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 civilization.

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.
 

Beziers (20 mins away)
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.  Beziers 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.

 

Pezenas (20 mins away)
The historic town of Pézenas was the home of Molière and is now a UNESCO world heritage site. This beautiful town is steeped in history and culture, and lies at the heart of the Coteaux du Languedoc wine growing region.

Things to see:
The Old Town, the beautiful 14th-17th century mansions; the Vulliod-Saint-Germain Museum, which houses the Aubusson tapestry and a 'memories of Molière' exhibition; the historic barbershop of the barber, Gély.
Events: carnival and parade of the town mascot, the 'colt', in February; festival of arts, folklore, crafts and theatre in summer.

Montpellier (50 mins away)
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.

Carcassonne (90 mins away)
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.
 

Coastal Resorts & Beaches (all 30-40 minutes away)

Cap d'Agde
Take time out to visit the ancient Greek city of Cap d'Age, now France's top seaside resort, with great sandy beaches and round-the-clock entertainment. Where fresh water and salt water come together, where the Canal du Midi and the Herault River meet the sea, Le Cap d'Agde, La Cité d'Agde, Le Grau d' Agde and La Tamarissière combine the Mediterranean Sea and holiday fun. 14 km of sandy beaches, 2,500 years of history and heritage, an environment full of natural areas for visits (Canal du Midi, Le Bagnas Nature Reserve, the Undersea Trail), events and a multitude of leisure activities for the entire family: golf, tennis, thalassotherapy, water activities at the marina and nautical centre, Aqualand Park, amusement park for the children, museums, the Casino, Ile des Loisirs ("Leisure Island"), discotheques and restaurants where the chefs prepare enticing dishes with local products of the land and sea.

Valras Plage
There are plenty of activities on offer in this seaside resort, which sits
at the mouth of the river Orb.

The town has wide, clean sands, a marina and sailing school, horse riding stables, tennis courts and bike hire.

Vias Plage
This seaside resort has 5 miles of glorious, sandy beaches between Agde and Béziers, and is on the banks of the Canal du Midi.

Things to see: the old village; the 15th century fortified church.

Portiragnes
This family seaside resort has wide sandy beaches and is close to the Canal du Midi.

Things to see: 12th century church.

Events: Camargue bullfighting in summer; New Wine Festival in October.

Serignan
This popular family seaside resort has almost 3 miles of fine sandy beach and a marina.

Things to see: museum of the horse and carriage; the church of Notre Dame de Grâce (12th to 15th century).

Events: Festival of Cartoons at Easter.


Other attractions

Roquebrun (20 mins away)
This extremely pretty village beside the river Orb is known as 'little Nice', and has a Mediterranean garden planted with 400 species. Here there are opportunities for walking, hiking, rock climbing and canoeing. The high mountainous area between Hérault and Aude is a country of wild natural beauty. Limestone plateaux, covered in scrub, are sliced through by deep canyons, splashed with red ochre on lake shores, pitted with caves and natural craters, and strewn with historic sites - from industrial relics to religious monuments and ancient citadels.

Sète, "The Little Venice of Languedoc"
Between the Mediterranean Sea and the Etang de Thau, separated from Cap d'Agde by twelve kilometres of sandy beaches, Sète is an authentic and colourful authentic fishing port crossed by canals.  With activities year-round, Sète sways to the rhythm of a multitude of painters with their intimate ateliers scattered along the alleyways and its four museums dedicated to local celebrities, the famous poets Georges Brassens and Paul Valéry, or to unusual, contemporary arts.  Bourride, stuffed squid and mussels, cuttlefish with rouille sauce, tielles, oysters and other seafood platters are all culinary specialities full of the traditions of the town, its fishermen and the surrounding vineyards. During the summer Sète, hosts a famous jousting festival with knights doing battle on the canal.

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.

Further Afield
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.

Golf:

There are golf courses nearby (within 30-40 mins) in the spa town of Lamalou les Bains, St Thomas (Beziers) and Cap D'agde.

Beziers - The course at Saint-Thomas, set in the wild scrubland known as the 'garrigue', has a typically Mediterranean feel. The 18-hole course (par 72, 6130 metres) will suit all levels of player, from beginner to expert. Every hole has its own character: wooded, hilly, lakeside or straightforward.

Lamalou les Bains golf course has a fabulous setting at the foot of the Caroux mountain in the foothills of the Cévennes, with the river Orb running by. The wooded course with its three lakes is a pleasure to play whatever your level.
While you're there, take the tourist train through the Orb valley, take a look at the Héric gorge and 'Mons-la-Trivalle' - the 19th century viaduct at
Bédarieux, with its 37 arches. At Lamalou, there's a health spa and a casino.

Cap d'Agde: Ronald Fream, one of the world's top golf course designers, created this inventive 18 hole course (par 72, 6279 metres), set in colour-splashed scrubland on the Mediterranean coast. You're not likely to forget the tricky greens, carefully protected by bunkers, or the fabulous setting.