Regional info

France

After the French revolution the regions of Languedoc and Roussillon were merged using more or less the borders of the former Septimania. A few years ago it was planned to re-introduce the old name to the region but the locals were against this.  The Languedoc-Roussillon stretches from the Spanish border to the Rhône estuary. Up until the 17th century the southern part of the Roussillon region was ruled by the Spanish kings of Aragòn, and the Catalan language can still be heard today.  Nowadays people make a living by producing good quality wines and of course from the tourists, who are very important to the region. For young families the stretched sandy beaches with their long shallow waters are perfect for lazy days by the sea. There is also plenty of culture to be found, such as the walled city of Carcassonne and Béziers, which is situated close to the Canal du Midi, the oldest canal in Europe. The Pont du Gard aqueduct is an impressive remnant of the old Roman water supply system. Nîmes is another Roman city with one of the best preserved Roman arenas.