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Visiting the best places in the Languedoc-Roussillon region will keep you busy for several days because it extends over five departments: Aude, Gard, Hérault, Lozère, and pyrénées-Orientales.
Today, this region no longer exists strictly speaking. During the territorial reform of 2014, it was coupled with the Midi-Pyrénées region, to give rise to the new Occitanie region.
But its emblematic name and the territories that compose it are still very present in people’s minds.
The region has an incredible diversity of landscape (and culture), due to its privileged location, located between the Cevennes, Pyrenees, Camargue, and Mediterranean Sea.
And this is what makes it a very popular destination for tourists, curious to be able to observe such contrasts.
Despite being more pleasant to visit in spring, Languedoc-Roussillon is equally enjoyable in the summer.
This allows you to enjoy less stifling temperatures and a much greener and flowerier nature than it is in the middle of summer!
Despite many things to do in Languedoc-Roussillon, we have tried to draw up a (non-exhaustive) list of must-sees to visit in the region. Follow!
If you visit Languedoc-Roussillon, discover this ancient city bathed in sunshine. The so-called “French Rome” has the best preserved Roman remains in the country, thanks to which it was classified as a “city of art and history.”
The Arena,the Maison Carré, the Magne Tower and the Jardins de la Fontaine are of course must-sees. But Nîmes is also bustling pedestrian streets, dotted with fabulous museums and a recognized music scene.
Not to mention a strong bullfighting culture and gourmet culinary specialties!
Let yourself be transported to this exceptional garden of 12 hectares, which hosts more than 240 varieties of Bamboo, Erables of Japan, Camellias, Ginkgos Biloba, or Sequoias centenarians…
The bamboo grove in the Cévennes is a place of escape, conducive to calm and relaxation, to do in Languedoc-Roussillon.
It is located very close to the pretty little village of Anduze, known for the manufacture of its terracotta vases.
Looking for what to do in Languedoc-Roussillon? Above all, do not miss one of the most beautiful natural regions of the Mediterranean basin! The Petite Camargue is the Gard part of the Camargue.
Here, horses and bulls coexist in semi-freedom in the manades, with rice fields in the background. Not to mention the flamingos.
The sunset over the Pond of Ponant is probably one of the most beautiful things you will see in the region.
This ancient masterpiece is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a must-see in Languedoc-Roussillon. The view of the aqueduct, with its three rows of arcades, which spans the Gardon majestically, is breathtaking.
Immediate boarding aboard the “Canary”! This is the nickname given to the Cerdanya Yellow Train, the highest meter-gauge railway in Europe. Located in the Pyrénées-Orientales, it is truly the emblem of the region.
It allows you to travel 63 km, between Villefranche-de-Conflent and Latour-de-Carol, in the middle of an exceptional environment, between mountains and Catalan valleys.
Impossible to visit Languedoc-Roussillon without going through its capital: Montpellier! There is no longer a lively student city with museums, historical buildings, and monuments to discover without moderation.
If there is one region that will delight wine lovers, it is Languedoc-Roussillon! This wine route winds its way through the Rhone Valley, passing through the Mediterranean coastlines, the Cévennes, and the Pyrenees.
You will then cross landscapes as varied as they are magnificent to discover the most famous appellations, such as the Coteaux du Languedoc, Saint-Chinian, or Pic Saint-Loup, among many others.
Wondering what to do in Languedoc-Roussillon? We recommend the incredible park of the wolves of Gévaudan.
Located in Saint Lucia, near Marvejols, in Lozère, this 20-hectare animal park welcomes a hundred wolves living in semi-freedom. Come and learn more about this majestic animal in the heart of the legendary lands of Gévaudan.
If you come to visit Languedoc-Roussillon, do not miss this curiosity, as fun as it is disturbing: “The road that goes up and down.” In Lauriole, in the Gard, you will find this road that seems to go up as it descends.
Have fun experimenting: leave your car in neutral in the middle of the slope, and you’ll see it go up! Multiple hypotheses, from the most rational to the most unpredictable, attempt to explain this mysterious phenomenon!
The citadels of Vertige are unmissable in Languedoc-Roussillon. History and old stone lovers will love it!
These are seven castles, located in the Cathar country, all around the city of Carcassonne, with which they are historically linked.
They owe their “citadels of vertigo” to their steep position. Quéribus, Montségur, Puilaurens, Aguilar, Lastours, Termes, Peyrepertuse as well as the city of Carcassonne, are in the running to be on the UNESCO list.
The Hérault hinterland is absolutely to do in Languedoc-Roussillon. Indeed, this territory is full of sites, each more incredible than the next.
