one week in the languedoc?
 

i've found two nice little chateaus down there in the south of france for our wedding-trip, with appartments to stay there for a week (chateau de villarlong near carcassonne and chateau hermitage near beziers) - but has anybode been in this region and can tell me, if it's really worth to stay there a whole week (and why)? or is is better to spend the week in the probably more crowded provence/cote d'azur-area at the beginning of septembre? thanks a lot in advance!!!

Hi Densito:
Depending on what you have planned in the way of touring around during your wedding trip Languedoc may well be a perfect choice.
We enjoy the area very much and always find lots to do. September will be quieter than the summer craziness but you can still enjoy lots of things the area has to offer. The area is better seen by car so hopefully this is in your plans. The beaches (some lovely ones around Cap d'agde at the Rochelongue area of this resort which is only about 1/2 hour from Beziers), some fabulous tourist/historic sites (Roman ruins, Canal du Midi, Cathar trail, ,some great wines and wineries St Chinian, Minervois, Corbieres and the luscious sparkling wines from Limoux, the Pyrenees, towns like Mirepoix, Foix, Beziers, Carcassonne, ancient villages along the canals of the midi and the aude, oysters to die for from Sete, and the Bassin du Thau. All of these things are within an hour or two drive from either Carcassonne or Beziers.If you are looking for a guide book for some initial information check out the Thomas Cook signpost Guide to Languedoc and South west France. It gives some good tips and driving tours mapped out.
Languedoc would be my choice in September if I were looking for a quieter less hectic place to stay than Cote d'azur.
Congratulations on your marriage and enjoy your holiday!

Hi

September is quiet, and the autoroutes make travel quick.

You can visit Costa Brava or Provence as day trips.

There are huge contrasts :

old/new cities
mountain/coast
Camargue/ Pyrenees

I prefer Languedoc to Cote d'Azur, but thats because I live here !

Peter
Languedoc, France
http://tlp.netfirms.com

Much to see in Languedoc, my favorite places there are Beziers, Carcassone(not to be missed, Sete, Albi, Beziers, the Gorge of Tarn, and the wines of Corbiéres that have come along way.
Visit the ruined fortress of Peyrepertuse. A favorite beautiful village is St-Guilhem-le-Desert.
I may be confused where languedoc and Rouissellon

Sorry, I meant to add for Peter, I am always unsure where the border is Languedoc & Roussilon.

Greetings,

I would select Beziers over Carcassonne--it is a living city with lovely streets, lots going on, great market open every day and nearer to Montpellier, Spain, and many other places. You can spend a day in Carcassonne, but it is chock full of tour buses and tourists from dawn till dusk. You will not run out of options in Beziers.

Take care,
Robyn France

We will also be in the Languedoc at the end of September, so these and any more suggestions of places to see (also, places to eat!) are greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
QueenMab

Hi

The administrative areas are :

Languedoc : Herault, Gard, Lozere
Rousillon : Aude, Pyrenees Orientale

But this does not correspond to the historical areas so it's a bit woolly !

The border is the River Aude.

Lozere extends a long way into the mountains.

Peter
http://tlp.netfirms.com/lang1.htm