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The city of Agde in Hérault was built on the lava flow and rocks of an extinct volcano, called "le mount Saint-Loup", by the Greeks in 600 BC. Agathê means 'the beautiful' in Greek and its inhabitants are called 'Agathois'.
Agde is known for the distinctive black basalt used in the local architecture, hence its nickname 'the Black Pearl'. It was a busy port in the 17th Century but is now devoted mainly to tourism.
There is plenty for visitors to see and do, with bustling streets and shops and many fish restaurants along the quayside. It has an imposing cathedral dating from the 12th Century plus the remains of the city walls originally built by the Greeks.
The town is located on the river Hérault estuary about 4 km from the Mediterranean Sea. Access to the sea by boat is via Cap d'Agde. The Canal du Midi connects to the Hérault at the lock (l'Écluse Ronde d'Agde) just above Agde and empties into the Mediterranean at Le Grau d'Agde.
Alès is one of the sub-prefectures of the Gard department situated north of Nîmes at the foot of the Cévennes mountains, near the Cévennes National Park and beside the river Gardon. It was formerly known as Alais.
In the 16th century it was an important Huguenot centre. In 1629 the town was taken by Lousi XIII and the Peace of Alais was signed which left the Huguenots free to enjoy religious and civil liberties, but they lost all their military advantages.
In 1865 the silk industry in France was threatened by a disease that was killing the silkworm. The government commisioned Louis Pasteur to find the cause. He moved to the south of France, the centre of silkworm breeding, to carry out his investigations in Alès. He discovered a parasite was infecting the worms and recomended the isolation and destruction of all infected silkworms which eliminated the disease. The town has dedicated a bust to his memory.
Another sight worth visiting is the Parc botanique de la Tour Vieille.
Béziers is famous for its wine, rugby and bullfighting. Every August it hosts the famous Féria de Béziers, centred around bullfighting, attracting a million visitors to the five-day event.
The town is located on a hill overlooking the river Orb, about 10 km from the Mediterranean Sea crowned by the Cathedral of Saint-Nazaire. At Béziers the Canal du Midi spans the river Orb as an aqueduct called the Pont-canal de l'Orb.
The city has known wealth and ruin in turn, but has always managed to recover from misfortunate. Today Béziers is a principal centre of the Languedoc viticulture and winemaking industries.
Béziers is also perfectly situated for excursions due to its excellent road and rail links. Perhaps not one of the prettiest towns, it is not often on the tourist agenda which means you can get a taste of the real Languedoc without the crowds.
Béziers became a Roman colony in 36 BC and formed an important staging post on the Domitian Way, the chariot road which traversed the whole of Languedoc on its way from Rome to Cadiz in southern Spain, developing into an important trade route. The amphora, a common site in any Roman display in a museum, was actually invented by the winegrowers of Béziers.
During the thirteenth century the town witnessed one of the worst massacres in the region - 20,000 people were put to death during the crusade against the Cathars, many of whom had sought refuge in the churches. When asked by a Crusader how to tell Catholics from Cathars once they had taken the city, the papal legate supposedly replied, "Kill them all, God will know His own". Cathars and Catholics alike were slaughtered indiscriminately.
This seaside resort was created in 1963 for the tourist industry that thrives there and is one of the largest leisure ports on the French Mediterranean. It is also the European capital of naturism. The Village Naturiste is a large fenced-off part at the north-eastern edge of Cap d'Agde, although it is accessible along the public beach from the east. It is a self-contained town (although sometimes referred to as the 'Naked City'), with a 2 km beach, port and marina, campsite, apartment complexes, hotel, shops, restaurants, bars etc. where nudity is legal and common in the whole resort, day or night.
Agde can be reached by the TGV train direct from Paris or Lille and by air from are Béziers-Cap d'Agde airport with direct budget airline services to the UK and Scandinavia. Public transport and taxi services operate between Agde and Cap d'Agde.
Carcassonne is separated into the fortified Cité de Carcassonne (a Unesco world heritage site) located high on a rock and the more expansive lower city or bastide, the ville basse.
Folklore has it that Charlemagne held the Cité under siege for five years in the 7th Century. Within the walls their numbers gradually dwindled due to thirst and hunger but Lady Carcas had dummy warriors made out of straw placed on the ramparts to create the illusion that they were still strong. When they finally ran out of food and were down to their last pig and a sack of wheat, Lady Carcas realised she would have to surrender. Out of utter frustration she let the pig gorge itself on the wheat and then threw it over the wall at her enemies. The pig exploded as it hit the ground and the startled besiegers thought there must be an abundance of food if they could afford to feed their livestock in such a way. Unbeknown to Lady Carcas, Charlemagne was already getting bored, so he gave up and went back to Germany.
Carcassonne was struck from the roster of official fortifications under Napoleon and the Restoration, and it fell into such disrepair that the French government decided that it should be demolished. In the early 19th Century the Cité was to be sold off and torn down for its masonry blocks but there was such an uproar that it was saved. The architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc was brought in to renovate it - a task that took him and his craftsmen, continuing after his death, 35 years to complete.
