Languedoc-Roussillon

From the peaks of the Pyrenees mountains and the Cevennes national park to the wide open spaces of the Camargue and the Mediterranean coastline of the Golfe-du-Lion, where Phoenician fleets and Roman galleys once made landfall, every square meter of the Languedoc-Roussillon region bears the imprints of the many civilizations that have come and gone in the long history of this hallowed region.

Today the ancient and the modern co-exist side by side. Fortunately, the modern seldom impinges upon the architectural heritage of Languedoc-Roussillon. Memorable places like the Gorges du Tarn, Gorges de l'Aude, Gorges de l'Herault, Gorges de la Cèze and the creeks and caves of the Cote Vermeille preserve their ancient villages intact.

Lose yourself in the ambiance of the Middle Ages when visiting the beautiful Romanesque abbeys of Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert, Fontfroide, Saint-Hilaire, Saint-Martin-du-Canigou and Saint-Michel-de-Cuxa, or stand at the gates of the walled cities of the Cathars or Aigues-Mortes and Carcassonne and be transported back in time. Other wonders of the region include 18th century shady mansions of Montpellier, Uzès, Pézenas and Beaucaire, or cruising along the Canal du Midi.

Accommodation is plentiful and varied to suit the dimensions of every purse or wallet. Accommodation ranges from five star hotels to sparse, yet safe, camping sites.

There are a thousand things to do in Languedoc-Roussillon, from sightseeing to sporting activities, aquatic and otherwise. From village to village, and town to town, pageants, carnivals and religious festivals abound with the traditional battles of the "boules" being fought out on every town and village square.

Montpellier and Carcassonne are great "homebases" when exploring this region.