We've cherry-picked the 50 best sights for you: including Cathar castles, the Pont du Gard and the Canal du Midi.
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Languedoc has so much to offer in terms of sightseeing, from the spectacular 'La Cité' at Carcassonne, to gorgeous natural wonders like the Cirque de Navacelles.
Tourist guide books will list literally hundreds of things to do and see, which we think just makes life that bit too stressful - as you've still got the hard task of choosing between them. So we've cherry picked what we feel are the 50 most interesting places to visit...below:
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(N.B. Dial-up users will need to wait a few minutes for all these sections to download before being able to open them.) |
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La Cité, Carcassonne  |
  Yes it's touristy and slightly over-restored - but 'La Cité', just outside Carcassonne, is still magnificent in its size and and fairy-tale majesty. It's basically a huge walled and moated castle with a village at its center - built in phases from the 10th century. Entrance is free. |
| Les Arènes, Nîmes |
  Perhaps the world's best preserved Roman amphitheatre, it dates back to the 1st century, is 21m high and holds a audience of 20,000. In the 12th century, it was used as a fortress, and after that became a slum. Today, it hosts bull fights and rock concerts. Entrance €4.27. |
| Pont du Gard, roman aqueduct |
  Superb 1st century Roman aqueduct and part of an elaborate water system designed to carry water from the Eure river to Roman Nimes, 50km away. Restored in the 18th century, it is 50m high and an amazing 275m long. You can now walk across it. |
Aigues Mortes, fortified town  |
  A stunning walled town built in the 13th by Louis IX in the style of walls built in Damietta, Egypt. It was built to be France's main mediterranean port, until silt from the Rhone turned port into inland town. Inside the impressive walls lies a pleasant town - mostly souvenir shops, cafes and restaurants. Entrance free. |
| Castlenou, castle and village |
  Nestled in the foothills of the Pyrenees, Castlenou is a beautifully preserved village crowned by an equally-well preserved 10th century fortress. The views are spectacular - both from the fortress and from the valley looking up at the village with the mountains beyond. Entrance €4. |
| Maison Carée, roman temple in Nîmes |
  Said to be the world's best preserved Roman temple - with all of its roof and columns intact. Built in 4AD. A small, free museum is inside. Best viewed, perhaps, sipping a drink on the roof of Norman Foster's superb 'Carré D'Art', just opposite. |
| Salsès fort |
  A large Spanish fortress, complete with moat, built in the 15th century to defend what was once the border of Spain from the French. Entrance €5. |
| Millau bridge |
  Recently opened, the Millau Bridge was designed by UK architect Norman Foster, and is the world's highest road bridge. 300m high, it is higher than the Eiffel Tower, and is an amazing 2.5km long. Drive across it on the right day - and you'll pass over low-lying clouds. Toll €4.90 - €6.50. |
Villerouge Tèrmenès, cathar fort  |
  A surprisingly well-preserved fort from the 14th century, rising above a sweet little village and hosting an innovative audio tour. |
| Puilaurens cathar castle |
  Perhaps the best-preserved of the many cathar castles of the area, Puilaurens sits on a 700m high rocky outcrop. Originally built by the Visigoths, it offers breathtaking views of the surrounding valleys. Very atmospheric. Entrance €3. |
| Peyrepertuse cathar castle |
  This is the largest of the cathar castles, and relatively well-preserved. Again, the views are spectacular, with sister castle Quéribus, the Pyrenees and even the Mediterranean, clearly visible. Wear walking shoes. Entrance €3. |
| Quéribus cathar castle |
  One of the 5 most famous Cathar castles, Quéribus was built in the 10th century, and became the property of the counts of Barcelona and then Aragon. After the fall of Montségur to the crusaders, some of the last Cathars retreated to the castle and the relative safety of its sheer mountain walls. Smaller and better preserved than Peyrepertuse, but perhaps slightly less atmospheric. Inside you'll find a stunningly beautiful carved column. Entrance €5. |
| Oppidum Enserune |
  Hilltop ruins of a 2,500 year old settlement, occupied by the Greeks, then Hannibal then the Romans, who used it as a postal station on the famous Via Domitia. The ruins comprise fortified walls and remains of villas and sotrage areas. A small museum is on the site. The view from the top of this hill is equally memorable - a spoked-wheel arrangement of fields first laid out in the 13th century. Entrance €5. |
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| Abbaye de Fontfroide |
  Founded in the 11th century, the abbey has been beautifully restored and houses a superb 13th century cloister of intricately formed gothic arches and columns. The abbey can only be seen on a 1-hour guided tour - which is a pity, as it can be a little tedious (especially when we went in the freeze of winter!) - but the beauty of the place makes it worthwhile. Entrance & tour €5.70. |
| L'abbaye Saint Martin du Canigou |
  Built in 1001, this beautiful abbey sits on a cliff half-way up the Pyrenees. It is only accessible by a 30-minute walk up the mountainside, and because the abbey is still in use by nuns and priests, you can only explore it on a silent, guided tour. The views are incredible, and the architecture of the place impressive. Entrance & tour €3. |
