LANGUEDOC-ROUSSILLON (France)

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From the peaks of the Pyrénées and the Cévennes to the wide open spaces of the Camargue of the wild horses, from the Mediterranean coastline of the Golfe-du-Lion, where Phoenician fleets and Roman galleys once made landfall, to the high plateau of the Causses, every square meter of ground bears the imprints of the many civilisations that have come and gone in the long history of this hallowed region.

Today, however, the ancient and the modern co-exist side by side. Fortunately, the modern seldom impinges upon the architectural history of the millennia. 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 Côte Vermeille preserve their ancient villages intact.

You will 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 when you stand at the gates of the walled cities of the Cathars or Aigues-Mortes and Carcassonne.

You will be similarly transported to the 18 th century when you walk around the shady mansions of Montpellier, Uzès, Pézenas and Beaucaire, or when cruising along the canal du Midi.

Accommodation is plentiful and varied to suit the dimensions of every purse, from hotels to accommodation centres and camping sites. There are a thousand things to do, from sightseeing to sporting activities, aquatic and otherwise.

From village to village, from 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.

Since prehistoric times, "Homo Sapiens" has left the imprint of his evolution all over this magical land. So much so that the oldest known European human skull in existence was discovered in this region.

Nimes - The city is on the border of the provinces of Languedoc and Provence. If you are in the area then a visit to Nimes is a must as it has the largest Roman remains in the whole of Europe. It is also a vibrant, stylish city thanks to the works of architects and designers such as Norman Foster, Philippe Stark and many others. Nimes is also famous as the place where denim was first manufactured, in the 19th century, and then exported to the USA.

Montpellier - The City is crowded, busy place, which vies with Toulouse, to be known as the most dynamic city in the south of France. Its university was founded in the 13th century and its medical school has an enviable reputation. The city centre, known as The Old Town, is a tiny but very charming area, whose crowded streets are pedestrianised so enabling ease of movement and a more relaxed atmosphere.

Toulouse - has a beautiful historic city centre and is one of the most exciting provincial cities in France. It is at the forefront of not only an exciting aerospace industry but also an electronics industry. There are over 110,000 students living in Toulouse and they help create a vibrant feel to the place. Toulouse has numerous ancient buildings that are worth a visit and the surrounding countryside is home to many lovely historic villages and towns.

Carcassonne - The well-known fortress-town of Carcassonne is in the Southern Languedoc region. It is an excellent departure point for visitors to the Cathar castles; these beautiful, ruined castles are situated around the hills to the south of the city.

The Parc Naturel Regional du Haut Languedoc - Situated in Southern Languedoc the parc is the most southerly part of the Massif Central. The west side has an Atlantic climate and a landscape of forests and deep valleys, while the east is arid and jagged.