A brief history of Languedoc-Roussillon
Greek navigators plied the coast of Languedoc-Roussillon in ancient times and set up trading
posts, such as Agde. In 600 BC, they introduced grapevines to Roussillon. In 121 BC, the Romans
invaded the region: they built the Via Domitia, a passage from Italy to Spain, and founded Narbone.
Béziers and Nîmes became cities under Roman rule and roman buildings such as Nîmes’ Maison
Carrée, the Arènes and the Tour Magne, as well as Aigues-Mortes’ fortifications still grace these
cities’ skylines.The greatest architectural achievement of the Roman era, however, is the 35-mile
long aqueduct that carried water from the region’s uplands to Nîmes. It crosses the Gard River over
the spectacular Pont du Gard, whose three tiers of elegant arches soar 158 feet into the air and
stretch 900 feet across the water. It took the Romans 15 years to complete the edifice.
The Middle Ages gave way to a long period of instability. At the end of the 12th century, a
breakaway religious sect, the Cathars, spread their doctrine throughout the southern part of the
region, in defiance of Roman Catholic ideology. Several popes and French noblemen led a 20-year
war against the Cathar heretics, rallying forces into holy crusades and capturing Cathar fortresses
that can still be seen in Roussillon today. In the 13th century, Montpellier and Perpignan prospered
under the rule of the Kings of Majorca, who later sold the two cities and the Roussillon to the
French crown.
In the 17th and 18th century, there dawned a new era of peace: towns were enlarged and adorned
with dazzling architecture and, thanks mainly to the development of the wine industry, large farms
were built, along with stately country residences and seaside villas.
Towns nearby to Valras Plage
There are many small villages plus the city of Montpellier that are within an hour’s drive of Valras
Plage:
Bouzigues: on the edge of an Etage de Thau (a salty lagoon divided from the sea) and is famous
for its oyster & mussel farming. Make sure you also visit the local Museum to learn how oyster
farming hasevolved over the years & sample the local delicacy in one of the cozy restaurants
overlooking the Etang.
Sete & Agde : small, local fishing villages with great restaurants and cafes to watch the world go
by.
Pezenas : the town appears to be caught in a time warp with a vast array of beautifully preserved
buildings from what many describe as the 'Golden Age'. Make sure you leave yourself plenty
of time to wander around, as there is much to see. It has a total of 70 historical buildings listed.
When you feel its time to give your feet a rest from all that sightseeing you can head into any of
the theatres or cinemas that dominate the old town.
Minerve : a miraculous village perched over the meeting of rivers. Perched where rivers tunnel
through deep gorges and marking the massacre inflicted by Simon de Montfort during the
crusades against the Cathars in France in 1210.
Montpellier : the capital of Languedoc-Rousillon, the biggest wine region in the world, set
between the mountains of the Pyrenees and the Rhone River. The thousand-year-old city has
preserved its architectural heritage, especially in the medieval center and its lanes. If you like
the old buildings, you should visit l'Ecusson (Historic Center), the Hotel Jacques Coeur, or the
Renaissance Mansions. However, if you prefer the neo-classical baroque, then walk from the
Place de la Comedie to the Polygone (shopping center) after which you will discover the
Antigone area until the Regional Council City Hall. Do not miss a visit to the Arc of Triumph,
the Place Saint-Come, or the oldest medical faculty in the world where Rabelais and
Nostradamus studied. Near here you will find the first Jardin des Plants of France, created in
1593 under Henry IV to help students in medicine, or another classical garden, the Royal Walk
of Peyrou which is the prolongation of the very nice aqueduc Les Arceaux.
The Coteaux du Languedoc is the largest and one of the most significant viticultural regions of
theMediterranean vineyards. Many of the villages mentioned above are nestled between local wine
makingregions and you can often stop off at the local “Cooperatives” to sample the wine and even
fill up bottleswith the wine straight from the barrels.
For more information go to:
Towns further from Valras Plage (1-2 hour drive)
Carcassonne is a medieval hill top city that is listed as a UNESCO world heritage site. A day
spent wondering leisurely through the city’s small streets will reveal wonderful small shops selling
local produce and restaurants preparing local dishes including the famous bean and duck dish
“Cassoulet”.
Toulouse is a city with a 2,000 year history but is also known as the home of the Airbus
manufacturing site (book ahead to visit) and the famous Toulouse sausage. Be sure to visit the
covered market whichis open daily during the week and have lunch in one of the many restaurants
upstairs where all the food served is made from fresh ingredients brought in that day.
Narbonne was the first Roman colony outside of Italy. It was established in Gaul in 118 BC, as
Colonia Narbo Martius. It was located on the Via Domitia, the first Roman road in Gaul, built at the
time of the foundation of the colony, and connecting Italy to Spain. In addition to visiting the
Cathedral built in 1272, you can walk through the Sunday morning market that runs both sides of
the Canal de la Robine or attend a local rugby game.
Nîmes was one of the richest and finest Roman cities of Gaule. Several important remains of the
Roman Empire can still be seen in and around Nîmes including the Roman amphitheatre, from the
1st or 2nd century AD, is the best-preserved Roman arena in France. It was filled with medieval
housing, when its walls served as ramparts, but they were cleared under Napoleon. It is used today
as a bull fighting and concert arena.
Marseille is France’s second largest city and a vibrant port acting as a gate way to Northern
Africa and Provence. Stroll around the old harbour and the fish market or discover the Arabic
quarter where you can try some local Cous Cous dishes.
Barcelona is vibrant city in North Eastern Spain which can be easily explored by foot. The city
offers various possibilities including : visiting the many colourful Gaudi houses plus the unfinished
Sagrada Familia cathedral; tasting the sumptuous tapas, local Catalan dishes and great wines;
visiting many museums including the Miro Foundation; attending several festivals where you can
practice your flamenco and discovering a rich nighlife that starts late and goes on even later.
Between Barcelona and Valras Plage make sure you visit the Teatre Museu Dali in Figueres.
The museum was designed by Dali in a former theatre & contains some of his finest paintings as
well as the man himself – he is entombed here.
