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 30th August 2008
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Holidays Languedoc RoussillonWelcome to the FrenchEntrée Languedoc Roussillon Holidays & Leisure guide where you can plan visits to medieval castles, explore cities such as Montpellier or Perpignan, discover local traditions, and organise skiing, hiking or fishing excursions in the Languedoc Roussillon - where the sea meets the mountains!While planning your visit here, why not look at the following great sections of our site: • Bed & Breakfast • Camp Sites • Holiday Rentals • Gite Database • Hotels • Travel Links • Skiing Guide • Food & Wine • Events • Carcassonne Guide • Montpellier Guide • Perpignan Guide • Cap d'Agde Guide QUICK LINKS • Languedoc Beaches • Cathar Castles • Canal du Midi • Pont du Gard • Collioure • Golf in the Languedoc See how much the Languedoc Roussillon has to offer! Map of Languedoc Roussillon Click here for a more detailed map of the Languedoc Roussillon Travel links to the Languedoc Roussillon Click here for details of travel links to the Languedoc Roussillon Languedoc Property Quick LinksWe have lots of property sections on this site. Choose any of the links below for property guides and sales:• Aude Property • Buying property in the Languedoc • Exclusive Languedoc Property • Herault Property for Sale • Languedoc Property • Luxury Languedoc Property • Property in Languedoc Roussillon • Property Languedoc Roussillon • Property for Sale Languedoc Roussillon • Pyrenees Orientales Property for Sale |
Languedoc Roussillon Holidays
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Languedoc Garden Tours Discover the secret gardens and enchanting countryside of this corner of France, dip into its history and taste its award-winning wines with Hidden Gardens Hidden France
Luxury Chateau Break in France FrenchEntrée met Peter and Katie Lawton who have successfully taken on the challenge of converting a 1000 year old monastery into the ultimate château - chambre d’hôtes experience.
Intelligent Wine Tasting Vinécole is the new wine experience of the Languedoc Roussillon. Learn about wine in a relaxed and social environment, with expert advice and in a superb location.
Health Retreat and Activity Breaks Domaine Maneque, situated between Carcassonne and Mirepoix, is the perfect retreat offering a variety of themed activity breaks and specialising in Reiki and Therapeutic Massage.
MinervoisWine, Food and Relaxation A tranquil hotel with beautiful views yet only 30 minutes from Carcassonne, Chateau de Siran is idealy placed for enjoying everything the Languedoc Minervois has to offer! Santé!
Roussillon Vineyard Tours Travel the Roussillon with Catalan Wine Tours, sampling from the very best vineyards, enjoying wonderful restaurants en route. Open your senses to a new taste experience!
Beautiful Holiday Rentals For a truly memorable holiday, visit our selection of beautiful rental properties situated at the crossroads of Languedoc and Provence, at France Provence Holidays. Hot Air Ballooning in the Pyrenees! Experience the beauty of the Pyrenees from the air. An extraordinary gift perfect for loved ones, a birthday or even a marriage proposal!
Romantic Weekend Breaks in Languedoc For romantic weekend breaks or chilled out hen weekends escape to Le Trésor, a boutique Bed & Breakfast in the foothills of the Languedoc Pyrenees.
Special Places to Stay - Languedoc Roussillon Tourist Offices - Languedoc Roussillon Click here for contact details of Tourist Offices in the Languedoc Roussillon.              .jpg)                • some images courtesy of David Muscroft |
For those of us looking for a guarantee of excellent cuisine in an idyllic location, day after day and night after night, Peter and Sally Shaw have hit upon the perfect solution: gourmet cuisine weeks hosted at the Chateau d'Agel. 
If you've never experienced a hot air balloon ride why not treat yourself to the experience of a lifetime above the incredible Pyrenees mountains. 
Domaine Gayda's co-director, Tim Ford, has now opened up the vineyard to the public, providing personalised tours and wine tasting. So, on a sunny Thursday morning, FrenchEntrée gathered together a group of five keen wine-drinkers to scrutinise the tour and taste the wines offered by this young enterprising label. .jpg)
With its mysterious Cathar castles, elegant Roman 
Search the internet for information on the beach resort Le Cap d'Agde and you could be forgiven for thinking that the only visitors there are those who like to stroll around in their birthday suits! But in fact the nudist section is just a small part of the resort: visit the Cap d'Agde and you will discover four destinations rolled into one, with a wealth of things to do and see. 
Discover the hidden gem that is the Jardin aux Plantes de La Bouichere. Located in the industrial zone of the market town of Limoux, the garden is home to two and a half thousand plants spread over a two hectare site open to the general public, and offering a wealth of information for keen gardeners and enthusiasts. 
The Canal du Midi, built between 1667 and 1694, stretches right the way across the Languedoc-Roussillon winding through beautiful tree lined countryside, vineyards, reservoirs and basins. Find out more about the history of the canal, the places of interest it passes along its way, places to stay near the canal and useful information to plan a boating holiday on the canal. 
