Choice Villas & Apartments Languedoc-roussillon Feature

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Situated in the south-east of France, bounded by the Mediterranean Sea to the east and the Pyrenees and Spain to the south, LanguedocRoussillon is a region rich in history and beauty and is so diverse that you can have a different holiday each time you visit.

enefiting from a warm Mediterranean climate, the friendly Languedoc-Roussillon coast features seaside resorts open to both the sea and countryside ensuring that your holidays can be either calm or action-packed. Enjoy all the nautical activities that LanguedocRoussillon has to offer: regattas, cruises, sport fishing, windsurfing, kite-surfing, there’s something for everyone. Gruissan and the Massif de la Clape are year-round windsurfing paradises. Picasso and Matisse didn’t choose Roussillon by chance: they came to capture the light and colour of the Côte Vermeille, Collioure, Banyuls, PortVendres and Cerbère, in magical moments. These historic and amazingly beautiful ports punctuate huge fine sand beaches and cosy inlets surrounded by towering cliffs at the foot of the Pyrenees. The cities and towns of Languedoc-Roussillon are historic and lively with shady sidewalk cafés and narrow, winding streets leading to places that rushing tourists never get to see. Montpellier, the regional capital is a cultural, scientific and artistic crossroads with an incomparable heritage. L’Ecusson, with its Place de la Comédie, – one of the oldest and most important squares in the whole of Metz and dominated by the opera house – stretches all the way to the new Antigone quarter designed by Ricardo Bofill. The narrow streets, lined by many 17th- and 18th-century mansions lead to St Peter’s cathedral, the western world’s oldest medical school, the Place Royale du Peyrou and the botanical gardens created during the reign of Henry IV. Béziers, in the heart of the Languedoc wine country, is marked by its cathedral that stands proudly between L'Orb and the Canal du Midi; and the fabulous, perfectly preserved medieval town of Carcassonne stands witness to 2,500 years of history and 1,000 years of military architecture, with the earliest fortifications dating back to the sixth century. Languedoc-Roussillon is a promised land for craftsmen practicing their skills, from basketmaking in Vallabrègues to jewellery-making around Perpignan. In Saint-Quentin, pottery-making is a living

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heritage. Potters who have moved back here have created the "Maison de la Terre" (“House of the Earth”). Anduze, a few kilometres away, is a garden of Eden for ceramics with the glazed vases made there being famous worldwide. Textiles and stone also remain symbols of LanguedocRoussillon’s flourishing past in craftsmanship. Languedoc-Roussillon’s natural areas offer thrilling, majestic spectacles. The further inland you stray from the coastline, the deeper into a natural wonderland you enter! In the Lozère animal parks, Aubrac and the Margeride, wolves and bison roam in semi-freedom in huge natural areas where visitors can see these mammals, whose origins often date back to prehistoric towns, on foot, horseback or in horse-drawn carriages. This area offers a chance to enjoy relaxing outdoor activities, from fishing to golfing, horseback-riding or thermal spas. Leaving the Lozère between Hérault and Aude, the landscape alternates between Mediterranean scrub and oak forests. The Vis Gorges and the Cirque of Navacelles are two of the most beautiful areas. You can explore the history of Romanesque architecture from the Montagne Noire, where the springs that feed the Canal du Midi are born, to castles, abbeys and fortified walls. Or you can cross the Minervois, a land of wine and olives, in a sightseeing rail car. You’ll regain your energy when you see the looming Canigou and Carlit peaks of the Pyrenees standing out against the bright blue sky if you approach them from the banks of the Roussillon. Here, anything is possible: skiing, mountain-climbing, hiking and camping in the great outdoors. The 2,785m summit of Canigou is the roof of a wonderful world. anguedoc-Roussillon offers you every imaginable sport and leisure activity – and more! Throughout the ski season, you can enjoy the slopes at Les Bouviers and Bleymard in Lozère and the many resorts in the Pyrenees. Water is everywhere in Small fishing bo at, Collioure Languedoc-Roussillon, ©Paul Palau/CRT so why not enjoy thalassotherapy, balneotherapy and thermalism? Seawater and hot springs offer unique opportunities for health, fitness and beauty. Languedoc-Roussillon’s 20 golf courses all have one thing in common: maximum sunshine to play longer and more often in the best conditions. Choose your golf course

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Languedoc-Roussillon depending on your desires: Californian, landscaped or highaltitude. With its 27 marinas and 30,000 moorings, LanguedocRoussillon is wide open to the Mediterranean. Pleasureboating can be enjoyed in many ways: coastal or ocean-going navigation, underwater or deep-sea fishing, etc. And there is no shortage of attractions for people who would rather watch, including sport or leisure races, boating shows and the Tour de France sailboat race. You don’t have to be an experienced boater or hold a special license to explore LanguedocRoussillon by water: on the Canal du Midi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, anyone can rent a boat for a day or a week. n a place with so much diversity, there are as many food traditions as areas. The palette of flavours grows a little wider every step of the way, from shellfish platters heaped with oysters, mussels and clams to gorgeous fruits, vegetables and herbs and of course olives, the culinary queen here, finds good company in basil, thyme, rosemary, bay leaf and sorrel. Higher up, where the vegetation is sparser, you enter the tempting land of chestnuts, wild mushrooms and Lozère cheeses. Discover them at markets, speciality shops and restaurants with the "Restaurateurs de France" label, which do an outstanding job of preparing local homeCarcassonne view ©R. Nourry/CRT grown products to their best advantage. Festivals are a part of life in LanguedocRoussillon! A combined

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Useful info

passion for horses and bulls is the root of many events in the Temperature region, especially s Dec–Feb 11 courses camarguaises °C Mar–May 18°C Jun–Aug 27 °C Sep–Nov and bullfighting. In the Average daily 20°C maximum – guide only courses camarguaises, Currency Euro "razeteurs" dressed www.xe.com (currency con in white try to pluck verter) rosettes from C a p ital Montpellier between the horns of Camargue bulls. Further info www.sunfra Courage and thrills nce.com are guaranteed! G etting there In addition to British Airw ays www.ba.co traditional festivals, m Ryanair www. ryanair.com LanguedocRoussillon hosts countless artistic events that highlight local life. Whether you like dance, music, cinema or theatre, whether you enjoy jazz or classical concerts, over 200 festivals give the cultural life its dynamic rhythm. Take advantage of them to discover new talents and original creations, often in surprising, beautiful venues, such as historic monuments, fishing harbour and even quarries!

The departments of Aude, Gard, Hérault, Lozère and Pyrénées-Orientales which make up Languedoc-Roussillon await your arrival, but which holiday will you choose? Canal du Midi, Le Somail ©Paul Palau/CRT

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Languedoc Roussillon

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Languedoc Roussillon

HOLIDAY RENTAL PROPERTIES & PROPERTY MANAGEMENT SERVICE Call us: 0033 679554335 / 0033 467491794 / 0844 232 8583 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.allezlanguedoc.com We have a wide choice of properties to rent :★ Villas and chateaux with private pools or near beaches ★ Villas on golf courses with shared pools ★ Unusual village houses & country houses ★ Beachfront or town apartments ★ Chambres d’Hôtes rooms in fabulous châteaux We also offer a friendly and efficient service for home owners for changeovers, pool cleaning, maintenance, decorating, security visits and language assistance.

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