The French region of Languedoc-Roussillon is something special. For on the one hand it is shaped by the Mediterranean coast, and on the other it is bordered by the Pyrenees.
The capital of the Languedoc-Roussillon region is Montpellier. A holiday here is worthwhile in any case, because the city has much to offer. The city is an interesting mixture of highly modern buildings and various styles of past centuries. Particularly noteworthy are the triumphal arch Porte du Peyrou and an old aqueduct that runs through the city. Of special interest to art lovers in Montpellier is the Musée Fabre. The city also houses the oldest botanical garden in France, a true gem of the horticultural art.
It is only 10 kilometres from Montpellier to the Mediterranean coast. There, nothing stands in the way of a beach holiday. A trip to the Languedoc-Roussillon region is therefore of course especially lovely in summer. Another sight is the town of Nîmes. It was once founded by the Romans and still houses a number of interesting buildings from that time. It is especially the amphitheatre from the 1st century AD, still in use today and at the same time recalling long-vanished times, that attracts holidaymakers to Nîmes. Equally interesting, though, are certainly the Maison Carrée, a temple from the Roman Empire, and the Pont du Gard. This aqueduct bridge lies close to Nîmes. Mighty and magnificent, this arched bridge still makes an impression today. It almost goes without saying that it belongs to the UNESCO World Heritage. Hardly any holidaymaker here in the south of France has not visited the Pont du Gard…
The Millau Viaduct looks like a modern sister of the Pont du Gard – one of the tallest bridges in the world, co-designed by world-class architect Norman Foster. It is worth seeing both structures on a visit to Languedoc-Roussillon – and marvelling equally at both.
The same can be said of the Canal du Midi. This too is part of the UNESCO World Heritage, showing how different such World Heritage sites can be. It is a canal that runs more than 240 kilometres, through Languedoc-Roussillon among other places. Anyone who lingers there will enjoy the many small barges steering along the canal.
The extensive landscape of the Camargue also runs through the region. Here is the home of many animal species such as flamingos and the small Camargue horses, which live here semi-wild. Nature lovers in particular are offered a real highlight here that will always be remembered. Riding yourself is also possible in the many stables of the Languedoc.