Among them, we can mention the majestic Pic Saint-Loup, the gorges of the Hérault, and the Pont du Diable, the archaeological site of Ambrussum or the sublime Buèges Valley.
Not to mention the charming villages of Pézenas, Olargues or Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert.
Don’t miss a day on the red land of Lac du Salagou, located very close to the fascinating Cirque de Mourèze. At Saint Bauzile de Putois, you can spend a magical moment in the Grotte des Demoiselles.
Go to the Cirque de Navacelles and then descend a little lower to the sources of the Vis, for a moment.
You are a sporty, hiking, and nature lover, and you are looking for what to do in Languedoc-Roussillon? So, follow in the mythical footsteps of Robert Louis Stevenson in the Cévennes.
The Stevenson road, now the GR 70, connects the Massif Central to the Cevennes valleys, over 272 km.
And for even more authenticity, take a donkey as a travel companion. It will help you carry your belongings along this mythical path through the Cévennes.
One of the unmissable activities to do in Languedoc-Roussillon is to come and sunbathe on one of the beaches of the Mediterranean coast.
215 km of coastline are available to you, spread over 4 departments. Discover the unmissable beaches of Cap d’Agde or Grande-Motte in the Hérault, or the town of Grau-du-Roi in the Gard, gateway to the Camargue.
In the Pyrénées-Orientales, the seabed of Cerbère will not leave you indifferent. And for lovers of sliding sports, go for a walk in Gruissan or Port Leucate in the Aude for a memorable kite session.
Visiting Languedoc-Roussillon can also take a very exotic turn… By going to the Lerab Ling temple, you will be propelled to Tibet into Buddhist culture.
Located a few minutes from Lodève in the Hérault, this temple was built in 2006 in the traditional style of Himalayan temples. It is a high place of practice of Tibetan Buddhism in Europe, not to be missed.
Just its name makes you want to go! Formerly called Côte du Roussillon, the Côte Vermeille owes its name to the shale rock’s reflections at sunrises and sunsets.
Stretching from Perpignan to the Spanish border, it is full of natural treasures and villages of character to visit. Among them, Collioure, Banyuls, and Port-Vendres are not to be missed.
A must-do if you are visiting Languedoc-Roussillon!
Coming to visit the Languedoc-Roussillon, do not miss the oldest canal in Europe, still in operation. By bike, on foot, or aboard a barge, go up the canal that connects Sète to Toulouse, in a peaceful atmosphere, in the shade of plane trees.
The opportunity for you to discover a wide variety of landscapes during a unique moment.
Languedoc-Roussillon boasts an incredible diversity of landscape, a rich heritage, and some incredible typical villages. But it is also an opportunity to delight in the delicious gastronomic specialties of the region.
Between the cassoulet of Castelnaudary, the brandade of cod of Nîmes, the wine of the Corbières, the blanquette of Limoux, the Roquefort or the pelardon and the honey of the Cévennes, your taste buds will waltz!
How to get to Languedoc-Roussillon?
By plane
To come and visit Languedoc-Roussillon, flying can be convenient and fast. Montpellier Méditerranée is the largest airport in the region.
It is also possible to land in Perpignan, Béziers, Nîmes or Millau. Whatever your choice, do not hesitate to use a flight comparator like Skyscanner to find a flight at the best price.
By train
The train remains a very convenient way to visit Languedoc-Roussillon, as many cities have a TGV station. This is the case of Montpellier and Nîmes, less than 3 hours from Paris.
You can also rent a car at one of these many stations in Avignon or Agde.
All aboard
It is quite possible to reach the Languedoc-Roussillon by car or bus, thanks in particular to the A9motorway, says La Languedocienne. There are coach connections from many major cities in France.
Where to stay in Languedoc-Roussillon?
You are conquered, and you want to come and visit the Languedoc-Roussillon? As you have seen, there is a lot to do and see throughout the region, which spans 5 departments. It will therefore be essential to target an area to optimize your visits.
The cities of Nîmes and Montpellier are the “capitals” of two departments and are located in the center of the region, which can be convenient to shine.
As an alternative, seaside villages such as Sète, Agde, and La Grande-Motte can be quite pleasant, and they are also located in the center of the region. It will depend mainly on your desires and your itinerary…
One thing is certain; you will be spoilt for choice in the type of accommodation: hotels, guest houses, cottages, Airbnb, campsites, unusual accommodation … To help you, do not hesitate to use a hotel comparator!
Unless you let yourself be tempted by a road trip in a van or motorhome?
Let’s go, let’s go to Languedoc-Roussillon!
