Languedoc sightseeing, south of France

Sightseeing in the Languedoc, south of France

There so much sightseeing in the Languedoc-Roussillon region of the south of France that you'd need about ten long holidays here to get through it all. To be fair, it is a vast area - stretching from the Pyrénées in the south up to the Camargue and Provence in the east, and thousands of years of conflict and change have left us an unending collection of spectacular castles, ruins, abbeys and villages - all waiting for you to re-plunder.

La Cité, Carcassonne - France's 2nd favourite tourist attraction

We've scoured the region and hand-picked only the very best of what to see and do in terms of sightseeing. Pop into any official tourist office, and you'll come across a sea of leaflets pushing everything from donkey rides to children's zoos - but unfortunately much of it is pretty shoddy - tourist traps laid by those not interested in offering a truly memorable experience. Similarly, the official Languedoc government websites list a vast array of sightseeing options, but unfortunately they aren't in a position to pick and choose only the best. So we've done it for them. Above you'll see links to a number of pages within this site which list what we feel are the the most interesting and memorable of the region's historical sites, towns, villages and cities, natural wonders and cultural spaces.

Why not use our interactive sightseeing map?

Hover over the icons on the map below to see a photo and description of each. These represent the 'top 50' things to see in the region.

Experience the history - from cavemen to Romans to Cathars...

Maison Carée - Roman temple in Nîmes

Languedoc knocks the socks off Provence when it comes to sightseeing history. La Cité in Carcassonne may be a little touristy, but it's the world's largest medieval castle and France's second most visited sightseeing attraction after the Eiffel Tower. The roman ruins are similarly impressive, as are the area's medieval castles and churches. And then there's the tranquil Canal du Midi, weaving its way through the vines like a ribbon of green from Narbonne to Toulouse.

Naturally wonderful

Languedoc offers nature on steroids - from the towering Pyrénées to Europe's biggest river delta (The Camargue), to enormous salt 'Etangs' teeming with flamingoes. Or just drive through the vines to take in some of Europe's most beautiful scenery - alive with flowers in May and seemingly on fire in November.

The urban landscape

Explore the Catalan streets of Perpignan

Languedoc's cities, towns and villages are well covered on our site. Again, not all offer an interesting or attractive experience, so again we've attempted to sort the rough from the smooth to ensure you don't end up spending the day in a lemon. We'd recommend Montpellier for its vibe and beauty, Nîmes for its roman ruins, Narbonne for its charm, canal and indoor market, and Perpignan for its Catalan flavour.

For towns, head for gorgeous Uzès, pretty Pézenas, the gritty port of Sète or charming Sommières. And if you're on the hunt for that archetypal south of France village, we list the region's crème de la crème, from the pretty port of Marseillan to the 10th century St Guilhem Le Desert.

If you're holidaying with children, then our Children's Activities page offers plenty to keep them busy. Languedoc is home to some great children's sightseeing - with water parks, zoos, aquariums, adventure playgrounds and of course beaches galore. Our beaches guide tells you which beaches are the most child-friendly, with everything from bouncy castles to family-friendly restaurants. And in the rare event that the heavens open, check out our Rainy Day Activities page. It is brimming with good sun-free sightseeing ideas, from the best of Languedoc's caves to where to take the family bowling.