In the Aude
The first Aude ensemble concerned by the label includes Carcassonne and the astonishing citadels of vertigo. Erected in the middle of a vast vineyard traversed by the Canal du Midi, another masterpiece of the region, it takes visitors on a journey through time to the Middle Ages. From the medieval city listed as a World Heritage Site, more than a thousand years of history illustrated by the presence of ramparts, castles and abbeys are to be discovered. A mythical route also allows you to contemplate the impressive citadels of vertigo: the Cathar Trail (GR367). Along the way, Peyrepertuse,Termes,Quéribus,Aguilar and Puilaurens stand proudly.Then there is Narbonne Méditerranée, an ensemble comprising the magnificent City of Art and History and its surroundings. From its glorious past, the city has preserved prestigious monuments: Archbishops' Palace,Gilles Aycelin dungeon, Saint-Just-et-Saint-Pasteur Gothic cathedral, Saint-Martial tower... Formerly a major port of the Roman Empire (second after Ostia in Italy), Narbonne is also marked by its Romanesque style. The city's new museum, Narbo Via, highlights the remains found on its land (sarcophagi, statues...) and the influence of the Empire on the region. Outside the town, a walk is worthwhile to visit the nature reserve of the island of Saint Lucia, the wild ponds of Bages and Sigean, the Cistercian abbey of Fontfroide, Narbonne-Plage..
In the Gard
Here too, the Roman imprint has left its mark on the territory. One of the "Grands Sites" of the department, and one of the most important in Languedoc, is "Nîmes - Pont du Gard - Uzès". It includes exceptional monuments such as the Arena and the Maison Carrée in Nîmes, or the Pont du Gard about twenty kilometres away. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the famous Roman aqueduct was once used to transport water from the source of the Eure (Uzès) to Nîmes. The Grand Site also covers the Gardon gorges (classified as a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO) and villages, such as Lussan, which, like Uzès and Nîmes, are home to beautiful Renaissance residences in their picturesque lanes.In the south of the department, the city of Aigues-Mortes and the Camargue gardoise have also been awarded the regional label. Erected in the middle of salt marshes, rice fields and canals, the medieval ramparts of Aigues-Mortes are a must. They are home to a city of character that has managed to preserve some of its authenticity and a plethora of monuments. Alittle further on, the Abbey of Saint-Gilles,a high place of pilgrimage listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the Carbonnière Tower, a 13th century toll station, provide an opportunity to learn more about the history of the Camargue Gardoise.
The last area concerned by the label concerns both the Gard and the Lozère department, the Cévennes. This chain of high plateaus, crests and valleys, which stretches from Mount Aigoual to Mount Lozère, is appreciated for its exceptional landscapes, its remarkable villages (Vézénobres, La Garde-Guérin, Pont-de-Montvert...) and the know-how that has contributed to the fame of the Languedoc (vases from Anduze, forks from Sauve...).
In the Hérault
The department includes no less than seven zones labelled "Grands Sites d'Occitanie" (Great Sites of Occitania). To thesouth of the Cévennes National Park, the Hérault Gorges are at the top of the list. This landscape of rock and white water, sculpted by the river Hérault, is home to the famous Devil's Bridge, the medieval village of Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert and several small medieval towns, churches and chapels.To the south is the site "Cirque de Navacelles - Lodève - Pays viganais". Marked by pastoral activity, this territory includes one of the largest canyons in Europe: the Cirque de Navacelles. On the border of the Gard and the Hérault, it offers exceptional panoramas of the surrounding area, particularly on the meanders of the river Vis.
Man-made masterpieces also have their place in the list. One of the label's flagship sites is "Canal du midi- Béziers". Created in the 17th century by Pierre-Paul Riquet, this tourist attraction once served to link the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, from Sète to Toulouse. From Béziers, several monuments can be seen along the water: 9 locks of Fonseranes, Malpas tunnel, bridge-canal of Béziers... In the Biterrois, the castle of the Archbishops of Narbonne (Capestang), the oppidum of Ensérune and the dried-up pond of Montady are also worth a detour, they are very representative of the region.
Also crossed by the Canal du Midi, the "Agde-Pézenas" complex acts as a hinge between the hinterland and the coast. Composite, it is home to numerous villages of character and seaside resorts that attract holidaymakers from all over the world. This landscape of vineyards, sandy beaches and nature reserves (Bagnas, Grande Maïre...) is the setting for the exceptional architecture of the city of Molière (mansions, craftsmen's workshops, theatres...) and the tourist facilities of Cap d'Agde.
