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| Holidays at the Residence Medicis - The Region |
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This area of France is nature at its best, from the Camargue to the eastern end of the Pyrenees. From the wild and lonely Causses to the sunny Mediterranean coast.
Across highly scented garrigue and sun-soaked vineyards, there is
an incomparable variety of scenery and fascinating towns and villages
to discover. |
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| A land of many influences and a fascinating past, Languedoc-Roussillon has a superb architectural heritage covering over 2000 years of history. The soil is rich and the culture a blend of many civilisations with an excellent cuisine that is equally adventurous. |
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There are plenty of villages, towns and cities to visit in the area, with just a few listed below. | |
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The city of Beziers is well worth a visit. There is plenty to see, and the city has an abundance of cafes, bars and restaurants. Stroll down the main Allées Paul Riquet, named after Bezier's famous engineer, responsible for the construction of the Canal du Midi. | |
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It's only 45 minutes to the sea, with resorts like Cap d'Agde, great for sailing, or just lazing on the beach. There are plenty of bars, cafes and restaurants. Many of the restaurants by the side of the marina have live music. | |
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Sete is the most important French fishing port on the Mediterranean. As a result there is an abundance of restaurants with fish dishes as their speciality. | |
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The nearby market town of Bedarieux sits at the foot of Mount Tantajo, and is rich in the area's cultural heritage. The Monday market is a lively event and worth a visit. | |
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Pézenas, about a 30 minutes' drive away, was formerly the fortified Roman City of Piscenae. The town has many 16 & 17C buildings and today is a flourishing centre of the wine and spirit trade. It is picturesque and unusual, with a fine array of houses, hotels and shops, now occupied by a variety of craftsmen. | |
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Montpellier, around an hour away, is the capital city of Languedoc-Roussillon and has a mix of old and new architecture. The buildings of the mid 19C are well worth seeing - the Palais de Justice and the Opéra being just two. It is well known as a new centre for urban design, with outstanding and beautiful buildings by architect Ricardo Bofill. | |
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In the middle of Cathar country the medieval city of Carcassonne stands proud as a monument to the turbulent times of the Crusades. Carcassonne, around 90 minutes away, the largest medieval city in Europe, complete with all it's fortifications, appears to be taken right out of a film of knights in shining armour and is a 'must visit' place. | |
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Lac de Salagou, 30 minutes away near Clermont-l'Hérault, has everything to offer those interested in waterside activities, from just lazing about on the beach-like shoreline to canoeing or windsurfing. There are also purpose made mountain bike circuits near and around the lake that offer different grades of difficulty. |
