Rivers, gorges, cirques, mountains, camargue, canals...you'll find them all in Languedoc Roussillon, south France
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 Rivers, gorges, cirques, mountains, camargue, canals...you'll find them all in Languedoc Roussillon, south France. That's because the region's geography, like its weather and history, is so intense. The most interesting natural wonders include the magnificent Canal du Midi, the flamingoes and wild horses of the Camargue, the Cirque de Navacelles, the gorges of the Heric and Tarn, the caves of Demoiselles, 'Les Orgues de Roussillon', the views from Mont Aigoual, and the bizarre Lake Salagou and nearby Cirque de Moureze. |
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| Canal du Midi |
  240km long, running from Toulouse through Languedoc to the Med at Narbonne, the Canal du Midi leisurely weaves its way through the vines and garrigue of the region. It's lined with Plain trees, and dotted with beautiful stone bridges. Many of the villages that line its banks are very beautiful, and floating from one to the next on a rented canal boat is a superb way to spend a day or week. |
| The Carmague |
  Flat marshlands on Languedoc's border with Provence, the Camargue is famous for its pink flamingoes (and many other rare birds), wild horses and bulls. There are many horse riding centres in the area, and nearby Aigues Mortes and the enormous beach of Espiguette are worth a visit too. |
| Cirque de Navacelles |
  A stunning valley with a small hill marooned in its center by a river that has carved a moat all around it. The village of Navacelles sits on the hill. You arrive on the south side of the valley - and look down the 600m drop to the village below. A 2-hour guided walk is also available. |
| Gorges d'Héric |
  Slicing its way through the Black Mountains, the Gorges d'Héric is beautiful and hugely striking. In summer, water trickles from rock pool to rock pool, some of which are the size and depth of swimming pools. In winter, the rains turn the trickle into roaring waterfalls. A road allows you to walk all the way up the gorge - to a café at the top that serves Languedoc's best hot chocolate. |
| Grotte des Demoiselles |
  An enormous cave system discovered in 1770 full of spectacular limestone stalactites, stalagmites and columns. You visit the cave on a small train, which makes it all a bit Disneyesque. But the cave is probably the most impressive of the many in Languedoc. Summer crowds can be huge, so come early in the morning in August. Combine it with a meal or drink in the nearby village of Laroque. Open March - October. |
| Tarn Gorges at La Malène |
  The Tarn Gorges, like those of the Herault and Ardeche are not to be missed. The narrowest, and thus more impressive, place to experience them is near the town of La Malene, where boatmen take you on a guided tour of the gorge, pointing out all the interesting fauna and explaining how the gorges were formed. Combine your trip with a visit to nearby St Enemie - an extremely beautiful village. |
| Les Orgues de Roussillon |
  Spectacular clay cliffs at the southern end of Languedoc, that have been sculpted by wind and rain - forming strange organ-like shapes. A footpath has been created to allow you to walk through and around them. Entrance is €3. |
| Mont Aigoual observatory |
  Languedoc's highest point is almost mid-way between the Pyrénées and the Alps, and you can see both ranges from here on a clear day. You can also see the Mediterranean and Languedoc's major cities. |
| Lake Salagou |
  Languedoc's largest lake resembles a Martian landscape, with its red soil and oddly-shaped hills and rocks. Lac de Salagou is the perfect place for a summer swim - and also a haven for sailors - with both sailing dinghys and windsurfers being rented. The south shore is less developed and more interesting-looking, and a better place to observe local birds and do a bit of fishing. |
| Cirque de Moureze |
  Giant rock 'dolomites' carved by rainfall that form a forest of strange and wonderful phalices. There are a number of marked walks through the park for different levels of difficulty. The best is the 2.5 hour 'difficile' walk, which is actually more of a climb - through the park and up the hillside. At the very top you're rewarded with amazing views of Lake Salagou on one side, and Cirque de Moureze on the other. No entrance fee. |
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