Still on the coast, a few kilometres away, is the outlet of the Canal du Midi: Sète. You only have to take a look at this "Singular Island" to understand the reasons for obtaining the label. Its wide expanses of fine sand, its Italian-style streets, its colourful quays and its traditions are all assets that inspire artists (Georges Brassens, Agnès Varda...) and seduce holidaymakers.
Along the Mediterranean coast, in the direction of the Gard, another city stands out: La Grande Motte. A crazy project born in the 1960s, the commune is the only French town listed as a "20th century heritage site". Arenowned seaside resort, it attracts travellers with its sunny beaches and exceptional architecture inspired by pre-Columbian temples and the reliefs stretching out behind its back.
Finally, in December 2020, the capital of Languedoc, Montpellier, made its entry among the Great Sites of Occitania. The thousand-year-old city, a veritable open-air museum, unveils a tangle of ancient monuments (Arc de Triomphe, Fountain of the Three Graces, mansions ...) and contemporary architecture (New Town Hall, Arbre Blanc, Antigone district ...) along its medieval streets.
In Lozere
The Grand Site "Cévennes" (mentioned above) is next to two other areas labelled: "Mende, heart of Lozère" and "Gorges du Tarn".The first, located as its name indicates in the heart of the department, covers the monuments and natural assets of the gateway to the Causses and Cévennes, Mende. This attractive commune is a great starting point for exploring these grandiose landscapes, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Firstly because of its geography, but also because it has a unique heritage inherited from its past as an episcopal city. One thinks in particular of the Saint-Privat Cathedral founded by Urbain V, a pope from Gévaudan.
The second concerns the Gorges of the Tarn and Jonte, exceptional sites born in the Cévennes National Park (labelled World Biosphere Reserve). This territory offers an alternation of hamlets, plateaus, waterways and valleys. Good walkers will be able to venture along the Corniche paths, on the Jonte side, to reach the Maison des Vousours, the emblematic animals of these reliefs. This area is separated from the Tarn gorges by three high plateaux: the Méjean, Noir and Sauveterre Causses. These landscapes of past steppes, medieval villages such as La Sablière, La Croze or Hauterives are revealed.
In the Pyrénées-Orientales
Closer to the border with Spain is "Collioure en Côte Vermeille", a masterpiece of nature resulting from the meeting of the last foothills of the Pyrenees chain with the Mediterranean. Asource of inspiration for many 20th century artists, it stretches from the beach of Racou, in Argelès-sur-Mer, to Spain. The coastline of the Côte Vermeille is punctuated by picturesque villages and charming port cities such as Collioure, Port-Vendres or Banyuls. Open to the sea, this unspoilt natural environment is dotted with vineyards, medieval churches, military buildings and places of remembrance. An itinerary allows you to discover most of these treasures: the Coastal Path. This 32-km hike passes through several typical villages of the region and provides access to refreshing creeks.Inland, the "Perpignan-Méditerranée" ensemble highlights a glorious past and an equally dynamic present. A land of hospitality since prehistoric times, and the economic and political capital of the Middle Ages, the city is a millennial crossroads that has combined Mediterranean culture and Catalan identity. Visiting Perpignan is synonymous with a journey through time.Along its streets, one discovers the witnesses of this prosperous past: the Castillet, the cloister-cemetery of Saint-Jean, the Campo Santo, the former bishopric... Outside the city, several places appear to be unmissable. Avisit to the Rivesaltes Memorial and the Tautavel cave, as well as its prehistoric museum, ishighly recommended.
A last Great Site stands between the Pyrenees and the Mediterranean Sea: "The Canigó Massif - Catalan Country". Massif oflegends, traditions (Saint John's Day, Saint Peter Trobada...) and sports (GR, mountain biking, horse riding...), the Canigó is a remarkable mountain which can be discovered during demanding hikes or on board the yellow train which leaves from Villefranche-de-Conflent. Generous in monuments, the territory is home to charming Catalan villages, typical abbeys of the Romanesque art and the fortifications of Vauban, engineer of King Louis XIX, already in charge of Fort Boyard in La Rochelle.
