Crème de Languedoc

This is the final part of our guide to the varying terrain of Languedoc. Hopefully, our guide should ensure you don't end up wasting time searching for property in an area that doesn't suit your needs by helping you to appreciate the marked variations between the four areas.



There are 4 main terrain types in the Languedoc region:

1: Mountains
2: Foothills
3: Coastal Plain
4: Farmland



4: Farmland

If you were to drive up the A61 towards Carcassonne, you will notice a gradual change in the landscape. It becomes more undulating, with vines giving way to cereals and sunflowers and even some pasture. This area looks 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. It can also be very windy with the wind blowing down the valley towards Narbonne.

Properties here are more likely to offer gardens, but you'll often find yourself surrounded by fields in the more rural spots - 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.

This is Part III of our guide to the varying terrain of Languedoc. Hopefully, our guide should ensure you don't end up wasting time searching for property in an area that doesn't suit your needs by helping you to appreciate the marked variations between the four areas.



There are 4 main terrain types in the Languedoc region:

1: Mountains
2: Foothills
3: Coastal Plain
4: Farmland



3: Coastal Plain

The coastline of Languedoc is a little disappointing. The Gulf of Lion is fairly straight with few in-lets and hence lacks the coves and islands that make Provence's coastline so much more interesting. However this stretch of coast has another advantage over it's eastern neighbour - the beaches are almost all sandy. Lovely fine sand often stretching as far as the eye can see. In fact Espiguette is France's longest sand beach. However this area is flat and stretches inland for about 20minutes by car, before it starts to turn into the foothills described in our previous post.

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 Beziers and their suburbs of industrial and retail developments. The up-side of course is that you'll be closer to shops and the region's main roads. It has to be said though that these road can become very crowded in the peak summer months.

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.

Tune in tomorrow for the final part in our Terrain Type series.

This is Part II of our guide to the varying terrain of Languedoc. Hopefully, our guide should ensure you don't end up wasting time searching for property in an area that doesn't suit your needs.



There are 4 main terrain types in the Languedoc region:

1: Mountains
2: Foothills
3: Coastal Plain
4: Farmland



2: Foothills

Depending on your outlook, this area or category of terrain is perhaps the most picturesque of areas. The foothills of the Pyrénées, Montaignes Noirs and the Cévennes combine the best of both worlds - warm temperatures (as you are back in the Mediterranean zone) and beautiful scenery.

The countryside here is again quite varied and this variety provides some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. Patchworks of vineyards undulate under hills of pines, with snow capped mountains towering the distance. The un-cultivated areas are predominantly 'garrigue' a mix of scrub and herbs, with Rosemary, Thyme, Fennel and wild Mint growing everywhere. Just walk through and you realease an intense bouquet of these wonderful smells.

The draw back of this intense viticulture with vines covering nearly every square inch of spare land, is that finding houses with large gardens can be a bit tricky in this area. Houses no longer supported 'beasts' in times gone by, and so there was no need for land around the house. Instead you may find houses often offer a collection of out buildings attached to the main property, or a courtyard of some description.

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. For example, Roquebrun boasts a sub-tropical climate and a tropical garden to match and is one of the sunniest villages in France.

If you like good walks then this is the place for you. The gently rolling hills offering endless treks through the vines and across the many rivers (my Labradors love it!). Relatively good and generally quiet roads also mean that Languedoc's cities and commercial centres are never too far away.

Tune in tomorrow for the 3rd in our 4-part Terrain Type series...

The terrain of Languedoc is surprisingly different and the further you travel through the region you will soon see the marked differences. If you thought all of the region was mediterranean 'garrigue' or rows and rows of vineyards - think again. Over the next four days - we'll cover the 4 main terrain types of the region. Hopefully, our guide should ensure you don't end up wasting time searching for property in an area that doesn't suit your needs.



There are 4 main terrain types in the Languedoc region:

1: Mountains
2: Foothills
3: Coastal Plain
4: Farmland

1: Mountains

The mountainous regions of the Pyrénées, Black Mountains and Cévennes are the least populated of the 4 types of terrain. The distances are greater between each village or town and the roads narrower and wiggly, so you'll probably spend more time in the car, driving to the nearest supermarket or town.

The climate is generally wetter and colder and a good rule of thumb is that for every 100 meters gained in altitude the average temperature drops by 1 degree. Thereforehomes in St Pons, for instance, are about 5 degrees celcius cooler than those on the coast, providing a pleasent rest from the heat in the summer but perhaps a touch on the cold side in winter. Also the seasons will be differents to the lower areas, with a longer Winter, later Spring, earlier Autumn etc.

The cost of property tends also to be slightly cheaper here, both because of the weather and the increases time to travel to the popular coast with it's beaches. Depending on the location and proximity to a town or village, houses here are more likely to lack mains water and certainly mains gas, and even electricity and telephone lines. The 'fosses septiques' (septic tanks) are more common.

Due to the different flora and forna and resulting changes in the prevailing agriculture, property in this area tends to offer larger gardens than those 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.

Given the steep valleys and wooded nature of the area, the views can be stunning, and with the clear air you can often see the Pyrénées from Aude and Hérault, and the Alps from Gard and Lozère.

Tune in tomorrow for the 2nd in out 4-part Terrain Type series...

At last, a Languedoc-only property listing
If you're looking for house sales, holiday lets or bed & breakfasts in Languedoc, south west France, then you need search no more. Click the link below - and you'll be taken to the web's first and only Languedoc property specialists. All of the property listed on Crème de Languedoc are in this one region - which means you don't have to read through lists of house sales from France's other 21 regions.

The site also offers a wealth of background information about the Languedoc ranging from weather, sightseeing, wine, cuisine, beach survey and lots more. There are also some great city guides listing the 'must see' and 'must do' of each of the cities in Languedoc. Not only that, there is great advice and tips on how to go about finding your dream property, be it for a family holiday, long term rental or purchase.

Your Languedoc Specialists
It also means that, being specialists when it comes to all things Languedoc, our site gives you the insider-knowledge you need to make better choices. Our terrain maps (in the 'About the Area' section) help to make sure you don't end up renting a property located somewhere too flat or built-up, or too cold and wet. And our 'Town Guides' make sure you know all about the village or town a property is in or near - BEFORE you make your booking.

It is early days but this is an exciting new site for all things Languedoc and of course to help you find you dream in this gorgeous part of France. We would welcome your feedback and tips on how we could make this site even better.

Visit: creme-de-languedoc.com for more information