Languedoc Roussillon region
The region of Languedoc-Rousillon is a diverse place with a wonderful climate of mid winters and long, hot summers. It is a paradise for holiday makers with over 200 miles of sandy beaches, mountains, cities and endless activities to enjoy. There is also the Canal du Midi, which runs through the region on its way to the Mediterranean. Barges can be hired and this is a great way to see the region at a slower pace.
The city of Montpellier has the oldest botanical garden in France as well as many other attractions. The fortified city of Carcassonne was first a Roman town and is a stunning place to visit. The region is well served for travel from the UK with direct flights to Carcassonne and TGV rail links with Paris.
Rental accommodation abounds in the Languedoc-Roussillon. There is a wide choice available, from beach front hotels, to rural gites tucked away in the mountains. There is something to suit everyone here.
The Departments
There are five departments in Languedoc-Roussillon - Aude, Gard, Herault, Lozere and Pyrenees-Orientales. The department of Aude is probably most famous for its fortified capital, Carcassonne. It is amazing to be able to stay within the huge walls at one of the hotels to be found there. There are also many shops and restaurants to choose from. There are many productive vineyards in Corbieres and Minervois offering guided tours and tasting sessions and a wine museum at Lesignan Corbieres. The towns of Limoux and Mirepoix have lively weekly markets. Port Gruissand had its origins in Medieval times and nearby are lagoons with pink flamingos in residence.
Gard is home to the Camargue estuary, where the river Rhone meets the sea. This is an area of marshes where white horses, black bulls and pink flamingos live wild. There are many boat trips available and a visit to this area should not be missed. There is stunning scenery to be found in the Cevennes area with deep gorges, thick forests and many streams and waterfalls. The Gard has a thriving silk industry, regarded as some of the best in the world. Vezenobres is a lovely medieval village. Villeneuve Lez Avignon is on the other side of the famous bridge in Avignon. The famous Roman arena at Nimes is the main place for bull fighting outside Spain.
The Herault is a major wine producing area. The vineyards start in the Narbonne area and continue around the pretty towns of Beziers and Pezenas. Most vineyards offer guided tours, tastings and the chance to buy some of their wine. On the coast is Sete, the largest fishing port in Mediterranean France where there is an annual water jousting festival. The city of Montpellier is busy and lively with an airport, TGV links and many shops, restaurants and hotels. There are many beaches, lakes, and mountains offering all sorts of outdoor activities including climbing on the sheer cliffs of many gorges.
Lozere is the least populated department of France. There is over 500,000 hectares of wild, unspoilt countryside to enjoy. The Gevaudan Park has over 100 semi wild wolves and there is a bison park at La Margeride. There are walking and hiking trails of all levels of difficulty and it would be hard to imagine a better place to "get away from it all". There are many historic churches to visit and beautiful villages and towns.
The Pyranees-Orientales is where the mountains meet the Mediterranean sea. Not surprisingly this department has very varied landscape from sandy beaches and rocky, rugged coastline to the high mountains. It is a paradise for outdoor pursuits enthusiasts, with many acitivities, organised or independent, available. These include hiking, climbing, horse riding, ski-ing, swimming, sailing, windsurfing and fishing, amongst others. There is a medieval artists village at Castelnou and a prehistoric museum at Belesta. The fishing port of Banyuls sur Mer is surrounded by vineyards, and has a museum, an aquarium and a marine reserve.
The region of Languedoc-Rousillon is a diverse place with a wonderful climate of mid winters and long, hot summers. It is a paradise for holiday makers with over 200 miles of sandy beaches, mountains, cities and endless activities to enjoy. There is also the Canal du Midi, which runs through the region on its way to the Mediterranean. Barges can be hired and this is a great way to see the region at a slower pace.
The city of Montpellier has the oldest botanical garden in France as well as many other attractions. The fortified city of Carcassonne was first a Roman town and is a stunning place to visit. The region is well served for travel from the UK with direct flights to Carcassonne and TGV rail links with Paris.
Rental accommodation abounds in the Languedoc-Roussillon. There is a wide choice available, from beach front hotels, to rural gites tucked away in the mountains. There is something to suit everyone here.
The DepartmentsThere are five departments in Languedoc-Roussillon - Aude, Gard, Herault, Lozere and Pyrenees-Orientales. The department of Aude is probably most famous for its fortified capital, Carcassonne. It is amazing to be able to stay within the huge walls at one of the hotels to be found there. There are also many shops and restaurants to choose from. There are many productive vineyards in Corbieres and Minervois offering guided tours and tasting sessions and a wine museum at Lesignan Corbieres. The towns of Limoux and Mirepoix have lively weekly markets. Port Gruissand had its origins in Medieval times and nearby are lagoons with pink flamingos in residence.
Gard is home to the Camargue estuary, where the river Rhone meets the sea. This is an area of marshes where white horses, black bulls and pink flamingos live wild. There are many boat trips available and a visit to this area should not be missed. There is stunning scenery to be found in the Cevennes area with deep gorges, thick forests and many streams and waterfalls. The Gard has a thriving silk industry, regarded as some of the best in the world. Vezenobres is a lovely medieval village. Villeneuve Lez Avignon is on the other side of the famous bridge in Avignon. The famous Roman arena at Nimes is the main place for bull fighting outside Spain.
The Herault is a major wine producing area. The vineyards start in the Narbonne area and continue around the pretty towns of Beziers and Pezenas. Most vineyards offer guided tours, tastings and the chance to buy some of their wine. On the coast is Sete, the largest fishing port in Mediterranean France where there is an annual water jousting festival. The city of Montpellier is busy and lively with an airport, TGV links and many shops, restaurants and hotels. There are many beaches, lakes, and mountains offering all sorts of outdoor activities including climbing on the sheer cliffs of many gorges.Lozere is the least populated department of France. There is over 500,000 hectares of wild, unspoilt countryside to enjoy. The Gevaudan Park has over 100 semi wild wolves and there is a bison park at La Margeride. There are walking and hiking trails of all levels of difficulty and it would be hard to imagine a better place to "get away from it all". There are many historic churches to visit and beautiful villages and towns.
The Pyranees-Orientales is where the mountains meet the Mediterranean sea. Not surprisingly this department has very varied landscape from sandy beaches and rocky, rugged coastline to the high mountains. It is a paradise for outdoor pursuits enthusiasts, with many acitivities, organised or independent, available. These include hiking, climbing, horse riding, ski-ing, swimming, sailing, windsurfing and fishing, amongst others. There is a medieval artists village at Castelnou and a prehistoric museum at Belesta. The fishing port of Banyuls sur Mer is surrounded by vineyards, and has a museum, an aquarium and a marine reserve.