Languedoc and Southwest France Book

About Drive Around Guides     8
Languedoc and Southwest France at a glance     10
Introduction     12
Travel facts     14
Driver's guide     24
Getting to Languedoc and Southwest France     30
Setting the scene     32
Highlights     40
Perpignan: Mediterranean resort with palm-fringed promenades     42
The coast south of Perpignan: Pretty harbours as painted by Matisse     50
Into the foothills of the Pyrenees: Vineyards and orchards on the French/Catalan border     62
In the shadow of the Canigou: Explore mountain peaks and gorges by car or train     72
Up into the Pyrenees: Find flower-filled meadows and fresh mountain air     84
Castles and caves from Foix: Castle-topped crags and prehistoric caverns     94
A taste of Cathar country: The vertiginous heights of Peyrepertuse and Queribus     102
Narbonne: Vibrant city close to the Mediterranean     110
The coast and lagoons: Warm seas and clean beaches along the Golfe de Lion     118
Carcassonne: Showpiece example of a medieval fortified town     128
The Corbieres hills: Vineyards that produced the world's first sparkling wines     136
Around the Montagne Noire: Breathtaking landscapes in the southern MassifCentral     144
Toulouse: Sunny city of rivers and canals     154
The land of milk and honey: Rich farming country with colourful half-timbered houses     164
Albi: See Toulouse-Lautrec's work in the city of the Albigensian Crusade     174
The Tarn Valley: Charming villages in the valley of the Tarn     182
The Minervois and its vineyards: Museums of wine and vineyard crafts     192
Roman Languedoc: Prehistoric and Roman remains     202
Montpellier: Lively and progressive university city     212
Grottes and cirques: Classic limestone formations     222
The Corniche of the Cevennes: Hairpin bends and spectacular views     230
Templars, plateaux and cheese: Fortified La Couvertoirade and blue-veined Roquefort     240
Great plateaux and gorges: The scenic gorges of the Tarn and Jonte     250
The heart of the Cevennes: Sheep trails and gorse-covered hills     260
The coastal resorts south from Montpellier: Salt lagoons, canals, shellfish and flamingos     270
Language     282
Index     283
Feedback form     287