ABOUT THE AREA

Pezenas and the Languedoc

Pezenas

Michelin guide ‘les plus beaux détours de france’ states Pezenas as a ‘not to miss’ town. Unlike many towns and villages in the South of France which are only alive during summer months, Pezenas is a vibrant working town. Year round there are sights to see, markets to visit and cafes to rest awhile. With 300 days a year of sunshine, you are more than likely able to sit and enjoy your café au lait outside with the sun warming your face.

Once the home to Molière, a stroll though the narrow cobbled streets in the vielle ville is like walking back in time. The old town dates back to the Middle Ages, and the architecture provides surprises at every turn, look up and see the Gargoyles peering down at you, or pass through one of the impressive doors and discover a hidden courtyard of one of the many hotel particuliers complete with wrought iron balconies, & stone sculptures.

Once the sun is high in the sky in the summer months Pezenas becomes even more alive with dozens and dozens of artisan studios opening up. The bi-weekly nocturnal market is a buzzing theatrical experience not to be missed. Wandering minstrals, fire eaters and jugglers perfom in the numerous squares and alley ways, whilst the restaurants and bars serve late into the night.

Just a short drive from Pezenas there is a wealth of activities and places to explore.

The Languedoc

The Languedoc area of France is nature at its best offering a diverse and incomparable variety of scenry from the flat salt marches of the Camargue in the east to the snow capped Pyrenees in the south.

In between discover the wild and barren Causses-Cevenne with its neolithic rock formations alternatively the sunny Mediterranean coast is less than 30 minutes drive. Which ever direction you travel it will take you past the highly scented garrigue and sun-soaked vineyards, with the countryside dotted with fascinating towns and villages to discover.

A land of many influences and a fascinating past, Languedoc-Roussillon has a superb architectural heritage covering over 2000 years of history. The soil is rich and the culture a blend of many civilisations.

The whole region is dominated by vineyards, known as the largest vineyard in the world, life for many in the Languedoc revolves around the production of wine. In recent years the old vines used for the ‘cheap and cheerful plonk’ or also known as ‘vin de table’ have all been pulled up and replaced with much higher quality, low yield vines. Producers once happy to send their grapes to the cave co-operative are now producing ‘estate bottled’ wines of great quality but still very reasonably priced. A drive around the countryside will unearth dozens upon dozens of small independent wineries open for ‘degusastion’.