Languedoc-Roussillon
A Mediterranean corner of southern France with wine country, medieval towns and a coast close to the Pyrenees and Catalonia.
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Languedoc-Roussillon is the southernmost part of mainland France, on the Mediterranean and bordering Spain and Andorra. It was a region of its own until 1 January 2016, when it joined Midi-Pyrénées in the enlarged region of Occitania. The name joins two areas that were historically distinct: Languedoc, where Occitan was spoken, and Roussillon, a medieval county where Catalan was spoken. The region is a useful base for trips to the Pyrenees or Catalonia.
The region is known for wine, with about 740,300 acres (2,996 km²) of vineyards, roughly three times the vineyard area of Bordeaux. Béziers and Narbonne were the first vineyard towns in Gaul, and a Mediterranean climate suits the vines. Roman, Moorish and Cathar history is visible in its towns, Narbonne and Carcassonne among them, and Montpellier was chosen as the regional capital. The walled city of Carcassonne and the medieval centre of Montpellier are the obvious places to start.
Languedoc-Roussillon in five
- Pick a base city and add day tripsMontpellier suits a lively city with trains, Perpignan suits the Catalan south, and Carcassonne suits a walled old town. Choose by what you want to see, not by map distance.Montpellier travel guide
- Rent a car for vineyards and castlesVillages, wineries and ruined hilltop castles often have little public transport. Collect a car in a main city and check parking rules in small towns.Train or car in France
- Take the TGV to Montpellier or PerpignanDirect TGV services run from Paris to Montpellier in about 3.5 hours and further to Perpignan. Regional trains link the coastal cities, so you can see several without a car.Plan your rail trip
- See Carcassonne early or lateThe walled Cité fills with day visitors from late morning. Go early or stay overnight in the lower town to see it in quieter light.Carcassonne travel guide
- Check wind and heat before beach daysThe Tramontane and Mistral winds can make beaches rough, and July and August are hot. Pick sheltered beaches or go in June or September.
Things to do in Languedoc-Roussillon
See all attractions in Languedoc-Roussillon
Need to know
- Airport
- Montpellier (MPL), Perpignan (PGF), Béziers (BZR) and Carcassonne (CCF)
- Getting there
- TGV from Paris about 3.5 hours to Montpellier
- Getting around
- Regional trains between cities; a car for villages and wineries
- Best base
- Montpellier for trains; Carcassonne for the Cité
- Time needed
- 5–8 days
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- JanuaryPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh11°Low5°Mild, quietJanuaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 62 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quiet
- FebruaryPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh13°Low6°Mild, quietFebruaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 48 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quiet
- MarchPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh15°Low7°Spring, freshMarchPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 78 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring, fresh
- AprilPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh18°Low9°Spring, almond bloomAprilPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 63 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring, almond bloom
- MayClear10 rainy daysHigh21°Low13°Warm, greenMayClear
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 61 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, green
- JuneClear7 rainy daysHigh27°Low17°Warm, beach daysJuneClear
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 38 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, beach days
- JulyClear4 rainy daysHigh30°Low20°Hot, busyJulyClear
Best
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 22 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, busy
- AugustClear4 rainy daysHigh30°Low20°Hot, busyAugustClear
Best
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 28 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, busy
- SeptemberClear7 rainy daysHigh25°Low16°Warm, grape harvestSeptemberClear
Best
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 57 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, grape harvest
- OctoberPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh21°Low13°Mild, vineyardsOctoberPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 103 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, vineyards
- NovemberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh15°Low9°Cool, wetNovemberPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 71 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, wet
- DecemberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh12°Low6°Cold, quietDecemberPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 53 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
Average daily high and low in Montpellier, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Languedoc-Roussillon
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
7
- Feels like
- 4°
- Humidity
- 64%
- Wind
- 10 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Languedoc-Roussillon
09:47 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today14°6°0%Monday: Partly cloudy. High 14°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Tue13°4°10%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 13°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 10%.
- Wed10°4°100%Wednesday: Rain. High 10°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Thu11°9°99%Thursday: Thunderstorms. High 11°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 99%.
- Fri15°5°86%Friday: Thunderstorms. High 15°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 86%.
- Sat12°3°8%Saturday: Rain. High 12°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 8%.
- Sun16°10°50%Sunday: Rain. High 16°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 50%.
Updated 09:33 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
What's on in Languedoc-Roussillon
Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city
Events calendarEvery year
- Jan–MarCarnival of LimouxCarcassonne, a day trip
Day trips by train
- Carcassonneabout 2 hours by train from MontpellierA fortified Cité with towers and ramparts.Read the guide
- Collioureabout 30 min by train from PerpignanA harbor town with a seaside castle.Read the guide
- Sèteabout 35 min by train from MontpellierA canal city with fish stalls and a seafront.Read the guide
- Nîmesabout 30 min by train from MontpellierA city with a Roman amphitheater and a temple.Read the guide
Before you go to Languedoc-Roussillon
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Rules for Languedoc-Roussillon, checked
- France is in the Schengen area. Check passport validity and entry requirements on the French foreign ministry travel site before you fly.Source
- Llívia is a Spanish town surrounded by French territory. Carry your passport or ID card when you travel there.
- Bringing meat, dairy or plants from outside the EU is restricted. Declare them at customs on arrival.
- Smoking is banned in indoor public places across France, including bars and restaurants.
- Dial 112 for police, fire or ambulance from any phone in France.
Plan around Languedoc-Roussillon
Regions, cities and how to plan the whole trip
Read the guideMontpellierThe region's university city by train
Read the guideCarcassonneThe walled Cité and the Canal du Midi
Read the guideCollioureA Catalan fishing port with a castle
Read the guidePerpignanThe Catalan capital near the border
Read the guideSèteA canal and fishing port with seafood
Read the guideLanguedoc-Roussillon FAQ
Is Languedoc-Roussillon still a region?
The name was merged into Occitanie in 2016, but visitors and wine labels still use Languedoc and Roussillon. This guide covers the Mediterranean coast and hills from Nîmes to the Spanish border.
How many days do you need in Languedoc-Roussillon?
Five days cover a base city plus Carcassonne and one coastal trip. Eight days let you add Perpignan, Collioure and a wine day. Use trains for the cities and a car for the hills.
Do you need a car in the Languedoc?
Not for Montpellier, Carcassonne or the coastal cities, which have trains. A car helps for vineyards, villages and castles, and for sheltered beaches away from the main resorts.
What is the best month to visit the Languedoc?
May to June and September for warm weather and manageable crowds. July and August are hot and busy, and some beach winds can be strong. Winter is mild but quiet.
What is the best base in the Languedoc?
Montpellier for rail links and city life, Carcassonne for a medieval setting, Perpignan for the Catalan side. Choose one and use day trips to avoid repacking.