| Priory of Serrabone |
  Another beautiful religious monument, again perched on a hill-top with sheer drops on most sides, the Priory of Serrabone is famous for its unusual design. It's cloistered gallery is very unorthodox, with features in pink marble and a curious inner cloister with a window-less nave. A botanical garden has been developed on the site to showcase the area's most interesting plants. Entrance €1.50. |
| Narbonne St Just Cathedral |
  Built in the 13th century as the seat of a powerful archbishop - the cathedral is a good example of gothic architecture, with its many flying buttresses and slim stained-glass windows. The building was actually never finished. It sits next to the almost as impressive 'Archbishops Palace' which is also worth a visit - and just in front of a recently revealed and protected portion of the Roman 'Via Domitia' road. |
| Mende Cathedral |
  The cathedral was built in 1368, on the initiative of Urbain V, pope in Avignon. It sits in the middle of this small but pretty town that feels very much like a tourist resort - espeically in summer. The 14th century bridge is also impressive. |
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| Uzès |
  Stunningly charming town dating back to Roman times. The architecture is beautiful, and its elegant squares are the perfect place for lunch or coffee. Right in the center of Uzès is Le Duché, an impressive castle belonging to a ducal family of old. An hour-long guided tour takes you through the building, its courtyard and garden, a keep and, of course, the famous 'Tour Bermonde' tower - from which there are superb views of the surrounding countryside. |
| Pézenas |
  We love Pézenas - and think it will become Languedoc's version of Aix-en-Provence. Somehow, it feels much more sophisticated than other towns of similar size in Languedoc (bar Uzès) - with its nice restaurants, cafés and many arts and crafts shops and galleries. The architecture is grand - thanks to the town having been the seat of Languedoc's parliament - and if you get a chance - visit the Hôtel Lacoste - with it's gorgeous vaulted courtyard. |
| St Gilhelm-le-Désert |
  A charminly restored village of cobbled streets, wedged at the bottom of a dramatic ravine. Beautiful, dramatic and very atmospheric. In the centre sits the abbey founded by Charlemagne's consellor Guilhelm who returned in 800 from Rome with three pieces of the cross. It is now an UNESCO World Heritage site - and perfectly restored. The town can be very touristy in summer, |
| Roquebrun |
  The village itself is rather ordinary - but what makes Roquebrun so exquisite is its location, climbing up the banks of the beautiful river orb, with mountains rising behind it, and a lovely stone bridge crossing just where the river becomes a gently stepping wier where people swim in summer. Sit on the balcony of 'Le Pitit Nice' café - sipping a coffee. Or rent a canoe and paddle under the bridge... |
| Collioure |
  After miles of flat, straight coastline, you get to the Pyrénées, where the coast begins to undulate and rise steeply from the ocean. It's here, just a few kilometers from Spain, that you find Collioure. It feels more like an Italian seaside town, with its impressive fortifications rising from the bay, and its pretty red rooves. It's also an oasis of sophistication, with chichi cafés and restaurants catering to Languedoc's weathier residents - many of whom have apartments here. |
| Bages |
  Set on a hill overlooking the etang (inland lake) - Bages is a small, pretty village with cobbled streets and a couple of nice cafés. To experience it at its best, book a table at the Portanel restaurant by the window - and sit watching the flamingoes and seagulls flying by while supping on excellent seafood. |
| Mèze |
  A nice fishing village that plays host to 101 seafood restaurants that line the port. It gets very busy and 'buzzy' in summer, especially in the evenings, where there is an outdoor market of crafts and, if you're lucky, a jazz band. Meze is smaller and more intimate than big holiday centers such as Sete - and thankfully, lacks their huge contrete apartment blocks. The seafood is very good (thanks to the stiff competition) and the shellfish are said to be excellent. |
| La Garde Guerin |
  Pretty mediaeval village, perched 1000m up with mountains and valleys surrounding it. In the middle ages, it sat on an important road leading to Rome and the Holy Land - and was guarded by a company of knights. Behind the village walls, you'll find 31 fortified houses, where the knights lived when guarding the pass. |
| Lagrasse |
  A smart village with cobbled streets and some beautiful houses. It sits on a river, with a the famous Abbey of Lagrasse on the opposite bank. A great place to visit on your way to the cathar castles further south. |
| Minerve |
  Minerve is a stunning place - charming cobbled streets and stone houses perched high on a thin sliver of land with river running on both sides. It is accesible only by a high bridge. It was the site of a famous seige in the mediaeval age, with Cathars valliantly defending the town, and Catholics catapaulting rocks across the ravine. |
| Mirepoix |
  A beautiful town square, ringed by tudoresque wood-beamed houses, painted in pastels makes Mirepoix one of the most beautiful towns in the region. Make sure to visit the gorgeous, 14th-century Maison des Consuls, in the center of the town. |
