Languedoc-roussillon | French Holiday Travel Guide

It’s not by chance that the Languedoc-Roussillon’s tourism website goes by the confident and bold name of Sun France.

With its sunshine hours and beaches, this southern region is a holidaymaker’s heaven. It is a huge swathe of land formed for administrative purposes by the combining of three areas: Bas Languedoc, which eyes Provence and is home to the region’s key towns, Roman amphitheatres, beaches and hearty red wines;


With such diversity of options, it has long been the destination of choice for those seeking the heat of the Riviera, but with lower price tags and more peacefulness.

Flights to the Languedoc-Roussillon:

To Montpellier from Gatwick and Stansted
To Perpignan from Stansted, Manchester and Southampton
To Carcassone from Stansted, Dublin, East Middlands Liverpool and Shannon
To Nimes from East Middlands, Liverpool and Luton

Driving to the Languedoc-Roussillon:

A10/A20 To Toulouse via Orlean and Limoges
A71/E11 via Clemont-Ferrand to Montpellier
A9 for Nimes and Perpignan or the N7 South of Paris to the coast

By trains:

TGV from Paris Gare de Lyon to Nimes and Montpellier

More information on our how to get there page


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The Languedoc-Roussillon is the largest wine-growing area in the world, whose increasingly reputable wines are grouped together under the Sud de France banner.

They come in bottlings as diverse in taste and appearance as the landscapes (wine tourism is increasingly popular), from the Carignan grapes of Corbières to the robust reds of Fitou, and even the white fizz of Limoux.

As for regional cuisine, try the cassoulet from Castelnaudary and gardiane de taureau (rich beef stew) or head to the coast for some stunning seafood and shellfish – everything from oysters to sea bass makes the menu. Herbs and olive oil are culinary mainstays, as are fresh fruits like cherries (famous in Céret) and apricots, while up in the mountains the cuisine veers towards the more hearty – chestnuts and Lozère cheeses.


Suggested Restaurants, Brasseries and Auberges: 

► Lozere dept. 48

Aubrac: Restaurant Le Gabale  - Traditional French - Menu From €17. Tel:+33(0)466428614
Chabris: Restaurant La Safraniere  - Menu from €23. tel:  +33(0) 4 66 49 31 54

►Gard dept. 30
Mejannes-Les-Ales : Auberge des Voutins - Traditional French - Menu from €28. Tel:+33()4666138 03
Nimes:  Aux Plaisirs Des Halles - Traditional French - Menu from €27. Tel: +33(0) 4 67 79 43 34

►Herault dept. 34
Lunel : Restaurant Chodoreille - Moderne Cuisine - Menu from €22. Tel: +33(0) 4 67 71 55 77
Montpellier : Restaurant Prouheze Saveurs - Traditional French - Menu from €27  +33(0) 4 67 79 43 34

►Aude dept. 11
Bages : Restaurant Le Portanel - Sea Food/Traditional - Menu from €25 -  Tel: +33(0) 4 68 42 8166
Cucugnan : Auberge de Cucugnan - Traditional French - Menu from €18 - Tel +33(0) 4 68 45 40 84

►Pyrenees-orientales dept. 66
Perpignan : Les Antiquaires - Traditional Catalan - Menu from €24 - tel: +33(0) 4 68 34 06 58

1 Star: L’Octopus- Béziers (Hérault), Château à La Pomarède (Aude), Le Relais des Trois Mas- Collioure (Pyrénées-Orientales)
2 Stars: Le Castellas-Collias (Gard)
3 Stars: Auberge du Vieux Puits- Fontjoncouse

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Not to everyone’s taste, of course, but bullfighting is a great passion of the region – head to Nîmes for the biggest and best feria.

Activity holidays in Languedoc Roussillon:

In the great outdoors, there is much to see and do, be it taking a canoe, kayak or raft onto one its countless rivers or lakes or strapping up for a spot of rock climbing in the Cévennes.

For walkers, there are miles of marked GR (Grande Randonnée) trails, including some that allow you to follow in the footsteps of Santiago de Compostela (look out for the scallop shell motif) or recreate RL Stevenson’s travels with a donkey.

On the coast, choose from sailing and windsurfing, diving or kite surfing, while a boating holidays break on the Canal du Midi offers real tranquillity and a reassuringly slow pace of life.

We should also mention the colourful market of Pezenas( including organic produce), Notre Dame de Capimont just outside Herepian for a wonderful view of the area including the Orb moutains and after a long walk enjoy a swim in the crystal clear water of 'les Gorges d'Heric'.