The Languedoc Roussillon boasts some truly romantic, picturesque villages and towns, as well as dynamic, vibrant cities and historic fortified medieval towns- such as Montpellier, Carcassonne, Perpignan, Nimes, Collioure and Ceret and more.
Wine-tasting is naturally a popular holiday in the Languedoc Roussillon - the largest wine-producing region in France. Here we give information about wine and cuisine holiday tour companies as well as details of some of the famous wines and aperitifs in the Languedoc Roussillon to help you plan your very own wine tour! Santé!
Remnants of the Languedoc-Roussillon's fascinating Roman past can be seen in ruins such as the Pont du Gard, the Via Domitia and the Colliseum at Nimes; whilst the Languedoc's tradition of rebellion and resistance - symbolised by the Cathar followers - can be traced through the many castles and fortified towns which tell of the passionate struggles which continue to mark the Languedoc today. 
The Languedoc Roussillon Mediterranean coastline is full of contrast and diversity - here is our guide to the all the beaches and resorts in the Languedoc, as well as information villages and activities close to the Mediterranean.
Pezenas is the artistic heartland of the Pezenas: non other than Moliere lived and worked here, and the town still testifies to its heritage with numerous arts and crafts boutiques and cultural events throughout the year. The town is aslo excellently located: 20 minutes from the clean white sandy beaches of Herault, 30 mintues from the beautiful rugged hill country inland and from Montpellier. 
For those of you with a penchant for themed walking, there are few French-based experiences that can touch the excitement of discovering an ancient and forgotten route. That’s the thrill you get from trekking the Regordane Way from Pradelles in Lozere to Ales on the south-eastern foothills of The Cevennes. 
An introduction to the historic influences that have shaped the Languedoc-Roussillon's beauitful landscape known as garrigue - a landscape that we tend to think of it as an area of wild countryside, a la nature, and yet which has been immensely influenced by man over many thousands of years. 
Pyrenees resident and qualified mountain guide, Mike Rhodes, gives an overview of the climbing sites in the in the Pyrenees Orientales, Aude and Ariège which offer a range of sites suitable for all levels of climbing proficiency.
Few locations offer the beauty or variety of the Cevennes, ranging from granite tors to deeply incised river valleys and some of Europe's most dramatic limestone gorges and caves. And, as you will see, by far the best way of exploring the Cevennes is by foot...
If you want to know what the French think of Uzes, just ask them! It was described to me by a beautiful young Nimoise as “la ville la plus belle de toute la region”, and a short visit to Uzes will show you exactly why! 
The Languedoc is probably the best region for golf in the whole of France - with its excellent combination of Mediterranean climate and twenty excellent golf courses, open to residents and tourists at reasonable cost. .jpg)
Just over the French border in Spain is the breathtaking golf course of Fontanals. Regarded as one of the best in Europe it also offers a luxury hotel, restaurant and spa making it perfect for golfers and non golfers alike. 
A recent trip to La Grande Motte, near Montpellier, revealed a Mediterranean beach resort with a unique difference: incredible futuristic architecture that makes you feel like you're in a James Bond film and fantastic facilities to accommodate every kind of beach holiday experience! 
The Languedoc is a passioante place, where tradition and local culture play a large part in every-day life. Here is a round-up of the main annual events in the principal cities of the Languedoc Roussillon: Carcassonne, Mende, Montpellier, Nimes and Perpignan.
The Languedoc boasts several UNESCO World Heritage sites which bear testament to the region's histroic significance including this incredible aqueduct/ bridge between Uzes and Nimes, which is both awe-inspiring and beautiful.
An introduction to the historical Roman origins of Nimes where, amongst its Roman treasures, you can see one of the best preserved colliseums in Europe, which is still used for traditional entertainment today.
Nimes is likely to be, for many a British traveller, a revelation waiting to take them by surprise when they descend from their Ryanair flight at Nimes airport on their way to other better known destinations in the Languedoc. But those who choose to move swiftly on to their destinations are denying themselves the pleasure of one of Frances' finest historical cities. 
A visit to the Languedoc is incomplete without experiencing the local traditions surrounding bulls and horses. One of the high points of the Nîmes Calendar is the Feria, a festival lasting most of a week, focussed around the Arena where bullfighting (Corrida) in the Spanish tradition takes place. 
If you are planning a visit to Perpignan, then have a look at our essentail guide to the city and its surrounds - including information about places to see, restaurants, holiday accommodation and annual events in Perpignan.
Lovers of history and castles should put a pin in the map at Aigues-Mortes, a town whose medieval centre is enclosed within rectangular ramparts, complete with circular towers and gateways and walls that you can walk along, and from where the first Crusader ships set off. 
