Languedoc derives its name from its ancient Language, the Language of Oc (in which Oc means yes), which was spoken in the Middle Ages all the way from Nice to Bordeaux. At the beginning of the middle ages, the area we think of now as the Languedoc was independent from the kings of France; it had a rich culture of its own, expressed in music and a vigorous literature. It was here that the medieval cult of courtly love was born; this is perhaps the ancestor of our idea of romantic love. The patois, that you still hear spoken by people all over the south-west of France, is an echo of that civilisation.

Roussillon is the area near the Spanish border sometimes known as French Catalonia. It is an area of turbulent history going back to the Greeks, Romans, Moors and Saracens; at one time part of the kingdom of Majorca, the Roussillon was only handed back to France by Spain in 1659.

The climate is excellent; it is not uncommon to have 300 days of sunshine in a year. Nevertheless there are streams, carving out cave systems, and river canyons like the gorges of the Ardèche, the Cèze, the Aude and the Hérault. The river gorges with their clear water and dramatic cliffs are beautiful locations for bathing, picnicking, canoeing, riding, walking and fishing. There are wonderful beaches, inland étangs and little villages like Bouzigues and Marseillan port. Climbing up into the hills is like entering another world. Even in the middle of summer the mountain valleys are green and alive with flowers, waterflows and herds grazing on close cropped pasture.

Places of Interest

Some of the finest monuments in the Languedoc-Roussillon date from Roman times and indeed Nîmes has some of the best preserved Roman remains anywhere in Europe: the Maison Carrée, a wonderfully well preserved Roman temple, the Roman Arena still in use to this day and the Tour Magne originally a Roman watchtower. A short drive from Nîmes is the Pont du Gard, a Roman aqueduct now nearly two thousand years old that brought water to Nîmes and which is now one of the most visited sites in France. To the north of Nîmes is the ducal town of Uzès with its fine old Renaissance buildings, arcaded Place-aux-Herbes and pavement cafés where one can while away the hours over a cool drink.

Travelling west is Montpellier, one of the oldest university towns in France which has a very beautiful old quarter and a striking modern area designed by the Catalan architect Bofill. Further west again is the Bassin de Thau, one of France's foremost oyster and mussel producing regions, dominated by the Mont St. Clair on the other side of which is Sète, that vibrant and colourful port renowned for its summer jousting on the canals.

Beyond is Béziers, one of the main victims of the Albigensian crusades against the Cathars in 1209 when its population was massacred and now one of the leading commercial centres of the wine trade in the Languedoc. It has attractive tree-lined boulevards and was the birthplace of Paul Riquet, creator of the Canal du Midi. Indeed, the Canal du Midi flows from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean across the Languedoc with some particularly attractive stretches around Narbonne at Paraza, Roubia and Ventenac.

The splendid citadel of Carcassonne needs little introduction but few realise it was besieged during the Albigensian crusades as was the picturesque village of Minerve. Other reminders of this era are the ruined castles of the Cathars that are striking witnesses to their tragic history such as Puilaurens, Quéribus and Peyrepertuse.

French Catalonia or Roussillon is a delight for the visitor offering much to see and do. Perpignan, the second town of Catalonia, is a bustling, dynamic place of great charm whose old town is dominated by the Palace of the Kings of Majorca. On the coast are the picturesque ports of Collioure where Picasso and Dufy painted, and Port Vendres an active port even in Phoenician times. Inland is Thuir, home of Dubonnet; Elne, named after Emperor Constantine's mother, Helena; the ancient abbeys of St. Martin-du-Canigou and St. Michel-de-Cuxa; the spa towns of Amélie-les-Bains and Vernet-les-Bains and picturesque Céret famous for its cherries and as the home of many Cubist painters. The three main valleys of the Maury, the Tech and the Têt are all different, all with Roman remains and striking Spanish fortifications built originally to protect the areas from the French and all ironically restored by the French to protect the area from the Spanish!

Food and Drink

The Languedoc-Roussillon boasts a cuisine as rich and varied as the region itself. Sea food abounds (sardines, anchovies, tuna, oysters, mussels, etc.) and its charcuterie is renowned. From the Roussillon come peaches, apricots, cherries and artichokes whilst the Catalan influence is evident in the use of bitter oranges, sweet peppers and aubergines.

There are many fine wines from the robust Côtes du Rhône and Fitou to the VDQS of the Corbières and Minervois; dessert and aperitif wines such as Maury and white wines such as Picpoul de Pinet, not to mention Limoux and its Blanquette, a sparkling champagne type wine that predates champagne itself.

French Affair offers a good range of villas in the Languedoc Roussillon. Please click here to have an extensive list of villas in the Languedoc Roussillon.

If you wish to return to the map of Languedoc - Roussillon then please click here.