The Languedoc
Roussillon region of Southern
France curves around the Mediterranean
from the French Riviera to
the Pyrénées
on the Spanish border.
There is a wonderful variety
of scenery and clean, uncrowded
beaches with warm, calm seas. The visitor is spoiled
for choice when choosing their holiday. 150 miles of
coastline; seaside resorts and sailing ports; fetes,
ferias & festivals; sailing, water sports, sea-fishing,
mountain biking and golf courses.
The culture
and principal activity of
the region has always been
centred around the production
of wine. The vineyards
were first planted by the
Romans. The
Languedoc Roussillon is now
the world's largest vineyard.
Languedoc-Rousillon
is a land where traditions are strong and the people
remain attached to old customs. For centuries it enjoyed
considerable independence from Paris and had its own
language, the
langue d'oc (the language of the south). There was
no industrial development in the 19th & 20th centuries.
The Languedoc languished under the
hot Mediterranean sun,
a backwater, untouched by industry or tourism, and so
the region has kept the slow relaxed way of life, where
traditions
are still part of everyday
life.
There are
the charming villages and
interesting towns such as
Perpignan and Nîmes.
There are the historic monuments,
such as the medieval city
of Carcassonne, the Roman
viaduct of Pont du Gard and
the Cathar castles in the
Corbières.
With an annual 300 days of sunshine it is a superb holiday destination at any time of the year and the area now has the fastest growing population in France as Parisians and foreigners, come to retire and enjoy the weather and the relaxed lifestyle. |
There is a rich cultural and historical heritage with many sites and monuments, abbeys and castles. There is the roman aqueduct of Pont du Gard, the Canal du Midi, the medieval city of Carcassonne, the abbeys of St Guilhem le Désert and St Gilles du Gard, all listed on world heritage sites.