Drive Around Languedoc and... | Buy

Summary

The Drive Around series provides you with a comprehensive but flexible reference source as you tour a country or region by car. This guide divides Languedoc into touring areas - one per chapter. Major cultural centres or cities form chapters in their own right. The best of Languedoc's diverse and unspoilt landscapes is included, from the beaches of the coastal resorts to the wild and remote mountain plateaux, such as Cathar country, the Cevennes and the Pyrenees, and the Tarn and Gard regions. Each chapter contains enough attractions to provide at least a day's worth of activities - often more - and has an introduction that sums up the main attractions and a ratings box. It is then divided into an alphabetical gazetteer and a suggested tour. In every chapter, you will find lodging and eating recommendations for individual towns, or for the area as a whole. A locator map in the introduction shows the position of the tours. The tours include: the Pyrenees, Perpignan and the coast south of Perpignan, Narbonne, Carcassonne, Montpelier, and the heart of the Cevennes. No touring holiday is complete without one of these essential guides.

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

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Excerpts

"The area covered by this book is one of the most varied in France. Glossy coastal resorts, wild remote plateaux, towering mountains, deep gorges, forests and caves - it has them all in abundance. Add a rich history, castles, cathedrals and an exceptionally wide variety of museums and it provides plenty to interest every visitor, whatever their particular taste."

Excerpted from Drive Around Languedoc and Southwest France by Gillian Thomas, John Harrison
All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.