| Olargues |
  A very pretty little village, high up in the Black Mountains, which boasts a graceful 'Pond du Diable' bridge. The scenery around is stunning, with steep pine-covered mountains and spectacular views. The 11th-century fortress is no longer there - but its clock-tower remains, at the top of the village. |
| Sommières |
  A relatively sophisticated town, not from Montpellier and Nimes, Sommieres sits on a river, crossed by an imposing Roman bridge. Wandering around the town, you'll find beautiful houses and lots of good shops and nice cafes. A famous 17th century clock is worth a quick visit (in the Tour de l'Horloge). |
| Sainte Enimie |
  A charming huddle of sandstone houses, rising from the river Tarn and penned in by the the cliffs of the Causses. The bridge is very beautiful too, and the Chapel Ste Madeleine is part of the remains of an ancient Benedictine monastery. |
| Villefranche-de-Confluent |
  Half-way up the Pyrenees, Villefranche is a fortified village - with huge, thick, maze-like fortifications surrounding the entire town. In its time, it has belonged to both the Spanish and the French, being so close to the border. And was used as a prison at one point. |
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| Canal du Midi |
  240km long, running from Toulouse to the Mediterranean 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. (Click here to visit our Activities section for more information.) |
| The Carmague |
  [Description to come...] |
| 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 seems always to be open. |
| Grotte des Demoiselles |
  [Description to come...] |
| Tarn Gorges at La Malène |
  [Description to come...] |
| Les Orgues de Roussillon |
  Spectacular clay cliffs 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 |
  [Description to come...] |
| Lake Salagou |
  A strange but beautiful lake that 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 |
  [Description to come...] |
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| Aqualand (St Cyprien or Cap D'Agde) |
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  What could be more fun, for kids and their big-kid parents, than a da y of water-sliding? Aqualand have three parks in Languedoc - with those at St Cyprien and Cap d'Agde being the two biggest.
Entrance: Adults €21, Kids €16.
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| Sigean - Wild Animal Park |
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  An enormous drive-through park showcasing the most popular of Africa's wild animals. The park holds over 3,500 animals, from Lions and giraffes and elephants and hippos and chimpanzees - each in a recreated version of their natural habitat - including savannah, plain and brushland. Entrance €21 adults, €17 children.
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| Le Petit Train Jaune (The Little Yellow Train) |
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  A charming single-gauge train that weaves its way up the Pyrenees from Villefranche to Latour-de-Carol. The scenery is stunning, and in summer, there are open-air carriages.
Tel: 04 68 96 56 62. Tickets about €15.
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| Le Vallon du Villaret Activity Park |
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  Great fun for the kids - with swings and climbing nets and ropes galore. It also boasts a number of artworks, set amongst the forest, such as giat masks handing from branches and man-made water-features.
Open April to mid-September. Tel: 04 66 47 63 73.
Entrance: €8-10.
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| Monto Z'Arbres Activity Park |
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  High up in the Pyrenees, this activity part boasts all sorts of climbing nets, tunnels, rock climbing, high-wires and everything else young children love clambering up, along, through and down. They also have Swiss-Family-Robinson-stlye cabins up in trees that you can stay the night in.
Entrance: Adults €22.50, Kids €11.50-20.50
Open April-November, Tel: 04 68 22 43 55.
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Click below to open our
'Sights Map'
Our interactive 'Sights Map' - plots our top 50 sights on a map - and displays photos of each.
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| Have we missed anything? |
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If you think a sight ought to be in our top 50 - but isn't - we'd love to know. Just fill in the mini-form below and click 'send'. Thanks.
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| Get a bird's eye-view of Languedoc |
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Lezignan Aviation run sightseeing flights over the cathar castles from both Lezignan and Carcassonne. Take in La Cité and the other cathar castles mentioned on this page. Call 0458278566 or visit
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Most museums just show art - the Dali Museum is a work of art itself. Designed by Dali himself, the building is as twisted and surreal as Dali's paintings and sculpture - with fabulously odd staircases, windows, alcoves and a maze of rooms housing some of his most famous works.
A relatively famous collection of mostly eighteenth century paintings, but also housing a small photographic gallery and promoting twentieth century artists in a pavillion in the park opposite. Works by Delacroix, Dufy, Maillol and Rubens. Entrance €4.