Languedoc, << lahng guh DAHK, >> is an important agricultural, cultural, and tourist area in southern France. The area stretches from the Aude River in the west to the Rhône River in the east. It reaches north from the Mediterranean Sea to the Cévennes Mountains and the Massif Central, or Central Highlands. Languedoc features such beautiful cities as Béziers, Carcassone, Montpellier, and Nîmes.
The traditional area of Languedoc is in the Occitanie region. Regions are the main administrative units of Metropolitan France, which includes mainland France and the island of Corsica. Under an earlier classification system, Languedoc had been divided mainly between the regions of Languedoc-Roussillon and Midi-Pyrénées. France’s regions are divided into smaller units called departments. Languedoc includes all or parts of the departments of Ardèche, Ariège, Aude, Haute-Garonne, Haute-Loire, Hérault, Gard, Lozère, Pyrénées-Orientales, Tarn, and Tarn-et-Garonne.
Languedoc is famous for its natural beauty and warm climate. Mountains rise in the north and east. Foothills roll out into meadows and a rich coastal plain. The countryside consists of vineyards, farmland, and Languedoc’s characteristic garrigue. Garrigue is dry, rocky land with herbs, wildflowers, scrub oak, and pine. Languedoc’s hills and forests support a variety of wildlife. Animals of the area include wild boar, wolves, and birds of prey. Cévennes National Park attracts many visitors with its scenery and wildlife. Languedoc’s seacoast includes many beach resorts and fishing villages.
Languedoc has several World Heritage Sites. Such sites are places of unique cultural or natural importance, as designated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization ( UNESCO ). The sites in Languedoc include the Pont du Gard, a famous ancient Roman aqueduct that spans the Gard River near Nîmes. They also include the Canal du Midi, built between 1667 and 1694. The canal created a shortcut from the Mediterranean Sea to the Atlantic Ocean. The ancient walled city of Carcassonne is another site.
Languedoc is world famous for its many varieties of wine. Local cuisine includes cassoulet (bean and meat casserole), confit de canard (duck preserved in fat), and sanglier (wild boar). Farmers in the area grow a number of herbs, fruits, and vegetables.
Scientists have found primitive tools and the skeletons of prehistoric people in a cave overlooking the Tautavel Valley in the foothills of the Pyrenees Mountains. These remains indicate that people have lived in Languedoc for more than 500,000 years. From the 600’s B.C. to the A.D. 700’s, a succession of peoples settled the area. These peoples were the Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Celts, Visigoths, Arabs, and Franks. During the 1200’s, French kings reduced the power of the local rulers in Languedoc and brought the region firmly under royal control.
See also Carcassonne ; Toulouse .
