Top Things to do in Languedoc-Roussillon
Top Hotels in Languedoc-Roussillon
Top 10 Historic Sites in Languedoc-Roussillon, Occitanie
Boasting Medieval fortresses, Roman aqueducts, Mediterranean coastline, endless vineyards and expansive national parks, a visitor could spend a lifetime exploring sunny Languedoc-Rousillon. Sitting on the geographic divide between the Iberian peninsula and mainland Europe, the regions towns and cities, including beautiful Carcassonne, Nimes and Montpellier, are connected by paths both ancient and new. Hike Via Domitia, a Roman road, or rent a barge for a trip down the Canal du Midi.
Restaurants in Languedoc-Roussillon
1. Chartreuse de Villeneuve lez Avignon
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 424 reviews
The pontifical Carthusian monastery of the Val-de-Bénédiction was founded in the 14th century by Pope Innocent VI. The frescoes of the Saint John Baptist's Chapel were painted by Matteo Giovanetti, who created the frescoes in Avignon Palace. The three cloisters, surrounded by forty cells and gardens, made it one of the largest Carthusian monstery in France.
Reviewed By boutiquehotelgril - London, United Kingdom
Beautiful environment to stroll around. Cloisters, gardens, cafe, book shop, theatre, restaurant, exhibitions. Everywhere you look there is a lovely vista. Takes you back in time.
2. Cathedrale St-Jean
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 709 reviews
Reviewed By frankn829
This is certainly a beautiful church worthy of exploring. You definitely get a feel that it was meant to be a bit bigger, but, it has a lot of amazing art in every nook and cranny. One really interesting item is an apparent crypt cemented in by a covering with four skull and crossbones figures - one on each corner. Being close to the sea, it makes you wonder...
3. Abbaye de Fontfroide
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,112 reviews
Open all year long. Visits, Restaurant, Wines, Concerts...
Reviewed By chaletaria
Beautiful abbey just outside Narbonne (you need transport). In an excellent state of repair and an informative leaflet (although the downloadable PDF is better- available French, English, Spanish). The cloisters are interesting, as are the gardens, but the piece de resistance is the church with its incredible stained glass windows. We came back in the evening to watch the light show (10-midnight). We were concerned that we would just see everything again, but in the evening, but the show was completely different and an excellent evening experience. The beautifully done show in the tour d’honneur/ courtyard (french only) was the highlight, as was a nice light show in the Louis XIV courtyard. Not too expensive (unless you opt for their meal+show, which we didn’t).
4. Fort Liberia
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 434 reviews
Reviewed By AlbertSalichs - Manresa, Spain
Fort Liberia is one of the Vauban Fortress located in the upper part of Villefranche-de-Conflent, in Conflent Region, in the South of France. It was built after Pyrenees Treaty (17th Century). Nowadays you can visit this fortress. In fact, you go up with a 4*4 (or by walk) and you can go down by 4*4 again or go down the stairs. My 4 years old daughter and I tried this last option and it was very funny. In the fortress, you can go up to the ramparts and see wonderful views of the town and mountains. Great! also, it is possible learn about the life in this place during the last centuries. Very interesting. See also Le Train Jaune, Ramparts of Villefranche-de-Conflent, La Boutique du Champignon, Grotte des Canalettes, Le Relais de Villefranche and Esglesia de Sant Jaume de Vilafranca)
5. Cathar Castles
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 831 reviews
Reviewed By alexanderp982 - Helmsange, Luxembourg
Once you have parked in the village, walked to the entrance and paid the fee (face mask compulsory inside) you then take off your mask for the steepish walk up the hillside paths to reach each of the 4 castle ruins in turn. Allow 2 hours to do the tour. Ticket includes access to viewpoint across the valley which you can then drive to afterwards.
6. Historic Fortified City of Carcassonne
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 9,819 reviews
Reviewed By shonas804 - Auckland, New Zealand
We absolutely loved visiting here. Imagine a real life medieval town, Harry Potter fans would love this place. I loved everything thing about it .... from the cobbled streets, the amazing turrets, to the fantastic shops, the incredible history and being able who walk around in a living city with so much history. The church had gorgeous stained glass windows. Go here, it is amazing!
7. Chateau de Flaugergues
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 282 reviews
Come to the Chateau de Flaugergues and visit an unique Vineyard of South France. This Folie, typic house from the 18th century will make you travel through time and space. Tour guided of the Chateau, the Vineyard or the garden are available all week long. For more information, you can contact us or go to our website.
