Location and History

The Languedoc area includes the cities of Montpellier, Perpignan, Narbonne, Nimes and the ancient fortress of Carcassonne.

Montpellier is serviced by an international airport and is a major connection point for the TGV, a branch of which then continues on down the coast past Marseillan.

The major city of Toulouse (capital of the Occitanie region) is only two hours drive and Marseille just under two hours away. Further afield, the Spanish border can be reached in around three hours, making lunch in Barcelona a realistic possibility.

Historically, the Languedoc is one of the oldest and best preserved regions of France and still bears much evidence of its past. Remnants of the Roman occupation exist everywhere, including sections of the famous Via Domitia (the Roman highway stretching from Italy to Spain), aqueducts and amphitheatres.

In the Middle Ages, religious groups such as the Cathars and Knights Templar were based in the area and their castles, fortresses and churches still dominate many of the hilltops and create the central hub of most local towns and villages.