We are going to be visiting Frankfurt and leaving our son with his grandparents there for a few days. The soutwest corner of France is one spot we haven't really explored, so we'll fly into Montpellier and have a few days away from the boy! I am very excited and looking for suggestions for the following:

Home base suggestions? considering Montpellier or trying to find a cute countryside town. We will rent a car.

How many days would you take to see the region?

What sites would you hit?

What would you skip?

Museums/architecture of note?

Suggestions for restaurants or hotels?

Should we spend some time on the Canal du Midi (don't have tons of cash so it would probably just be a short daytrip).

Other daytrips from around the Montpellier area? Is Toulouse an interesting place to go? We don't mind driving a bit.

As you can tell, I am just starting my research. Thanks so much for any and all advice.

First thing to do when you arrive is to rent a car. That's the only way to get a feel for this region. Since the region itself is somewhat vaguely defined, you'll probably get lots of answers.

You will have the opportunity to see quaint seaside villages (Collioure, for instance), lovely walled towns (Carcassonne, for instance), pretty hilltop towns (old Auch, for instance), old walled cities on the edge of the delta (Aigues-Mortes), a beautifully preserved Roman amphitheater (in Nimes), and cowboys rounding up cattle just like the old West.

Then there's Albi, a beautifully picturesque city perched over the river with its lovely squares, cathedrals, and a Toulouse-Lautrec museum. My choice of a base would be Albi, with plenty to do in the city and with relatively easy driving to other spots.

However, if you prefer a smaller, more "native" kind of village to settle into, and one which isn't too touristy, I suggest you try Le Mas-d'Azil south of Albi, a small village with a couple of small hotels. For a slightly larger town with lots of charm, try Lacaune, between Montpellier and Albi.

I think all of those I mentioned are worth seeing. But with some kind of limitation on the number of days (you said a few) I suggest you try the route to Albi, stopping at Lacaune or going all the way to Albi, then exploring between by just driving around all the small villages. In addition, Carcassonne is worth a visit even though lots of other people will be there too. And Aigues-Mortes has a sad kind of charm, behind the old city walls. I wouldn't take the time to see the Canal du Midi. Old Toulouse is interesting, with some museuems, but it's too cluttered for me.

That's about all I can offer. Good luck.

I am partial to the road from Prades to La Tour de Carol as a mountain road that takes you from the dry eastern Pyrenees to the green high central Pyrenees. Other things to see, beside the standards: Auch Cathedral for its carvings and windows. Auch also has a large covered market which is now a market for regional goods. Moissac, Montauban for its square, Mirepoix for its square (un des plus beaux villages de France), Albi for its cathedral and Toulouse-Lautrec museum. You might want to drive to the Cirque de Gavarnie. Google Cathares, although the first listings are exclusively in French.

we loved Cordes, Riversaltes, (where the house wine here we drink is made), chateau de Jau, the gorge of tarn, the beautiful St Guilhem-le-Désert, spent a night in Plaisance as well as Mont Louis; for a bigger city we liked the flower bedecked bridges of Perpignan,
This is an underated area of France

Albi and Cordes sur Ceil are a couple of favorites of mine. The Hostelerie San Antoine in Albi is a good place to stay.

I forgot to mention Cordes, not far north of Albi. It's a beautiful old hilltop town, with winding stone streets, an ambience from a hundred years ago, and (if you wish) an incredible hotel on the edge of the hill overlooking the rolling, verdant countryside. The hotel? It's the Grand Ecuyer, with a Michelin-starred chef and incredible food. Cordes was one of the most pleasant places we ever stayed. But if you are driving, you'll have to be careful about where you drive because a lot of the old town is for pedestrians only. Good luck.

We also like the market and surrounds in Narbonne - a comfortable mid-size town - nothing spectacular but very pleasant.

We also like Perpignan for its distinctly Catalan, and in places North African, atmosphere. The pastel houses and transparent blue skies never fail to evoke San Francisco, but with an obvious twist or two.

I agree completely with Albi (although the exterior of the cathedral is hardly "beautiful," as it's something of a fortress) and Aigues Mortes, a real favorite if you can avoid the tour buses. Also if you're interested, pay a call to Les Stes. Maries on the coast, famous for its gypsy pilgrimages. You can spend days poking around the Camargue, all of them delightful.

And then there are the mountains, of course.

I don't know if the area is under-rated; it attracts zillions of French tourists, just (traditionally but that's changing) relatively few north Europeans and Americans.

Gardyloo, I didn't mention the Camargue because it is in the Gard, not in Languendoc, Roussillon. But It is a must see with the pink flamingoes, wild white horses and black bulls and a wonderful bird santuary.

Thanks, I know, but since Aigues Mortes already came up, I thought I'd mention the surroundings.

Thanks for all the great suggestions! Our planning is well underway!

Cigalechanta. I'm surprised !

The Camargue is in Bouches du Rhone.
And Gard is part of Languedoc !

Sorry.

You can read lots about Languedoc here : http://tlp.netfirms.com

Peter
The Languedoc Page

I'm glad i got the camargue right, Peter! Bouche de Rhone is provence but I thought that The pont du Gard was in the transition from Languedoc to Provence. I don't blame you for claiming it. Your pictures of it are very nice. Why not post them here.

Hi

Pont du Gard is in Gard. Definitely Languedoc !

My Languedoc photos are here :
http://tlp.netfirms.com/photogall.htm

and photo contributions are here :
http://tlp.netfirms.com/photogallcont.htm

Peter