My wife and I are considering renting an apartment through VRBO or a similar website for two weeks somewhere in the Languedoc region. We would be staying there in May or early June 2016. We love the Cote d'Azur and Provence but want to try Languedoc because it should be less crowded and possibly less expensive. We like food, wine, markets, art, architecture, history and beautiful natural scenery. We want to explore but also want to have some days where we just relax and soak in our surroundings. I am considering two cities right now. Collioure because it is a town on the coast with day trip possibilities to Spain and the Pyrenees. My other thought is Uzes which seems to be a charming town and is close to attractions such as Pont du Gard and the Rhone wine region. However I wanted to ask those on this forum for any recommendations and/or experiences they have in Languedoc.
Posted by
northern CA
2766 posts
I could be reading into things that aren't really there, but I felt like Languedoc shows some Catalunyan influence, which is an interesting contrast to the Italic tendencies in Provence. If you talk to restaurateurs about their suppliers, you may find that they are using farms to their west. The local details of the wars of religion also have interesting modern traces that distinguish the area from Provence. I like urban over rural, so Nimes is my preferred base; if I was into driving, I might lean towards either of your choices above. In any case, Nimes has several re-done museums and sites that you'll enjoy.
Posted by
Long Beach, California, USA
3398 posts
We have thoroughly explored the region of Languedoc and there are so may beautiful areas. It sounds like you want to get out of the more popular areas so here are a few suggestions...
If you want a larger city, Montpellier is lovely! It has a beautiful central area, a relaxed atmosphere, and great food!
Pezenas is smaller, is about 800 years old, and has a gorgeous central area for walking along the tiny winding cobbled streets, eating and shopping. It's a "village circulade" with the streets laid out in concentric circles from the central plaza. It has one of the best Saturday markets in the area and the town purposely offers reduced commercial rents to artists.
Narbonne is also very nice with it's giant cathedral that was only partially finished - it has a pretty town core and isn't packed with tourists when I've been there, even in the height of summer.
We prefer the area around Pezenas for the wineries! The whole area is peppered with them. My favorite is the Abbaye de Valmagne which is housed in an old monastery - they store the huge wine casks in the side chapels of the old church.
You can also drive up into the Cevennes to see the Gorges du Tarn, the ancient Roman bridge under which you can swim and kayak and then paddle up the gorge, visit caverns, and then spend time in St. Guilhem le Desert, an old pilgramage town - a little touristy but really nice.
Coulioure is beautiful to visit but is really crowded with tourists - it's a nice place to see though and you shouldn't miss it...maybe just not stay there?
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
784 posts
I have spent five weeks over two different trips near Pezenas. It is 30 minutes from the coast and we day tripped to Nimes, la Camargue, Collouire, Cacassonne, Albi, the Gorge du l'Herault, and places in between. We found ur ro be very central as well as an interesting town.