8. Fortress of Salses
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,083 reviews
Salses fortress was built between 1497 and 1504 by the Spaniards to protect their northern province of Roussillon which was finally conquered by France in 1642. Behind the defensive walls the complex fortress features buildings on three to six levels linked by a maze of corridors and walkways. The fort incorporates three independent sections: the living quarters, battlements and the keep. Open: > 1st June to 30th September: from 10.00 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. > 1st October to 31st March: from 10 am to 12.15 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 5.15 p.m. Last admission 30 minutes before closing time. Closed: > 1st January, 1st May, 1st November, 11th November and 25th December. Admission fees: Adults : 8 €; Free admission: minors under 18*; Free admission: 18-25 years old* (citizens of one of the 27 countries of the EU or are non-European permanent residents of France) * excluding school groups
Reviewed By ruthrees - Ireland, null
This fortress is enormous!! You could spend the whole day wandering about .. part of it is by guided tour (in French only) and the guide was extremely knowledgeable and interesting - it was easy enough to follow. What a place! Amazing to learn about military tactics. An excellent day out
9. Abbaye Saint Martin du Canigou
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 396 reviews
On an eagle's nest in the heart of the Massif du Canigou, the former Benedictine Abbey of St. Martin's discretely overhangs the valley since the XI century. A unique site just waiting to be discovered by the delighted rambler, with ist bell tower, marble capitals, the vaulted abbey-church and crypt... A jewel of early Romanesque architecture typical of this region.
Reviewed By rebeccatust - Perpignan, France
The walk up to this Abbey, perched on the top of a mountain, is fantastic (about 40 mins, bring walking shoes). The kids (aged 4 and 6) enjoyed it too. The Abbey is a great reward at the end, the guided tour (in French) is very well done and interesting (even for young children), and there are views of the mountains from all around the Abbey.
10. Chateau de Queribus
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 846 reviews
In the South of France, in the county of Aude, stands Quéribus, the last bastion of Cathar resistance, and Cucugnan, the village made famous by the tale of “The Sermon of the Curé of Cucugnan”, which was immortalized by Alphonse Daudet "Les lettres de mon moulin". The sight of Queribus Castle perched upon its crag, dominating the valleys below vividly evokes the world of the Middle Age, and the eleventh to fourteenth centuries when it held sway. Its high tower, like an eagle’s nest, offers a panoramic view over the plains of the Roussillon.
Reviewed By FlatToppedHill - Ramsbottom, United Kingdom
To start with I wasn’t convinced that we were going to survive the drive up to the carpark. Not because of the super narrow, super steep winding road with a sheer drop on one side, but because of the noise my boyfriend made as I gave our hired Skoda full throttle to get it up the hill. Part squeak, part squeal. He did relax a bit when we got to the entrance to the Château but it was touch and go for a while. I paid for our entrance in the small gift shop. The nice lady told me that it was very windy at the top and that I should hold on to my ... ‘hat?’ I said (in French). No no, she said, ‘hold on to your children’. My children are 11, 9 and 5 and not really built to be blown away so I had a bit of a laugh at this, which came back to haunt me shortly afterwards. We started the steep walk up the gravel path to the lowest part of the castle. The views were amazing, all the way to the Pic du Canigou one way, and the Med the other, with helpful boards pointing out what we were looking at. It was blowy though, and a passing couple advised my eldest to take off and hold on to his hat. As we got higher there was what can only be described as a full on wind tunnel effect. Wearing a skirt was a bad idea and the only thing that saved my blushes was the fact we were heading to the seaside afterwards meaning I was wearing (big!) bikini pants underneath. The children had trouble staying upright. Heck I had trouble staying upright and I’m a 10 stone lump. It was knock you off your feet windy, the strongest I’ve ever felt. Still we powered up and were rewarded with the most amazing views. Shielded from the wind the sun and blue sky combined to give us the most beautiful experience. We didn’t really know what should have been in any of the ‘rooms’ but it didn’t matter, it was all about the exploring and the views. I’m not sure that Queribus would be quite as ‘raw’ a visitor experience in our home UK. There were sections where handrails or guide ropes or staff would have been an advantage but where we were, obviously, just left to get on with it. This is fine if you know what you’re getting, but may be a shock to the system for some. It’s not quite the National Trust. As castles go though, this was utterly spectacular. Worth the journey, worth the climb, worth flashing my pants to all other visitors there at the same time. Go, you won’t regret it.
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