Languedoc-Roussillon,
France
Departments: Aude, Herault, Gard, Lozere,
Pyrenees-Orientales.
Languedoc-Roussillon, France
Main Towns: Aigues-Mortes,
Ales, Beaucaire, Bedarieux, Belcaire, Beziers, Carcassonne,
Castelnaudary, Clermont l'Herault, Florac, Ganges, Gruissan,
La Grande Motte, Langogne, Le Vigan, Limoux, Lodeve, Mende,
Meyrueis, Montagnac, Montpellier, Narbonne, Nimes, Palavas,
Perpignan, Port la Nouvelle, Port Leucate, Quillan, Sete, St
Chely d'Apcher, Uzes, Villefort, Villeneuve.
Languedoc-Roussillon stretches from Provence in the east down to the borders with Spain
and Andorra in the south. The modern région was formed when two historic provinces were
merged. Languedoc takes its name from langue d'oc, a language closely linked to Catalan,
and Roussillon in the far south used to be known as France's Catalonia.
The southernmost part of the Massif Central can be found in the north of the region. The
Parc Naturel Régional du Haut Languedoc to the west, is covered by deciduous forest, but
to the east is dry and craggy. The very isolated and mountainous Lozère is a wilderness
where hermits and exiles used to take refuge. The Grands Causses, are deep canyons above
which lie limestone plateaus. The Montagne Noire, Corbière hills and the Cévennes are
all areas of dramatic hills, mountains and deep river gorges.
The landscape flattens around the tranquil Canal Du Midi, which cuts across the région's
middle with Carcassonne, a world heritage site, at its centre. South of the canal gentle
rolling foothills start to ascend, rising to the dramatic peaks of the Pyrennees.
The région's Mediterranean coast
is an area of river deltas and coastal plains. There are some attractive
fishing villages, such as Sète and Palavas and the picturesque port of Coullioure in Roussillon. The
coastline of Lower-Languedoc is cut off from the hinterland by marshy étangs (lagoons).
Property is cheaper here than in Provence
and Côte d'Azur and it's easily accessible from the UK thanks
to an increasing number of airports served by budget airlines.
Employment is highly service-oriented, with 68% of its work
force employed in the service sector. Telecommunications is a
large industry and there are many call centres.
Agriculturally, milk production from goats, sheep and cows is
important and the major crops are peaches, nectarines,
apricots, melon and rice. Beziers is capital of région's the
wine industry around which some excellent wines such as
Corbières, Minervois and Côtes du Rousillon are
produced.
Languedoc-Rousillon has a good mix of
lively cities and picturesque medieval villages. The big
Spanish city of Barcelona is an easy day-trip (and possible
commute) on the other side of the mountains and there is good
autoroute and TGV access to Paris. This coast boasts some of
the most vibrant resorts in the Mediterranean and is an area
of river deltas and coastal plains. There are also some pretty
seaside places such as the picturesque port of Coullioure in
Roussillon and attractive fishing villages such as Sète and
Palavas, all within easy reach of the commercial centres of
Perpignan, Montpelier, Narbonne, Beziers
and Nimes. The coastline of Lower-Languedoc is cut
off from the hinterland by marshy étangs (lagoons).
Argelès-sur-Mer has miles of beautiful sandy beaches. Its
promenade is lined with shops and bars, and by night and by
day offers a unique mixed atmosphere of French and
Catalan.
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