South West France

Languedoc-Roussillon is one of the 26 regions of France. It is comprised of five departments, Hérault, Gard, Aude, Lozère and Pyrénées-Orientales.

The former province of Languedoc extends over the Midi-Pyrénées region, including the old capital of Languedoc, Toulouse.

It is one of the most fascinating areas of Europe, bordering the Mediterranean Sea to the east and the Pyrenees Mountains to the south, the Massif Central and Provence.

The area has a massive tourist industry. The coastlines of the area are beautiful with huge seaside resorts such as Cap d'Agde, Grau-du-Roi and Palavas-les-Flots

The Languedoc-Roussillon boasts one of France's most varied landscapes. It is also France's wine growing capital and is the largest wine growing area in the world.

History draws in tourists too to see the countless Roman monuments such as the Roman arenas, (the city of Nîmes, with its perfectly preserved Roman arena, is the finest example of a Roman town outside Italy), medieval abbeys, Romanesque churches, and old castles.

Then there are the rivers and lakes, mountains, ancient cities, towns and villages, châteaux and castles, abbeys and cathedrals. It has everything, including thermal springs! There are also a number of World Heritage sites, including Carcassonne, the Canal du Midi, and the Pont du Gard.

It has a mediterranean climate, officially the sunniest region in the country, and a spectacular coastline. Consequently in recent years it has become a popular French holiday destination.

In addition there are thousands of miles of walks and rides, National Parks and wildlife reserves such as the Camargue and the Cevennes.