paintings of biblical figures donated by Napoleon III and a 19th-century chandelier made of crystal and bronze from St. Petersburg.

After lunch, a long drive follows on pleasant, sometimes narrow roads, past authentic villages, ravines and waterfalls until you are almost unnoticed embraced by the Pyrenees. Then you suddenly come across the small fortified town of Mont-Louis, which is absolutely worth seeing to see what Vauban, as fort builder of the Sun King Louis XIV, came up with. Especially because the many impressive fortifications have managed to withstand the test of time. A visit to this elevated town therefore offers a good insight into the history of military architecture, although the fortress has never really played a crucial role in history. On one of the bastions stands the earliest example of a solar oven from 1949. A little further towards your final destination Llivia, you drive past its successor at Odeillo, which is also the largest solar oven in the world. This gigantic installation, larger than the Arc de Triomphe, built in 1970, uses 10,000 mirrors to concentrate sunlight on a central point. This allows it to reach temperatures of over 3,500°C. Of course, worth a picture.

East of Andorra in the Pyrenees, on French soil and 1 kilometre from the Spanish border, lies the Spanish town of Llivia. Your destination for today. This enclave is a remnant of the Peace of the Pyrenees, which was signed between Spain and France in 1659. In it, it was agreed that all villages upstream of Puigcerdá would become French territory. Llívia would have been part of this, if it had not had city rights and was therefore not a village. The Spanish took the text as literally as possible and therefore Llívia and its associated area simply remained Spanish.
There is much to see in Llivia, such as the parish church of 'Nostra Senyora dels Angels', a late Gothic building from the 16th century, but with preserved Romanesque-Gothic elements. The 'Farmacia Esteve' (Esteve Pharmacy), from the early 15th century, is the oldest surviving pharmacy in Europe. Today it is a museum, which houses a collection of Renaissance boxes, with portraits of saints and other figures. There are also pots from the 16th and 18th centuries and a Baroque cabinet carved by Josep Sunyer from the period when the Esteve family ran the pharmacy for seven generations. The castle, from the 9th and 11th centuries, was completely renovated in the 15th century, giving it a square structure around a central courtyard with a large water tank. It is protected by a 35-metre wall, with a deep moat and round towers with a panoramic view over the enclave. There is also the 'Torre Bernat de So', a medieval round tower from the 14th century. And around the Plaza Mayor, in the streets of the old center there are still houses with structures, which date from the 13th century. Here you can wander around and finally relax at one of the catering establishments.