Languedoc-Roussillon Overview

Languedoc-Roussillon is in fact two distinct regions, each with its own thriving, independent culture and enough reasonably priced accommodations and eateries to make the area a great opportunity for travelers to see the south of France on a budget. A rogue land once independent of both France and Spain, Languedoc had its own distinct language, the langue d’oc, meaning “the tongue of the West.” Known as part of Occitania in the Roman era, the region stretched from the Rhône Valley to the Pyrenean foothills. Though it has been part of France since the 12th century, Languedoc preserves its rebellious spirit with frequent strikes and protests, while its joie de vivre is apparent in frequent impromptu street performances and large neighborhood parties.

Situated between the Mediterranean coast and the peaks of the Pyrenees, Roussillon inspired Matisse and Picasso and now attracts a mix of young sunbathers and backpackers. At the southwest corner of France, the region was historically part of Catalonia, not France, and Perpignan was the capital of the kings of Majorca. Many inhabitants of Roussillon identify more with Barcelona than with Paris and speak Catalan, a thriving Romance language that sounds like a French-Spanish hybrid. Architecture, food, and nightlife all bear the zest of the region’s Spanish neighbors.