►Lozere: Depart.48

Musee Duguesclin: +33(0) 4 66 47 91 43

Animal Park: Les Bisons d'Europe in Saint-Eulalie-en-Margeride: +33(0) 4 66 31 40 40
Animal Park: Les Loups du Gevaudan in Saint-leger-de Peyre: +33 (0) 4 66 32 09 22

Grottes de Aven Armen in Meyrueis: +33 (0)4 66 45 61 31

►Aude: Depart. 11 S

Animal Park: Reserve Africaine de Sigean in Sigean: +33(0)4 68 48 20 20

Laguzou's Grottes: +33 (0)4 68 20 45 38

►Herault: depart. 34

Aquarium: Cap D'Agde: + 33 (0)4 67 26 14 21

Grottes de Clamouse, 20 mimutes from Montpellier: +33 (0)4 67 57 71 05

Musee International des Arts Modestes in Sete: + 33 (0)4 99 04 76 44

►Gard: Depart. 30

Sea Aquarium in Grau du Roi:+ 33(0)4 66 51 57 57
La Bambouseraie( Bamboo forest) in Anduze:  Website
Abime de Bramabiau,Camprieu: +33(0) 4 67 82 60 78

►Pyrenees Orientales: Depart. 66

Aquarium De Banyuls sur Mer: + 33 (0)4 68 88 73 39
Musee D'Art Moderne de Ceret:  + 33 (0)4 68 87 27 76
Musee Maillol in Banyuls sur Mer:  + 33 (0)4 68 88 57 11

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Not only can Languedoc-Roussillon lay claim to some of France’s finest Roman heritage, such as the Via Domitia road and Nîmes’ Les Arènes amphitheatres, but it also boats five unmissable UNESCO World Heritage sites: Carcassonne, with its 52 towers and medieval backstreets, is the fairy-tale citadel.

The Pont du Gard is a breathtaking symbol of Roman ingenuity and France’s most visited monument.

The Canal du Midi links the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, in a display of engineering cunning that shows the countryside off beautifully.

Two Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage routes to explore; and two of Vauban’s fortresses (Villefranche de Conflent and Mont Louis). Another site not to miss is the gorgeous abbey at St Guilhem-le-Désert.

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The buzzing capital is Montpellier, a modern-thinking, culturally vibrant university town with tree-lined promenades and beautifully expansive squares.

It’s a great short break destination, now served by low-cost airlines. Nîmes, to the east, brings to mind extensive Roman artefacts and denim (de Nîmes), first created in its textile mills, but there is some serious architectural modernisation afoot as the town bids to keep pace with Montpellier.


Sète is a key port whose water-jousting spectacle is a must-see, while Narbonne offers provincial charm. Béziers, also now welcoming UK visitors via it airport, is the capital of Languedoc wine country and centre of many Occitan celebrations.

Beziers: Office du Tourisme- 0033(0) 4 67 76 84 00

Carcassonne: Office du Tourisme- 0033(0) 4 68 10 24 30

Mende: Office du Tourisme- 0033(0) 4 66 94 00 23

Montpellier: Office du Toursime- 0033(0) 4 67 60 60 60

Narbonne: Office du Tourisme- 0033(0) 4 68 65 15 60

Nimes: Office du Tourisme- 0033 (0) 4 66 58 38 00

Perpignan: Office du Tourisme- 0033(0) 4 68 66 30 30 

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The coastal resorts and long, sandy beaches of the Mediterranean coast are a big draw for families seeking sun, relaxation or any water sport you can imagine, but the region offers some great days out too.

For nature lovers, there is the Cité des Oiseaux bird centre near Carcassonne, the Les Aigles de Valmy bird of prey centre and the Du Haut des Arbres rope slide centre for treetop fun.

And if the sun is shining – as it invariably does in Languedoc-Roussillon – then cool off at one of the region’s many excellent water parks.


►Pyrenees-Orientales-depart. 66

Fun vallee: Activity park for famillies in Sorede- website

►Lozere- depart. 48

Le Vallon du Villaret: Familly activity park in Bagnoles les Bains- website

►Herault- depart. 34

Le Labyrinthe de Maguelone: Theme park in Villeuneuve les Maguelo-website

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Search for Activity holidays in Languedoc Roussillon, Choose from wine tasting courses, cycling, Cooking and Boating holidays.

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