The Languedoc
The Mediterranean coast of the Languedoc was settled by the Greeks, Phoenicians and Romans, and invaded by the Alamanni, Vandals, Visigoths, and Saracens. Languedoc was known in the Middle Ages as the county of Toulouse, an independent county which was part of the kingdom of France. In the 12th century, Languedoc was the centre of the Cathar religious movement. The Roman Catholic Church declared them heretics, and the Albigensian Crusade wiped them out. As a consequence, the county of Toulouse was taken by the crown of France in 1271. Later the name given to the area was Languedoc, literally meaning "language of oc", from the word "yes" in the Occitan language.
Nowadays, the main industries in the Languedoc are wine and tourism. Steeped in history, you can visit Roman ruins, Cathar Castles and mediaeval Villages. The Wine Domaines that used to concentrate on quantity, not quality, have improved their wines to such an extent that it has been dubbed “The New World” of France. You can taste exquisite wines here, for still affordable prices.
The countryside is beautiful. It changes from the open expanses of the salt lakes on the Mediterranean, to hillsides of vines with roaming goatherds; from undulating hills with wheat fields, sun flowers and poppy’s to the foothills of the Pyrenees and snow capped mountains. It is a little corner of paradise that should be experienced by all.