The restoration was strongly criticized during Viollet-le-Duc's lifetime. Fresh from work in the north of France, he made the error of using slates and restoring the roofs as pointed cones, where local practice was traditionally of tile roofing and low slopes, in a snow-free environment. Yet, overall, Viollet-le-Duc's achievement at Carcassonne is agreed to be a work of genius, though not of strictest authenticity.
The fortification consists of a double ring of ramparts and 53 towers and provided Walt Disney with the inspiration for the castle in his version of 'The Sleeping Beauty'.
Nearby Castelnaudary is famous for its delicious cassoulet, a traditional local dish made of beans, duck and sausage.
The city is built on two hills and is located 10 km inland from the Mediterranean coast on the River Lez. The name of the city is said to have stood for mont pelé, the naked hill, because the vegetation was poor. Some of its streets are very narrow and old, which gives it a more intimate feel.
The city is friendly and picturesque with lanes, passages, little squares and mansions dating from the 17th and 18th Centuries and its delightful tramway system. The historic centre has been pedestrianised, so it is a pleasant place to stroll around or linger over a drink at a café on the square and listen to the talented buskers. It is lively in the evening due to its theatres, cinemas, operas and other performances and its generally younger population due to the incredible number of students there.
Things to do and see in Montpellier
Narbonne offers excellent transport communication links to the rest of Europe, the A61 and A9 motorways meet here, as do two main railway lines running south from Bordeaux and east-west along the Mediterranean coast from Italy through to Spain, and in easy reach of airports at Perpignan, Carcassonne, Beziers, Montpellier and Gerona.
Once a prosperous port, it is now located about 15 km from the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. It has a larger population than Carcassonne, although the latter is Aude's capital or préfecture
Narbonne is linked to the nearby Canal du Midi and the Aude River by the Canal de la Robine, which runs through the centre of town. You can take a canal trip to Port la Nouvelle or le Somail, or hire a motor boat.
Narbonne was founded on the Colline de Montlaurès which has been inhabited since the 7th Century BC. By the 2nd Century BC the Roman city of Narbo had become one of the most important in southern Gaul. The Visigoths made it their capital when they invaded in the 6th Century AD. The decline began in the late 14th Century when the port silted up followed by the Hundred Years War and the Black Death. In the mid-19th Century, the building of the railway and the expansion of the vineyards restored its vitality.
Main sights
Nîmes is the capital of the Gard department and has a rich history, dating back to the Roman Empire, and is a popular tourist destination.
A rugged cotton twill textile, called serge, was developed here by the Andre family in the 18th Century. It was colored blue with indigo dye and referred to as serge de Nîmes (serge of Nîmes) which was later shorted to denim. (The word 'jeans' comes from the French word for Genoa in Italy (Gênes), where the first denim trousers were made.
Nîmes is famous for its colourful annual festivals, celebrating Easter and the grape harvest and bullfights (féria).
Nîmes may have been one of the richest and finest Roman cities of Gaul. Several important remains of the Roman Empire can still be seen in and around Nîmes:
Later monuments include:
Perpignan is the capital of the Pyrénées-Orientales department. It was the capital of the former province and county of Roussillon (Rosselló in Catalan) and is very much a Catalan city. With its sunny squares, good food and wine it makes a delightful place to visit.
The Sanch (meaning "the Lord’s precious blood") is a procession which takes place every year on Good Friday through the streets of Perpignan. It is a ritual dating from 1416 but was banned in the 18th century as being "too baroque" and was only revived in 1950.
Main sights:
Pézenas gets it name from the older name Piscenae, probably from the Latin word piscenis, meaning fishpond. According to legend, there was a lake full of fish behind the Chateau. Inhabitants of Pézenas are Piscenois.
The origins of Pézenas are unclear, but were influenced by three factors: water from the River Peyne, an ancient pre-Roman route from Rodez to Saint Thibéry and a defensive hill.
The town has a history stretching from the Middle Ages and is full of artists and craft shops as well as being famous in France for its antique shops. There are a large number of restaurants and bars in the town and every Saturday one of the largest street markets in the Hérault department.
It is a pretty town that was very prosperous in the 15th and 17th Centuries and contains some magnificent stately homes. There is a sign-posted tour of the town that takes about two hours on foot.
The local speciality is 'Le petit pâté de Pézenas', which is the size and shape of a large cotton reel. It is a sweet/savoury pie supposedly made to a recipe from Clive of India. There are also boiled sugar sweets called 'Le berlingot de Pézenas'.
Sète is sometimes known as the Venice of Languedoc. It is the largest port on the French Mediterranean coast and is a seaside resort with almost 11km of beaches. The initial village started growing with the completion of the Canal du Midi in 1681. It was called Cette until 1927.
Built upon and around Mont St Clair, Sète is situated on the southeastern hub of the Bassin de Thau, an enclosed salt-water lake used primarily for oyster and mussel fields. To its other side lies the Mediterranean.
It is famous for its octopus and tomato pie called 'tielle', a local delicacy. There are many restaurants along the quayside offering seafood.
