Languedoc Towns  As with other regions of France the Languedoc Roussillon area abounds with delightful towns that ooze character and natural ambience.  And in common with the other regions this area has it's own gems that you will return to again and again.  Pictured here is part of the medieval fortress town of Carcassonne which is our personal all time favourite.  There's not much can beat browsing the shops or savouring the atmosphere from a street side café in this place!

Location: Set inland from the Mediterranean and just off the A9 autoroute on the south western section of France’s Mediterranean coast.
General Info: Town website.  Office du tourisme website.
Description: Capital of the Catalan area of France.  Although the town has expanded outside the original town walls (no longer remaining), there is still a very pleasant old town for window shopping or open air cafes.  There are regular festivals held – check the tourist office site for details.
Our recommendations: The Palace of the Kings of Majorca is a fine example of medieval architecture and is well worth a visit.  If you want to visit several museums, check out the museum pass which can be purchased either at the tourist office, or at participating museums.
For the children: You could combine a visit to Perpignan with a trip up the coast to the Fort de Salses, or a half day at the seaside.

         - Carcassonne
         - Castelnou
         - Perpignan
         - Villefrance-de-Conflent
 

Also worth a visit are Sète for the annual water jousting tournament on August the 25th each year.  Béziers is a pleasantly situated town on the Canal du Midi with an arena where you can see the region's speciality bullfighting.