Okzitanien

Occitania is a historical region in southern France, and a visit here is as much about language and culture as it is about landscape. Its name comes from Occitan, the language traditionally spoken across the south, which still lives on in place names, local speech and cultural life. Occitania takes in areas such as Provence and Languedoc, along with parts of the Pyrenees, so the region shifts noticeably from one district to the next.

What a visit offers

• Language and culture: Occitan is the thread that ties the region together, and you will meet it on signs, in local names and in the traditions of the area.
• Varied landscapes: The region moves from Mediterranean coast and inland countryside up into mountain terrain in the Pyrenees.
• Regional character: Provence and Languedoc each have their own feel, so it is worth choosing where to base yourself according to what you want to see.

Planning your trip

Because Occitania spans several distinct areas, it suits travellers who like to move between places rather than stay in one. Allow time to travel between districts, as the region is large and the mountains and countryside can make journeys take longer than the distances suggest. The Pyrenees make a natural contrast to the south's coastal and inland areas, and visitors interested in regional identity will find the Occitan heritage a rewarding focus throughout.

Occitania is best approached with curiosity about how a historic region keeps its own language and identity alive within France. Go to see the variety of its landscapes and to understand the cultural character that sets it apart.