Just want to clear something up before we start – despite what you might have read in some travel reports, Sète is not the Venice of Southern France. The only thing the two have in common is canals, that’s it. … Continue reading
If I was going to restore an 18th century village house in the south of France I’d probably want it to look like this one. Maison des Cerises is a gorgeous two-bedroom holiday rental in the village of Saint Marcel … Continue reading
Just below one of Herault’s most popular swimming spots, Lac Salagou is a little village called Mourèze. You’ll know when you’re there as the windy road from Clermont d’Herault straightens out and the forests either side make way for giant … Continue reading
I’m feeling very pleased with myself for discovering this place. Actually, I didn’t discover it, a friend told me about it, but I did put in the legwork by driving over to check it out. And to be honest that … Continue reading
There’s something very sophisticated about Uzès. Perhaps it’s because a duke lives there (well, some of the time anyway), or maybe it’s because of its stately position above the Eure valley, or its pretty cobbled streets sheltered by elegant vaulted … Continue reading
If you take a stroll around Montpellier’s narrow, winding streets you’ll probably stumble across all sorts of hidden shops and galleries. It’s fun to wander around and see what turns up, but if you try to find them again you … Continue reading
Are you itching to try some wine at a Languedoc vineyard, but find it slightly daunting? Me too. Visiting a domaine can be bewildering, especially when you don’t speak the language. So local wine expert, Louise Hurren, has kindly agreed … Continue reading
With so much sunshine there’s plenty of colourful plants that grow beautifully in the south of France and one of the best places to see them all on display is at a marché aux fleurs. There’s a good one in … Continue reading
Palavas-les-Flots The closest beach to Montpellier is in the seaside resort of Palavas-les-Flots. It was originally a fishing village and from the late 19th century until 1968 a train took Montpellierians all the way there. The heart of the … Continue reading
Visiting Montpellier’s zoo is like going for a nice walk and seeing some animals on the way. It’s set in an 80-hectare park, full of pine trees and walkways where visitors can stroll around and find more than 100 … Continue reading
There are a lot of restaurants in Montpellier and I haven’t been to all of them, but here’s some of my favourites. This list will be added to, if only as a good excuse to eat my way around the … Continue reading
It’s amazing what water does to mountains. When rivers flow through them, the water erodes the rocks to make great gorges, ravines and caves. One of the most wonderful examples of this in the Languedoc is the Cirque de Navacelles; … Continue reading
Tucked into the side of a ravine, between the Verdus stream and the gorges of the Herault river is the beautiful medieval village of St-Guilhem-le-Désert. It’s been classified as one of the ‘Plus Beaux Villages de France’ and is … Continue reading
How do you get young people interested in the arts? Grab their attention early. Make it easy and interesting for them to visit galleries, theatres and even opera houses from a young age, and the world of art and culture … Continue reading
Montpellier and more 