Beyond the lagoons and sandy shores...

The Languedoc-Roussillon offers exceptional landscapes, forged over the centuries by the whims of the elements.

Gorges, valleys dug deep into the limestone hills, a chaos of rocks, basalt blocks, peaks and summits figure among the remarkable natural sites in this region. The richness and the unexpected diversity of the landscapes and massifs attract holiday makers in search of fresh air and wide open spaces, summer and winter. This natural wonderland provides the backdrop for walking, mountain biking, and horse riding holidays, touring holidays and great days out amongst exceptional landscapes. There’s a mosaic of ecosystems in the contrasting regions. With 3200 varieties of plants with flowers, of which 20 are native, and many animals, this is one of the richest natural regions of France.

Experience Lozère

In Lozère, from Margeride to Aubrac, huge mountain pastures alternate with meadows and woods all the way to the Lot Valley. Witnesses to French history - dolmens, menhirs, castles and fortifications - dot this fertile area’s landscape strewn with basalt blocks. And each stop offers a chance to enjoy relaxing outdoor activities, from fishing to golfing, horseback-riding or thermal spas. The Tarn flows through the Sauveterre and Méjean Plateaus, carving a 600-metre-deep gorge through the rock walls. Lozère has some real medieval gems, including the centuries-old village of Sainte-Enimie; Ispagnac, the "garden of the Lozère"; the Sublime Bridge, 400 metres above the gorge. The Cévennes National Park, which is over 3,000 square kilometres in size, includes Mount Lozère and Mount Aigoual. France’s only inhabited national park, this is where the Camisards, Huguenots and Resistance fighters took part in the most glorious chapters in the Cévennes’ long history.

High Life

Leaving Lozère, between Herault and Aude the landscape alternates between Mediterranean scrub and oak forests. The Vis Gorges and the ‘Cirque de Navacelles’ are two of the most beautiful areas. The Caroux Massif and Héric Gorges in Haut Languedoc Regional Natural Park are great locations for exploring the great outdoors. There are plenty of kiking, horseback-riding and cycling trails. You can also explore the history of Romanesque architecture - from castles, abbeys and fortified walls to the Montagne Noire, where the springs that feed the Canal du Midi are born. Or you can cross Minervois, a land of wine and olives, in a sightseeing rail car, and enjoy some of the best French food and wine. Just next door are the Corbières and Cathar country, which lie between rocky scenery and scrubland. Here, invincible fortresses perch on top of jagged peaks. Following in the knights’ footsteps, take a steep road between Aguilar, Termes, Quéribus, Puilaurens and Peyrepertuse, old fiefs of Carcassonne, in the heart of the famous AOC Corbières vineyards. At last, perhaps a little exhausted, you’ll regain your energy when you see the looming Canigou and Carlit peaks of the Pyrenees. The summits stand out against the bright blue sky if you approach them from the banks of the Roussillon. Here you can enjoy skiing, mountain-climbing, hiking and camping. The 2,785m summit of the Canigou is the roof of a wonderful world.

Rural idyll

The high plateau and mountain roads offer more than just the wild outdoors. You’ll find the people living in the villages and hamlets living treasures.

Ready for 360° of natural holidays ?