Mont Saint Clair is where some the most beautiful (and expensive) homes are to be found. It is worth a drive up to the top where there is a chapel and terraces from which, on a clear day, there are spectacular views beyond Montpellier, northwards towards the Cévennes and westwards as far as the Pyrenees.
One of the popular Sunday pastimes is jousting - on specially built boats. Two teams, clad in white, confront each other armed with long poles and a square shield. The object is to knock your opponent into the water and thereby score a point.
St Pons de Thomières is the 'capital' of the regional natural reserve park area (the Parc Naturel Régional du Haut-Languedoc) and hosts each year in the autumn the chestnut fair which is great fun to visit. The cathedral is a mix of of Romanesque and classical. There is also a small and reasonably interesting museum of prehistory.
Toulouse was the capital of the former province of Languedoc (provinces were abolished during the French Revolution) and is now the capital of the Midi-Pyrénées region. It is an old and ornate city with a long and rich history and is one of the centres of the European aerospace industry.
Its world renowned university is one of the oldest in Europe (founded in 1229) and, with more than 120,000 students, is the second largest university campus of France after Paris and in front of Lyon.
Ideally situated between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic Ocean, the cosmopolitan city mixes heritage and lifestyle. Both modern and proud of the legacy of its past, it has a wealth of cultural heritage.
Toulouse is a city to satisfy the taste of every enthusiast of the arts, from classical concerts, lyrical art, jazz and variety to electro-acoustic music.
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Large Character House, modernized, 295m, 5 bedrooms with former wine cellar, studio apartment, outbuilding, pool and tennis court on 2.470m² grounds
Former stone wine domain, renovated, 5 gîtes and 5 B&B running, 1.2 acres of land, further 800m² to be renovated with enormous potential in Perpignan area
A very fine Manor House with a garden and nice views, B&B potential, close to all amenities in the Carcassonne area.
Stunning luxury villa with panoramic sea view, caretaker’s apartment, pool, 3000m² mature grounds, quiet, unique location! Montpellier area.
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Elegant Maison de Maître, 8 bedrooms and 7 bath/shower rooms, 400m² living area, heated pool, mature garden 1360m², all amenities within walking distance, quiet, greater Béziers area
Architect designed villa with superb use of space, separate apartment, stunning location with fantastic panoramic views of the surrounding hills, vineyards and countryside, Perpignan area
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19th Century character house, renovated, 5 bedrooms, pool, large garage and mature garden, walking distance to amenities, Narbonne area
Detached architect designed villa with stunning views on 1350m² of grounds with 3 large terraces ( 1 covered ) in Perpignan/coastal area
4 bedroomed villa, with small garden, pool and partly covered terrace, shops within walking distance and the sea nearby, in the Perpignan area
Lovely characterful villa, outskirts of a village, very quiet, large garden, pool, great views, garage, Narbonne area
Modern detached villa of good standing with nice views, 224m², on about 1800 m² of grounds with large terrace and plenty of room for a large pool
Superb Château 17th & 18th Centuries with 4 reception rooms, outbuildings, pool, 3ha/7.4 acres of grounds, peaceful, easy access to airport in Nîmes area, Languedoc
Large semi-detached villa with stunning views across the surrounding hills in coastal Perpignan area
Large Mansion House 422m², 6 bedrooms, 2 attics to convert, 2 courtyards, 2.065m² grounds with mature park, possibility for a pool in Pézenas area
Traditional farmhouse, tastefully converted into three cottages and a main house, set in open countryside with stunning views across rolling farmland and vineyards, Carcassonne area
Semi detached recent & modern villa , 436m² of grounds with several terraces and space for small pool, Perpignan/coastal area
Stunning Country Property totally renovated, guesthouse, guardian’s house, park with water basin and pool, 28h of land with vineyard, olive trees, prairie, river and wood, gorgeous unspoiled view, quiet but not isolated, Narbonne area ***AAA Location***
Lovely characterful villa on the outskirts of a village, quiet location, large secluded garden (could take a pool), great views, garage, workshop, outbuilding, Béziers area
Terraced villa with stunning views, 120m² on 267 m² of grounds with covered pool in Perpignan/coastal area
Beautiful villa of 250m², swimming pool situated on grounds of 784m² in a quiet neighbourhood in Montpellier area near the sea
Carefully reconstructed Mas to a shell finish (originally a ruined stone hamlet) approx. 850m² floor area, 11ha, huge potential, in a green belt with stunning views, Montpellier area
Luxurious 19th Century castle 1200m² habitable, with heated indoor swimming pool, caretaker’s apartment, Gite, outbuildings on 83ha of grounds, quiet - 3ha constructible!
Outstanding property with spacious renovated character farmhouse, a separate apartment and a large attached house, idyllic setting in 50ha of woodland and pasture, ideal for horses, spectacular views across the Pyrenees, Limoux area
Unique 17th Catalan Mas with several buildings, total surface 1000m², 2 Gîtes, partly renovated, huge business potential, 5ha of land, isolated with stunning views, possibility to buy more land, Perpignan area