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Located at the very ‘bottom’ of France, Languedoc-Roussillon is a region that is blessed by both the picturesque Pyrenees Mountains and a long, sandy Mediterranean coastline that enjoys warm weather almost year-round.
The areas that border Spain to the south carry a distinct Catalan flavour, no more apparent than in historic Perpignan, with its colourful, Spanish-style architecture and narrow cobbled streets. The 500-year-old St Jean’s Cathedral and the even older 13th century castle founded under the former Kingdom of Majorca, resplendent with its still intact ramparts, are worth a visit. Like many towns in the region, Perpignan’s beach remains warm enough for swimming the entire year, with the exception of some cold days in December and January.
The regional capital Montpellier is a city that is both typically French and then not so. While it is a city of pleasant, cobbled boulevards and is even home to an Arc de Triomphe similar to the iconic structure in Paris, Montpellier is one of only a few cities in France that does not trace its roots back to the Roman era. Like Perpignan, larger Montpellier is steeped in history and is home to the oldest university in the country and will soon celebrate its 800-year anniversary.
Some of the most spectacular historic architecture in the region can be seen at Carcassonne, home enormous and extremely well-preserved city walls that protect the historic fortress, which has been featured in Hollywood movies.
Languedoc-Roussillon is a lesser-known French wine-making area that nevertheless has superb vineyards dotted over a grape-growing area three times the size of that in the Bordeaux region. Vineyards in the largest wine-growing division that produces the Coteaux de Languedoc label can be visited just outside of Montepellier, featuring a host of vineyards where it is possible to taste and buy flavoursome reds and whites.
Skiing enthusiasts have two mountain ranges to choose from in Languedoc-Roussillon: the Pyrenees and the Massif Centrale. Resorts like the world-class Font-Romeu offer downhill and cross-country skiing as well as areas dedicated exclusively to snowboarders and there is even the opportunity to learn dog-sledding
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