Languedoc , stretching from the fortified city of Carcassonne to Nimes , including the city of Perpignan and the beaches at Narbonne and Argeles

Up on these heights, nature has left her indelible mark and signed various works of art. Over the millennia, water has carved grandiose gorges and breathtaking grottos out of limestone. The Tarn Gorges, the Armand Grotto, the Cirque of Navacelles or Mourèze, the Chaos of Montpellier-le-Vieux…landscapes that leave you speechless. The grandeur and power of nature and beauty. To the East, the Black Mountain, Mounts Espinouse and Somail, the Caroux Massif—each offer nature preserves for curious tourists. Far from the crowds. Garrigue country: low, scented Mediterranean brush. A country where the wind chases away the clouds; long ago, the peasants predicted the weather by feeling the wind. Above all, wine country. Languedoc-Rousillon possesses the largest wine-growing area in Europe. In recent years, wine cultivation in the region has experienced a profound transformation, which has greatly improved the quality of its production. Wines with refined aromas—the product of a rough and often rocky soil graced with generous sunshine and hard-working farmers—have earned high honors and now delight the palates of the most demanding experts.

In the South, Roussillon is another world. Perpignan, a bastion of Catalan civilization, proudly flies its red and gold flag over its palace, a reminder that once upon a time it was the capital of Mallorca. Here, people still speak Catalan and dance the Sardane during traditional festivals. The province has a unique geography, lying just where the Pyrenees dive into the blue waters of the Mediterranean. The result is the marvelous Côte Vermeille, the “scarlet coast,” where craggy cliffs are interspersed with coves and fishing ports. The gem of this coastline is the village of Collioure, whose beauty inspired Matisse and the Fauvist painters. Roussillon also has its emblematic summit: at almost 3,000 meters high and 40 kilometers from the sea, Canigou Mountain—nicknamed “the Fujiyama of Roussillon”—rises proudly over orchards and vineyards…

The Languedoc-Roussillon region has always been a thoroughfare for travelers following the Mediterranean coastline. The paths of modern freeways are the same as those that were built in ancient times for conquest and commerce, used by Hanibal’s armies (with his elephants) as well as those of Julius Ceasar. The southern province of Roman Gaul was called the Narbonnaise, after its capital, Narbonne. Languedoc possesses many reminders of this prosperous period. Some are world famous sites, like the arena and the Maison Carrée in Nîmes, and the magnificent Pont du Gard. Others are less so: oppida and Gallo-Roman villas, remnants of the Via Domitia, ceramics, pottery, amphorae, and funerary objects…all invitations to a fascinating voyage back in time.

The Romanesque period of the Middle Ages left behind many superbly simple works of art, including the three gems: the abbeys of St-Guilhem-le-Désert, St-Michel-de-Cuxa, and St-Martin-du-Canigou. One of the most tragic periods of Languedoc’s history was the Cathar epoch, in the 13th century. Everyone has heard of the intense repression and symbolic struggle of these turbulent times—when the Crusaders of the North attacked the South in order to quash a religious movement considered heretical by the Papal authorities and the King of France. Cities were burned, entire populations massacred, martyrs burned at the stake. This crusade (called the Albigensian Crusade) left deep marks. Its memory has been coupled with a desire to preserve a strong regional identity, as the “Cathar Country” signage and tour guides attest. The different periods of Languedoc’s history are perfectly illustrated by an assortment of cultural sites. To start with, there is the prestigious walled city of Carcassonne, a living example of medieval defensive architecture that has been designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. With its formidable castle protected by a double ring of ramparts complete with towers and machicolations, it is the largest fortress in Europe. Its mighty walls seem to defy the passage of time. Like another impressive remnant of the past, the walled city of Aigues-Mortes—often associated with King St-Louis, who embarked on crusades from this port.

In the realm of civil engineering, Languedoc boasts a remarkable historic feat, the Canal du Midi. This exceptional work, which stretches over 240 kilometers, links Sète to Toulouse, creating a shortcut from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic Ocean—which is why it is nicknamed “The Canal of Two Seas.” In the past it was the dominion of barges filled with wine barrels or sacks of grain, but today it has become a paradise for tourists seeking a peaceful cruise through bucolic countryside and tranquil towns. Its banks, shaded by ancient plane trees, poplars, or cypress, invite lazy strolls and peaceful rambles. In the summertime, early evening cicada concerts are guaranteed.

Aside from its coastline, which has become a favorite for family tourism, Languedoc offers a remarkable diversity of things to see. There is a wide array of tourist circuits for various regions: Cévennes, Causses, Aubrac, Margeride, and Bas-Languedoc, as well as routes through Roussillon. Historic routes, like that of Bas Languedoc and Catalan country (from Tautavel Man to Picasso); themed routes, like the wine routes (pays d’Oc, Minervois, Corbières, Roussillon…), the Via Domitia, Romanesque and Baroque Catalonia, fishers and wine-makers, the Silk Route (Gard), glassblowers ateliers, and many others. Off the well-beaten path, tiny villages cling to hilltops, ideal opportunities for chatting with locals and exploring cobbled lanes, small squares with fountains, Romanesque churches and bowls playing grounds under the plane trees.

Another tourist draw in this region is its love of festivals. Pagan or religious, they happen all year long. The folklore of Catalonia and Languedoc lives on through these events. Spectacular nautical jousting in Sète or Palavas-les-Flots. Bull races and fights in Béziers, Nîmes and Arles. Bullfight fever is deeply entrenched here. The festival of the Sanch Penitents in Perpignan. Festivals of the sea or fishing. Wine festivals, primeur or muscat. Olive trees. Cherries. Mule drivers. Even bears! Medieval Festivals. The “Festa d’Oc.” Sardane Festival. The popularity of these events shows the strong ties to tradition.

The same is true of gastronomy. A top wine region, Languedoc offers a wide range of flavorful products that are linked to the sun, the sea, and the land. Fruits and vegetables, olive oil, garlic, and aromatic herbs, basil, thyme, rosemary….Olive oil and wild herbs accompany eggplant, tomatoes, zucchini, and bell peppers, as well as the fishermen’s catch from the sea or the freshwater lakes along the coast.

Cuisine of the sun. In a land that celebrates gourmets.

Aude
Gard
Hérault
Lozère
Pyrénées-Orientales