Climate, topography and terrain-types of Languedoc Roussillon, South France

The mountainous regions of the Pyrénées, Black Mountains and Cévennes are the least built-up of our 4 area types, so you'll probably spend more time in the car, driving to the nearest supermarket or town.

The climate is wetter and colder - homes in St Pons, for instance, are about 5 degrees celcius cooler than those on the coast - a godsend during heatwaves, but not much fun in winter.

Properties tend also to be slightly cheaper here, both because of the weather and because of the extra distance to Languedoc's beaches. Houses here are also more likely to lack mains water and gas, and even electricity and telephone lines. Fosses septiques (septic tanks) are also more common.

Gardens in mountainous areas tend to be larger than in other areas, as the vines don't dominate every inch of spare land. But plots tend to be steeper, so often need to be terraced to be useable.

Views can be absolutely stunning, and in cooler months the air is clear enough to be able to see the Pyrénées from Aude and Hérault, and the Alps from Gard and Lozère.

Perhaps the most picturesque of areas, the foothills of the Pyrénées, Montaignes Noirs and the Cévennes combine the best of both worlds - warm temperatures and beautiful scenery.

The countryside here is absolutely stunning - perhaps some of the most beautiful in the world. Patchworks of vineyards undulate under hills of pines, with mountains towering in the distance. The plants are predominantly 'garrigue' a mix of scrub and herbs, with Rosemary, Thyme, Fennel and wild Mint growing everywhere.

With vines covering nearly every square inch of spare land, finding houses with large gardens can be a bit tricky in this area.

The weather is as warm and sunny as the coast, but hundreds of microclimates mean you really need to ask the locals what the weather can be like in any particular area. Roquebrun, for example, boasts a sub-tropical climate and a tropical garden to match.

This is truly walk country - the gently rolling hills offering endless treks through the vines and across the many rivers. Relatively good roads also mean that Languedoc's cities and commercial centres are never too far away.

The coastline of Languedoc is a little disappointing. Straight and flat, it lacks the coves and islands that make Provence's coastline so much more interesting. The flatness of this area stretches inland for about 20minutes by car, before it starts to turn into the foothills described above.

The coastal plain offers fewer beautiful views and less interesting walks, and the predominance of vines can make the terrain seem a little monotonous. These areas are also more built-up - they're home to Montpellier, Perpignan, Narbonne and Bezier and their suburbs of industrial and retail developments. So you'll be closer to shops and the region's main roads.

Again, vines mean that properties with large gardens can be scarce. If you're thinking of buying a property on the coast itself - read our guide to Languedoc's beaches to find out which parts of the coast are nicest.

Beyond Carcassonne, the landscape changes again, becoming more undulating, with vines giving way to cereals and sunflowers. This area looks more like England - it is softer and less rugged than the Mediterranean strip, with less of the scrubby 'garrigue' plants.

The climate is still hot, but slightly less so than the coastal areas, and also slightly wetter, which probably explains why there aren't many vines.

Properties here often boast large gardens, but you'll often find yourself surrounded by fields - which can make finding nearby walks more difficult. Roads are good, and with Carcassonne, Castlenaudary and Toulouse nearby, shops and townlife are easy to access.