Introducing Languedoc-Roussillon
Languedoc-Roussillon is a three-eyed hybrid, cobbled together in the 1980s by the merging of two historic regions. Bas-Languedoc (Lower Languedoc), land of bullfighting, rugby and robust red wines, looks towards the more-sedate Provence. On the plain are the major towns: Montpellier, the vibrant capital, sun-baked Nîmes with its fine Roman amphitheatre – and fairy-tale Carcassonne, with its witches’-hat turrets. On the coast, good beaches abound, old Agde lies somnolent beside the River Hérault and Sète, a thriving port, adds commercial vigour.
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Deeper inland, Haut-Languedoc (Upper Languedoc) is quite distinct from the sunny lowlands. A continuation of the Massif Central, this sparsely populated mountainous terrain shares trekking, mountain pasture, forests and hearty cuisine with Auvergne, to its north. The small towns of Mende, Florac, Alès and Millau are like oases within the greater wilderness. The Parc National des Cévennes has long been the refuge of exiles and crisscrossed by marked trails. Trekking country too are the bare limestone plateaus of the Grands Causses, sliced through by deep canyons such as the Gorges du Tarn, perfect for a day’s canoeing.
Roussillon, abutting the Pyrenees, glances over the frontier to Catalonia, in Spain, with which it shares a common language and culture. Alongside the rocky coastline are attractive resorts such as Collioure, which drew the likes of Matisse and Picasso, while the gentle Têt and Tech Valleys stretch away inland. To their south, the Pic de Canigou, highest summit in the eastern Pyrenees and symbol of Catalan identity, pokes its nose to the clouds while, further east, the foothills are capped by stark, lonely Cathar fortresses.
Last updated: Feb 17, 2009
Tips & articles
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Steal away: hidden coastlines of the Mediterranean
24 February 2011
If lying elbow-to-elbow with sunbathing strangers on a French Riviera beach doesn’t fit your criteria for a relaxing seaside getaway,...
Thorn Tree forum discussion
Recent posts
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RE: Travel Companion very Pro French-Languedoc Roussillon
by geoaqua2 23 August 2011
Seems more franco-phoney :)))
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RE: Travel Companion very Pro French-Languedoc Roussillon
by travelinstyle46 22 August 2011
Wouldn't that make him typically English zoqy?
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RE: Travel Companion very Pro French-Languedoc Roussillon
by zoqy12 22 August 2011
He may not be a francophone, but I am also thinking neither is this person English. " peasant area in languedoc" did make me laugh. Shows…
See all Thorn Tree forum discussions for Languedoc-Roussillon
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Languedoc-Roussillon
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Our Top Picks For Languedoc-Roussillon
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1 Montpellier
Atmospheric old town, secret squares, vibrant café life and exhilarating cycling tracks to the sea
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2 Cathédrale de Maguelone
Soul-stirring serenity amid sensual sand and salt marsh on a sacred 6th-century island
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3 Le Pont du Gard
The River Gard slips lazily beneath the highest aqueduct in all the Roman Empire
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4 Aigues-Mortes
Perfectly preserved crenellated ramparts enclose this bijou medieval port, left behind by the tide
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5 La Cité
Spectacular 19th-century resurrection of Carcassonne’s walled city – four million visitors a year can’t be wrong
Our favourite Languedoc-Roussillon Blogs (beta)
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Pezenas, France: Languedoc Region
Blog: Video Diary of an American in France - 30 June 2010
Pezenas was the favorite town we saw on our trip in the Languedoc region. It was the seat of the local government in Languedoc during the 16th and 17th centuries, resulting in beautiful architecture, stone staircases and wrought iron balconies. Today is it an artist town, filled with artisans and their creatives products.
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Carcassonne, France: Medieval Town in Languedoc-Roussillon
Blog: Video Diary of an American in France - 23 June 2010
Carcassonne is said to be the best preserved and restored Medieval town in France. Originally, constructed in the 13th century, the city fell in disrepair until the 19th century when it was completely restored. The city has two miles of fortified walls and 56 watchtowers.
