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The Languedoc covers roughly
the region between the Rhône and the Aude River,
extending northwards to the Cévennes and the
Massif Central. Languedoc derives from Occitan (French:
langue d'oc), the language spoken in the region before
French became the general language.
History is never far away in this region, the Languedoc
having been settled by the Greeks, Phoenicians and
Romans, and invaded by the Alamanni, Vandals, Visigoths,
and Saracens before coming under French control in
the 16 th century. You will therefore not been
surprised by the rich heritage on view including many
Roman sites and Cathar Castles, medieval towns and
villages.
There are a huge number of activities available in
Languedoc. These include sailing, windsurfing, diving,
gliding, hang gliding, white water rafting and canoeing,
horse riding, walking, mountaineering, winter sports
(in season!), swimming, cycling, golf, fishing, canal
cruising, caving, water therapy, and of course resident
gastronomy and wine courses!
The Coast
From the Camargue to the Côte
Vermeille (Vermillion Coast), the spectacular coastline
of Languedoc-Roussillon stretches for 150 miles along
the Mediterranean Sea. It has some of the finest French
beaches, a warm climate and clear waters that are thought
to promote health.
You might be surprised to see workers near Aigues-Mortes
harvesting salt dried by the mistral wind or trident-wielding
Camargue cowboys herding bulls as the sun sets. You'll
also find unspoiled fishing ports, where you can buy
fresh fish and shellfish straight off the boat in Le
Grau-du-Roi, Palavas-les-Flots , Sète or Collioure
And there's no shortage of marina facilities. Port-Camargue,
next to Grau-du-Roi, has 20,000 moorings, making it
one of Europe's biggest marinas. For many it is the
appeal of the sandy beaches with their warm waters
that draws them to this part of the Mediterranean coast.
Cuisine and wine
The products of Languedoc-Roussillon come from an
area stretching from the coast to the mountains. At
the seaside, shellfish platters heaped with oysters,
mussels and clams delight the tastebuds. So do the
countless Mediterranean fish sought-after for their
flavour, including tuna, bream and sea bass. Orchards
and gardens grow gorgeous fruits, vegetables and herbs
all along the plain. The olive, the culinary queen
here, finds good company in basil, thyme, rosemary,
bay leaf and sorrel. Higher up, where the vegetation
is sparser, you enter the tempting land of chestnuts,
wild mushrooms and Lozère cheeses.
There are many gastronomic types of visits available
in this region. Shellfish around Lac de Thau,
widespread wine tasting, cheeses in the mountains,
rice and salt near the camargue. Olive mills, vineyards
and even snail farms are available for visits.
And now for the wine! The
Languedoc-Roussillon wine-growing area, the largest
in the world, spreads across 300,000 hectares (2,432,139
acres) of land and boasts 27 centuries of history! Impossible
not to find a wine to one's taste in a region renowned
for its quality and its diverse soils. The contrast
of Mother Nature and the exposure of the land are,
for the most part, the key factors in this vast range
of wines.
For the amateur wine traveller, Languedoc-Roussillon
is a region worth visiting, and revisiting, with far
too many places to see within a single stay!
Don't miss the summer festivals and shows bubbling
with wine enthusiasm! One example is the festival of
wine colours [Couleurs vigneronnes] in High Languedoc,
where in July and August you can discover the scenery,
the history and the way of life that stems from a wine
culture where festivities take pride of place.
Outdoor Life
Gorges, valleys dug deep into the limestone hills, a
chaos of rocks, basalt blocks, peaks and summits figure
among the remarkable natural sites in this region. The
richness and the unexpected diversity of the landscapes
and massifs attract holiday makers in search of fresh
air and wide open spaces, summer and winter. This natural
wonderland provides the backdrop for walking, mountain
biking, and horse riding holidays, touring holidays and
great days out amongst exceptional landscapes. There's
a mosaic of ecosystems in the contrasting regions. With
3200 varieties of plants with flowers, of which 20 are
native, and many animals, this is one of the richest
natural regions of France. In a place with so much diversity,
there are as many food traditions as areas. The palette
of flavours grows a little wider every step of the way,
from local home-grown products to traditional recipes
and dishes by renowned creative chefs.
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