Languedoc and Roussillon

Languedoc and Roussillon regions stretch from the foothills of the Pyrenees on the Spanish border to the Albigeois region.

The Occitan language (French old southern language derived from Latin), is still cherished here. It is the land of superb romanesque architecture, untouched by the gothic evolution. It is also the land of the Cathares, a doctrine issued from the contact of Catholicism with oriental beliefs during the crusades. It left several castles nestled on the top of mountains which were used as strongholds to defend their religion from the French King crusaders. Some of the abbeys date back to the 9th Century and some of the castles can be tracked back all the way to the 4th Century.

The centare of this wine region, it is the oldest fortified town in Europe. This extraordinary vision of medieval architecture crowns an escarpment commanding the route from Toulouse to the sea. Carcassonne's defences allow us to imagine what medieval siege warfare was like. There are 2 sets of ramparts, drawbridges and fixed bridges with portcullises, towers with projecting beaks, watch turrets, sentry walks, crenellations, arrow-slits, machicolations. (2 1/2 hours west of Arles)

France sixth largest town, Toulouse is linked to the Mediterranean Sea via the Lauragais Pass and to the Atlantic Ocean via the Garonne river. This ancient capital city of the Visigoth Kingdom is now the French capital of aerospace industries. One of the most important centare of cultural and artistic activities in the Middle Ages, it kept that inheritance through St Sernin's Basilica. The city's medieval growth could not be catered for by building with stone, as the nearest quarry was 50 miles away. The problem was solved by using the Garonne river clays to manufacture bricks, making Toulouse well known as the pink city. (45 minutes west of Carcassone)

Albi

The whole of Albi, from the bridges spanning the Tarn to the extraordinary cathedral, is made of bricks which owes its rosy hue to the clays dug from the river bed. The former bishop's palace houses the Toulouse Lautrec Museum. He was native from Albi and is revealed here as one of the great painters of everyday life. (1 hour west of Toulouse)

Next to typical Revel market town, it is the site of traditional craftsmen factories. (Glass, leather, ironwork, pewterware, copperware...). (1 hour south of Albi)Cordes sur Ciel

This spectacular village, built according to the philosophical stone theories, is nestled at the top of the Puech de Mordagne, overlooking the Cerou valley. The superb row of Gothic houses dating from the 13 and 14 centuries testify to the past wealth of this quaint little town. (close to Albi)

European Group Tours