Why visit Languedoc-Camargue? | Skyscanner Travel Blog

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Languedoc-Camargue brings together all the reasons why the South of France is one of the UK’s (and the world’s) favorite places to travel. In the southeastern region of Occitania which meets the Mediterranean Sea, its picturesque stone towns like Montpellier, Nîmes and Carcassonne combine ancient Roman architecture with modern, dynamic life.

Outside the city limits, you’ll see some of France’s most iconic scenery. And Occitania is home to nearly a quarter of France’s UNESCO World Heritage sites, eight in total.

Head to Languedoc-Camargue for a journey back in time, where you can also play golf courses, swim in thalassotherapy centers and take part in water sports, from diving in Cap d’Agde to canoeing in the Hérault Gorges. Here are a few more reasons why Languedoc-Camargue should be on your must-travel list.

1. Climate

The Languedoc-Camargue region enjoys 300 days of sunshine a year – an almost perfect holiday climate which reaches around 30C in July and never drops below 12C in the depths of wintery January. It perfectly sets the stage for the multitude of outdoor activities you can enjoy along this 100km sandy stretch of Mediterranean coast.

Start with La Grande-Motte, a 70s resort town built in a futuristic style inspired by the Mayan pyramids. The angular buildings rise from a curve of cookie-crumb sand, beside a harbor that teems with white sailboats and small cream-colored fishing boats.

Then there’s Cap d’Agde, a Languedoc seaside resort southwest of Montpellier, which was built at the foot of an ancient volcano and is now popular for its beautiful beaches. From the long, family-friendly stretches of sand at Rochelongue and Richelieu to the grey-black volcanic sands of La Grande Conque and the wild bays of Espiguette, the variety of beaches here is virtually unmatched. Without forgetting the diving spots in the old volcanic crater, where you can see octopus, squid and anemones.

2. Historic towns

Some of the most historic and picturesque towns in the south of France are found in Languedoc-Camargue. Lined with palm trees, Nimes is brimming with Roman history, with a 2,000-year-old temple and two-tiered amphitheater that’s the best-preserved Roman ruin in France. Dating back to 100 BCE, it could seat 24,000 spectators at its height of brutal gladiatorial combat. These days it’s a unique venue for concerts and events (although you can still see replica gladiator armor in the adjoining museum).

Then there’s Montpellier, an elegant city that has no Roman heritage (unusual in Languedoc-Camargue) but instead has grand mansions, wide boulevards and white sandy beaches, bustling with its multicultural and student population. . Not forgetting Uzès, easily one of the prettiest towns in France, where Roman history (don’t miss the breathtaking Gard aqueduct bridge) rubs shoulders with Renaissance palaces and mansions.

3. Unspoilt countryside

The Languedoc-Camargue is home to some of France’s most iconic landscapes and wildlife, from flamingos that soar in the sky above Espiguette beach to the native wild horses that roam the Camargue wetlands.

Head to the Camargue Biosphere Reserve for a crash course in what the natural world has to offer. The network of lagoons between the Rhône and the Mediterranean makes it one of the most important wetlands in Europe, where 272 species of birds fly between meadows, salt marshes, freshwater ponds, dunes and woods. It is the only place in Europe where flamingos nest.

Then there are the Causses and the Cévennes, a mountainous region of narrow valleys and medieval road networks; one of the deepest canyons in Europe, the Gorges du Tarn; and barge trips on the emblematic Canal du Midi, lined with plane trees.

4. Parties

The Languedoc-Camargue region has been inhabited for millennia, making it a land rich in ancient customs, traditions and folklore – as well as a growing multicultural population. Each town and village has its own celebrations, many of which feature horses and bulls – animals that have always been important to the culture of the region.

The main port town of Sète hosts an annual festival that dates back to medieval times and is a must if you happen to be nearby every August. For a week that month, the Saint Louis Festival holds a jousting tournament that has taken place here since 1666. Watch them from the water’s edge, as jousters battle it out on canoes rather than horses .

5. Gastronomy

Eating well is guaranteed in Languedoc-Camargue. Start with the farmers’ market in Uzès, twice a week on Wednesdays and Saturdays at Place aux Herbes. Dating back to 1241, the market is an incredible introduction to the perfect produce of southern France: emerald green olive oil, shiny fruits and vegetables, fresh goat cheese and local dry sausages all vie for your attention. If you’re there in January, you’ll be in for the earthy loot of truffle season, and the town’s sweet quintessence – licorice – can be chewed all year round.

But don’t stop there. The hilltop fortified city of Carcassonne is not only famous for its pristine medieval architecture. It is also the birthplace of cassoulet, a stew of simmered pork sausages and bullion beans, enriched with duck confit and served in an earthenware dish. Pair it with a red wine from nearby Corbières to treat yourself like the locals do – or head to the coast for exceptional seafood, like Tielle Sétoise (octopus tart) in Sète, oysters from Bouzigues or baked cod from Nîmes.

Visit the Languedoc-Camargue region, steeped in history, culture and some of the best cuisine in France, by searching for flights, hotels and car rentals on Skyscanner.

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