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Regions à la carte
Southeastern France
Region at a glance |
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 Major city:
Montpellier,
Perpignan, Nîmes, Carcassone
Gallo Roman
history and monuments
Mediterranean beaches, dry, sunny climate with quaint
coastal towns and ports
Catalonian influence
Rugged mountains and vineyards
Ruins of Cathare castles
A wealth of history lies
in the Languedoc-Roussillon region. Roman monuments,
Greek ruins, medieval castles and ancient villages are
set amidst a patchwork of vineyards, farmlands, mountains
and plateaus.
The walled city of
Carcassonne encompasses towers, dungeons, moats and
drawbridges and serves as one of the most impressive
examples of medieval France. Many of the citadels and
fortresses are perched high atop cliffs and rocky
mountains. The Chateau de Peyrepertuse provides a
breathtaking panoramic view from dizzying heights.
Ruins of the former Cathare castles can be seen
throughout the region.
Montpelier is a lively and radiant university town
with squares, gardens and majestic mansions. The town
of Nîmes is built around a Roman amphitheatre and
Perpignan offers the unmistakable characteristics of
Catalan.
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Places of
interest |
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Aigues-Mortes |
Medieval city |
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Béziers
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Wine capital of the region, St.
Nazaire cathedral, Canal du Midi |
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Carcassonne |
Largest medieval walled city in
Europe |
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Limoux |
Medieval town, Notre Dame de
Marseilla Basilica, St. Martin church |
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Montpellier |
Famous for universities, Musée de
l'Infanterie, Fabre Museum |
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Narbonne
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Roman sites, Gothic cathedral |
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Nîmes |
Oman remains and amphitheatre, Pont
du Gard |
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Perpignan |
Kings Palace |
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Pézenas |
Molière's home |
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Villeneuve-les-Avignon |
Royal City of and residence of popes
in 14th century |
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Technical
tourism and sports |
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Pottery, Catalan fabrics, Cacharel
designer wear, cork
Barging on Canal du Midi
Golf, biking, hiking, horseback riding |
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Cuisine |
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Cooking is Provençal,
characterized by garlic and olive oil with
delicious sausages and smoked hams. The region
produces delicious pastries and sweetmeats made
from almond paste and flavored with aniseed,
pistachio and orange - flower water. Fish is
popular along the coast: fish soup bourride
in Sète. Wines include the reds of Corbières,
Minervois, and the sweet Banyuls and Muscat. |
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