The Languedoc Roussillon province, a fascinating part of France with its mix of Catalan and French culture, has excellent air, rail and road links making it a very accessible area. Having been a resident of the Languedoc Roussillon area, I highly recommend a trip to this often overlooked area of France.
Recently, I undertook a trip back to this region combining three places: Carcassonne, Montpellier and the Camargue. I flew into Toulouse where I picked up a car and drove to Carcassonne, a spectacular fortified mediaeval city perched on top of a hill. Famed for its citadel, the oldest walls of the city date back to Gallo-Roman times. The De La Cite hotel sits in a perfect location with some rooms overlooking the garden and ramparts of the city. This is the ideal base to explore Carcassonne, relax by the pool and take in the picturesque surroundings. The hotel also has a Michelin-starred restaurant called “La Barbacane”.
The next part of my journey took me to Montpellier. Montpellier is best-known for its splendid Musee Fabre, neo-classical architecture and food markets. This is also a great destination for opera aficionados who are looking for an alternative to Vienna, Milan or Venice. Don’t forget that Montpellier is only 10km from the Meditterranean coastline and so can offer a city and beach stay - one of my favourite beaches in the area is La Plage de L’Espiguette. During my visit, I stayed at the Grand Hotel du Midi which is situated on the main square, Place de la Comedie, and is next door to the Opera house.
The final stage of my trip took me to the Camargue in Provence. The Camargue is natural region renowned for its diverse flora and fauna, white horses, bulls and flamingos. This makes a great destination for nature lovers, ornithologists and those seeking a country escape. Le Mas de Peint is a rural hotel that is still a fully-functioning cattle and rice farm. The hotel has an intimate cosy feel with only 15 rooms and suites. The hotel converted farmhouse offers an authentic stay with a range of activities for couples, nature enthusiasts and families such as horse-riding, bird-watching trips and jeep safaris. Le Mas de Peint is also the perfect base for a day trip to Nimes or Arles, both under 45 minutes away.
A seven-day itinerary is recommended to take in these three places and really do them justice. Car hire is advised for this itinerary, especially for the Camargue which is a more remote area, but should you opt not to do car hire then private transfers can be arranged. This holiday could also be extended by doing two nights in Toulouse at the beginning of your trip at La Cour de Consuls.
