France: Languedoc-Roussillon

Dana Facaros and Michael Pauls (facarospauls.com) have lived in Occitanie, southwest France, since 1989, and over the decades have uncovered all the ins and outs (and quirks) of the region. Their children went to school there, and they have even picked up the local twangy accent and know how to make cassoulet with the best of them. They've been to nearly all of the festivals and poked around every single Romanesque church at least once. After all these years, what they don't know about the region isn't worth knowing. The couple are veteran travel writers; Facaros' first guidebook was published in 1977. Alongside numerous subsequent guidebooks for Cadogan, they are the authors of four Bradt guides: Emilia-Romagna, Northern Greece, France: Languedoc-Roussillon and Gascony & The Pyrenees.Jane Falkner settled in the Lot Valley in southwest France in 2020, having spent her early childhood growing up on Italy's Adriatic Coast, later travelling extensively through Europe by campervan and train. Much of her adulthood has been spent exploring France whenever the opportunity has arisen; speaking fluent French has enabled Falkner to indulge her curiosity for the myths, legends and folklore of the country. When not travelling along any waterway on offer by kayak or paddleboard, she can often be found poking around hidden corners of French towns, villages and ruins of all kinds. She is the updater of Bradt's guidebook France: Languedoc-Roussillon.

• IntroductionPART 1 GENERAL INFORMATIONChapter 1 Background InformationGeography, Climate, Natural history and conservation, History, Government and politics, Economy, People and culture, SportChapter 2 Practical InformationWhen to visit, Highlights, Suggested itineraries, Tour operators, Red tape, Getting there and away, Health, Safety, Women travellers, Travelling with a disability, LGBTQIA+ travellers, Travelling with children, What to take, Money and budgeting, Getting around, Accommodation, Eating and drinking, Festivals and annual events, Shopping, Arts and entertainment, Outdoor actvities, Opening times, Media and communications, Cultural etiquette, Travelling positivelyPART 2 THE GUIDEChapter 3 The GardNîmes, North of Nîmes: The Pont du Gard and Around, Uzès, The Cévennes Gardoises, Northeastern Gard, The West Bank of the Rhône, Villeneuve-lès-Avignon, Beaucaire, The Petite Camargue, West of NîmesChapter 4 The LozèreMende, Parc National des Cévennes, Gorges du Tarn, Western and Northern Lozère: The Aubrac and La MargerideChapter 5 Montpellier and the Eastern HéraultMontpellier, East of Montpellier, Montpellier's Coast, North of Montpellier: The Garrigue, The Valley of the Hérault: The Haut Pays d'Oc, The Hérault Coast: Sète, The Bassin de Thau, Agde and Cap d'Agde, PézenasChapter 6 Béziers and the Western HéraultBéziers, The Canal du Midi, North of the Canal: the Minervois, The Monts de L'EspinouseChapter 7 The AudeCarcassonne, North of Carcassonne: The Montagne Noire, The Aude's Northwest Corner: The Lauragais, South of Carcassonne: The Limouxin and Quercorb, Th e Razès, Th e Corbières, Narbonne, Narbonne's CoastChapter 8 Roussillon: the Pyrénées-OrientalesPerpignan, Northern Roussillon, Down the coast from Perpignan, Collioure and the Côte Vermeille, Up the Conflent Valley, The Cerdagne, The VallespirAppendix 1 LanguageAppendix 2 GlossaryAppendix 3 Further InformationIndexIndex of advertisers