The Mediterranean coastline
It is impossible to present Languedoc-Roussillon without talking about the Big Blue. Its presence is such that four of the five departments that make up the former region have a large opening on its waters. From the Camargue in the east to the Spanish border in the south, over more than 200 kilometers, the territory hugs the Mediterranean around the Gulf of Lion. On the landmark side, the coastline is divided into several coasts with ever-poetic names: the "Amethyst Coast" (called the "Radiant Coast" in its Roussillon part), from the Petite Camargue to the first rocks ofArgelès-sur-Mer, and the "Vermeille Coast" further south. Punctuated by beaches, creeks and seaside villages, the coastline also shelters several protected wetlands that contribute to the preservation of the local biodiversity.
Travelers generally choose to stop at one of the Languedoc's seaside resorts(La Grande-Motte, Cap d'Agde, Argelès-sur-Mer, Port Camargue...). They are attracted by the leisure facilities, the hotel offer and the large stretches of sand on which they can settle to take some colors. More rarely, in the south of the Côte Vermeille, in the last foothills of the Pyrenees, rocky coves welcome bathers.
The proximity of the Languedoc to the Mediterranean also attracts sailors. On the coast, they will find many ports(Sète, Port-la-Nouvelle, Port-Vendres...) which will be able to accommodate their boats or allow them to rent one. This may be the opportunity to go and admire the dolphins and other marine creatures that inhabit its depths. Outdoor sports enthusiasts will also be delighted. The climate and geography of the area will allow them to go kayaking, kitesurfing, surfing, windsurfing, diving..
Shaded reliefs
The Languedoc is a land of character, marked sometimes by steep relief, sometimes by hills inhabited or used for agricultural purposes. The mountainous area stretches from the eastern end of the Pyrenees (to the south) to the Cévennes and south of the Massif Central (to the north), a succession of peaks that rise up like a wall facing the Mediterranean.These rock walls provide the setting for many adventures, more or less sporting. In total, there are nearly 7 000 km of marked trails, including 10 GR (GR6, GR7, GR10...), available to hikers. A limestone country, the former region also offers some beautiful cliffs for climbing enthusiasts. One thinks in particular of those of the Tarnor Jonte gorges, thePic Saint-Loup, the Clape massif, the steep valleys of the Corbières massif, but also towards the plain, in the Nîmes scrublands. Another formerly famous site, the Caroux massif,with the Héric gorges, offers superb routes from where you can enjoy a magnificent view of the Orb valley.
These stone giants also have ideal cavities for caving. Easily accessible and equipped for some of them since the end of the 19th century, they allow clubs of enthusiasts to go through an impressive network in complete safety due to the variety of shapes and concretions that can be discovered there. For the novices, some professionals offer " safaris souterrains ", for example in Trabuc and Cabrespine.
Thanks to its good altitudes, the area has the rare privilege of being able to offer both summer and winter activities. In the north of the department of Lozère, Margeride and Aubrac, which lie close to the Massif Central, benefit from good snow cover. These conditions are favourable to the practice of Nordic skiing. Nevertheless, these small resorts of Aubrac mainly attract locals. It is thesame for the department of Aude which also has a small area favorable to cross-country skiing. This charming, typical alpine ski resort is located on the plateau of the Pays de Sault and is very family-oriented. It is called Camurac. Everything changes on the side of the Pyrenees, where relief and climatic conditions favour all snow sports: downhill skiing, new glides, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, ski touring, etc. Because of the variety of landscapes, all levels are welcome, an undeniable asset.
The hinterland
To escape for a moment from the hustle and bustle of the seaside resorts, there's nothing like a stroll in the hinterland. This area is home to large protected areas, rich in exceptional flora and fauna, which will give you the opportunity for beautiful walks (hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding...) in the heart of unspoilt nature. It is also there that the wine-growing plain - the largest in the world! - reveals itself, spreading its grapes under the Languedoc sun, from the terraces of the Cévennes and the Pyrenees to the beaches. For more than 2,000 years, the climate and geology of the area have contributed to its excellent reputation. A reputation that the Languedoc literally owes to its land! Indeed, its major asset is the great variety of sols : schist, sandstone, limestone plateaus, alluvial terraces, soils on scree....The vines and other green areas are fed by the impressive hydrographic network of the region. It is characterised by a large number of coastal rivers with a very pronounced Mediterranean regime and torrential characteristics. In addition to the direct Mediterranean basin, to which must be added the rivers of the east Gardois tributaries of the Rhône, the Atlantic basin extends as far as here, with tributaries of the Garonne and even the Loire for part of the Lozère, the real " château of eau " of France. Waters that lend themselves wonderfully to river tourism.
The main rivers and streams in the area are: the Allier, the Truyère, the Lot, the Tarn, the Jonte, the Cèze, the Gard (or Gardon), the Rhône, the Hérault, the Orb, the Aude, the Agly, the Têt and the Tech. Here, they have sculpted gorges with remarkable architecture, wild natural sites with unique landscapes: Héraultgorges,Tarngorges,Galamus gorges, Gardon gorges... Works of the time, these fairy-tale settings benefit from several conservation policies and are, for some of them, labelled "Great Sites of Occitania", proof of their appeal.
