Languedoc-Roussillon ranked high as a travel destination

According to a list of the top 10 worldwide regional destinations to visit in 2018, which has just been released by Australia’s travel guide, The Lonely Planet, the ranking puts Languedoc-Roussillon in 4th position for its “various and varied charms: white sand beaches, sapphire waters, rustic markets and hills covered with maquis …”

I thought that in honor of this accolade, I’d post some photos of the region, showing just what the Lonely Planet writers – and we, too – love so much about this region.

White sand beaches:

Argelès-sur-Mer, above

A Languedoc real estate site says, “Currently, 94 of Languedoc’s beaches have been awarded the international eco-label, ‘The Blue Flag’, for water quality, safety and cleanliness.” – (Read full article here.)

Languedoc-Roussillon covers half of France’s Mediterranean coast, with 177km (110 miles) of coastline, including some of the most beautiful beaches in the south of France.

Narbonne, above

 

 

Cap d’Agde, above & right

 

 

 

 

 

There is even a nudist beach at Cap d’Agde, if that floats your boat! (And no, we have never been!!)

 Collioure, above

Sapphire waters:

Lac Taurize, above
Lac de Saligou, above

Lac de Vézoles, above

Le Cap d’Agde, above

The Mediterranean, above

Rustic Markets:

Pézenas, right & below

Cruzy, above

Esperaza, above

Collioure, above

….and our own marché in Montagnac:

Maquis/Garrigue/scrubby hillsides:

The garrigue is covered in wild herbs and flowers – all year round.

These are some of the wild herbs that you see and smell while walking or even driving through the countryside in the Languedoc. Sometimes we’ll be driving along with the car windows open and the aroma of wild herbs on either side of the road can actually make us hungry! They literally proclaim the reason for their immense popularity in this region’s cuisine.

Wild sage, above

Wild Thyme, above

Wild juniper, above

Wild rosemary, above

Wild fennel, above

Wild laurel, above

Wild lavender, above

These pictures illustrate just the four categories mentioned by The Lonely Planet. We could spend hours discussing the incredible cities, hillside villages and medieval walled towns that are scattered throughout the region; the mountains; the castles and Roman ruins; the friendliness of the local people; the food and the ever present wine; the antiques and the art; the rolling hills of vineyards; the shellfishing and sheepherding…and so much more!