Built in the 1970s, the Port Camargue pleasure marina and harbour is the ideal base for docking, with its sheltered entrance and many nautical services provided. The port is also an excellent base from which to enjoy and explore the local area and the Camargue. 
In May of 2003 I had just met a rather special woman and was looking for a way to impress. If I wanted to to sweep this woman off her feet I was going to have to pull something special out of the bag. Nothing less than the perfect romantic break would do! 
The Languedoc Roussillon Mediterranean coastline running along the Aude seduces thousands of holiday makers every year. Here we give you an introduction to the main coastal resorts and towns in the Aude.
For lovers of seafood, here is a guide to the region surrounding the Bassin de Thau, an inland salt lagoon linking one canal to another, and the setting for the Hérault's famous production of seafood. 
We, your editors of FrenchEntrée Languedoc-Roussillon, pride ourselves on knowing just about everything about it - but there are vast swathes of countryside which we have yet to really explore. Thank goodness, then, for Richard Whibley, director of Agly Walking Tours, who had gathered together a merry band of enthusiastic amateur walkers to give us a taster of the walking holidays he will be running in 2008. [1].jpg)
FrenchEntrée Languedoc Roussillon is proud to present a series of accounts of walks in the Aude, as experienced by our guest writer Maggie Williams: in this first walk she explores the Labyrinth Vert at Nébias. 
FrenchEntrée Languedoc Roussillon is proud to present a series of accounts of walks in the Aude, as experienced by our guest writer Maggie Williams: in this second walk she visits the Cathar site of Montaillou. 
FrenchEntrée Languedoc Roussillon is proud to present a series of accounts of walks in the Aude, as experienced by our guest writer Maggie Williams: in her third walk she treks through the Gorges de la Frau to the pretty village of Comus. 
Pyrenees resident and qualified mountain guide, Mike Rhodes, gives an overview of the hiking trails in the Cerdagne and Capcir in the Pyrenees Orientales and part of the Ariège, taking in crystal clear lakes and stupendous views along the way. 
Minerve appears at first sight to be an amazingly situated village, perched on an island of cliffs above deep gorges which have been formed on two sides by the Cesse and Brian rivers. The thin bridge crossing this chasm looks like it can hardly stand up - it is a wonder the Cathars who lived here managed to live under seige for as long as they did! 
Before visiting the medieval stonghold of Aigues-Mortes, brush up on some of the important names, dates and societal structures which shaped the future of this important Crusade site
The first record of the Chateau at Saissac, in the heart of the Black Mountains north-west of Carcassonne, dates back to the year 960 when it was bequeathed by the Bishop of Toulouse to the Count of Carcassonne.
Anchored in the rocky landscape of the Upper Corbieres, Peyrepertuse emerges at an altitude of 800m amidst the garrigue scrubland overlooking the remote village of Duilhac. From its promontory, the views are simply stunning, taking in its neighbouring chateau of Queribus about 5 kilometres away. 
Queribus is situated in the commune of Cucugnan perched on a rocky outcrop in the Corbieres hills overlooking the market town of Maury, projecting its impressive silhouette for all to see from its altitude of 728m. The castle was an important stronghold for the Cathars and for their cause. 
The four castles of Lastours - Cabaret, Surdespine, Quertinheux and Tour Régine - are built at an altitude of 300m and are a remarkable sight, hidden deep in the rocky valley overlooking the River Orbeil and the village below. 
The present-day tiny chateau of Arques almost looks like it was built yesterday - it is it perfect condition and is utterly charming, sitting on its little hillside a few hundred metres away from the village.
At about 50 km south-east of Carcassonne, the Villerouge-Termènes chateau is the High Corbières Mediterranean gateway. Its imposing mass in the centre of the village speaks volumes as to its importance in regional medieval politics. 
In the 11th and 12th Centuries, Termes was the main residence for an important lordship in the region: the Termes dynasty. The Termes were a force to be reckoned with for several years, and often waged small battles with other local lords to gain more land in the region.
At the border between the Aude and the Ariege departments, the ruined Chateau d’Usson emerges from the depths of the Pyrenees at 920m in altitude above the River Aude and the River Bruyante.
Discover the history of these beautiful and fascinating gardens, created by Eugène Mazel in 1856. Illustrated signs throughout your visit give a background to the people who worked to maintain and develop the gardens, and there are interactive areas which provide fun and education to young and old.
The gardens of “Les Camellias de la Prairie” opened in 2005 and promise you a treat for your eyes in the months of February and March. This is a wondeful place for garden lovers and simply has to be on the list of places to visit in the Languedoc.
An alternative day out for you and the kids is to visit the 300 hectares of safari park near Sigean, where you will come face to face with over 3000 different wild animals!
Whether you're looking for a fun-filled city break or rurual tranquility, there's somewhere perfect for you to stay in the Languedoc Roussillon. Find your ideal hotel, bed & breakfast, holiday home or campsite 
