Languedoc Roussillon is a region of incredibly varied
landscapes from the Pyrenees Mountains, to the vineyards
and the beaches. It has also been affected by many
different civilisations over the last 2500 years and offers
a rich history, culture & architecture. It is less densely
developed than Provence and the Cote d'Azur giving it a
natural and rustic feel while also having property for sale
at about 60% of the price of Provence and the French
Riviera.
Location
The Languedoc Roussillon region borders Provence-Alpes-Cote
d'Azur to the east, Auvergne & Rhone-Alpes to the north &
north east and Midi-Pyrenees to the west and north-west. It
comprises five departments which from east to west are
Gard, Lozere, Herault, Aude & Pyrenees Orientales.
Transport links This southern region is easily accessed by
road, air or by train. It has no less than five airports in
the region at Perpignan, Carcassonne, Montpellier, Nimes
and Beziers all operated by low cost airlines with frequent
flights. Alternatively you can take the Eurostar all the
way to Avignon or to Perpignan in 2009 which should boost
property prices, business and tourism in the area.
Attractions
The Languedoc Roussillon has many attractive beaches and
seaside resorts which compared to the Cote d'Azur are far
less developed and more casual. These include the likes of
the Sete which has quite a casual and natural feel to it to
La Grande Motte with its Casino and nightlife, Palavas les
Flots which is a relatively quiet fishing village. Further
east and you reach the area known as the Cote Vermeille
whose landscape becomes more rocky and cove-like with
resorts such as Banyuls sur Mer and Collioure epitomising
this. This area near the Pyrenees also has a distinctly
Catalan culture and ambiance. Many people are also
attracted to the vibrant city of Montpellier with its
historical town centre and abundance of boutique and
fashion shops. Nearby Aigues Mortes has the best example of
medieval architecture today whose town centre and ramparts
stem from the 13th century. Carcassonne with is medieval
castle and Nimes with its Roman Amphitheatre are two cities
which also have many interesting spots to visit and there
are many smaller towns and villages like Pezenas which
offers more rustic charm with its stone built houses and
winding streets. You cannot ignore the strong presence of
the Roman Empire here from Arles with its amphitheatre
which is still in use to the Pont du Gard aqueduct. Equally
the Cathar religion has also left its mark on this region
notably seen in the fortresses they built in the Corbiere
hills.
Activities
There are too many activities available here to list them
however main ones include skiing and hiking in the
Pyrenees, walking or horse riding on the Montagne noir or
the Cevennes Natural Park with its many mountains, lakes,
rivers and forests and visiting the Camargue with its vast
wildlife from wild white horses to pink flamingos. This
area also has many vineyards 2nd only in wine production to
the Gironde and you can go on wine tasting trails as you
visit its many quaint villages or travel along the Canal du
Midi in a barge. There are also many festivals held
throughout the year across the region and the excellent
choice of shops, bars, restaurants and cafes in the main
towns will keep you coming back for more.
----------------------------------------------------
Nick Dowlatshahi is the Managing Director of Leapfrog
Properties who are a property agency specilaising in
helping the British & Irish buy property in France. Visit
http://www.leapfrog-properties.com to see our vast
selection of French property
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