The 10 most visited sites in Languedoc Roussillon

Montpellier-based newspaper, Midi-Libre, publishes its Top Ten tourism sites

France has a definite view of the tourist season - it ends at midnight on 31st August. Summer's over, that's your lot.

Real visitors keep on coming as long as the sunshine invites them. As I write this in October, temperatures are still pushing the upper twenties.

None of this prevents the powers that be from discussing how the season went, even though it's not finished. So, each year in September, the main newspaper in Languedoc Roussillon, "Midi-Libre" publishes the league table of the Top Ten most visited sites.

I'd expect the Pont du Gard and Carcassonne to be up there at the front pretty much every time. If it isn't the Romans, it's the Cathars. Premier League clubs, both of them.

There's always a surprise, though. This year creeping up the table is Espace Liberté, the new leisure centre in Narbonne.

1. Pont du Gard

Around the 1st Century AD, the Roman town of Nemausus, now called Nîmes, had a water supply problem. This expanding consumer society needed more and more water to supply its fountains, public baths and even private houses.

There were ample springs just twenty kilometres to the north on the slopes of Mont Bouquet. What have the Romans ever done for us? Well, they built an aqueduct.

Pont du Gard 1 Photo: The Pont du Gard, a triumph of 1st Century engineering.

Its serpentine route would be nearly fifty kilometres, followed the jagged terrain and dropping less than thirteen metres over its entire length. There was a snag, though - crossing the valley of the river Gardon.

The solution was the Pont du Gard, a three-level bridge 49 metres high and 360 metres long. Built from over 50,000 tons of stone, it would carry 200 millions litres of water per day to the citizens of Nîmes.

The aqueduct was in use until at least the 6th Century. The hard water contained large quantities of lime which continually silted up the duct. Keeping it clear needed a small army of maintenance workers, who would eventually prove too expensive.

However, the bridge is still there and now a UNESCO World Heritage site. It’s open all round and offers everything for the family - parking for 1,500 cars, exhibitions, restaurants educational centre and visits with or without a guide.

As well as the monument, visitors can also enjoy the pleasures of the riverside and the surrounding “garrigue” : picnics, canoeing, swimming and walking.

2. Cité de Carcassonne

The citadel at Carcassonne, known as “la Cité” is another UNESCO site and a spectacular one at that. It’s pure Hollywood, how a medieval castle is supposed to look, so stars regularly in films. It doubled for Nottingham in Kevin Costner’s “Robin Hood - Prince of Thieves”.

Cite de Carcassonne Citadel Photo: The medieval Cité de Carcassonne - all castles should look like this

The two castles don’t resemble each other in any way - Nottingham’s Norman and Carcassonne is Cathar but, hey, this is Hollywood.

There’s been a military settlement here from around 2,500 years ago when wandering Celts built their first oppidum, a fortified settlement. It’s a logical choice as built high on a bluff overlooking a bend in the river Aude, any castle here dominates and controls the local countryside.

The current Cité dates from the 12th Century, has 52 towers along 3 kilometres of fortifications and took 58 years to restore. The town within the walls has Disneyland narrow streets complete with shops and restaurants. In summer this is the venue for the Carcassonne festival which attracts artists from amongst the World’s best.

Open every day of the year and simply not to be missed.

3. Réserve Africaine, Sigean

This 300 hectare reserve between Narbonne and Perpignan is home to over 900 mammals, 600 reptiles and amphibians and 2,000 or so birds. There’s over 7.5 km of drive-through safari park with the obligatory lions, giraffes and a white rhinoceros or two.

1 Reserve africaine Sigean girafes.peralta.RAS Photo: at the Réserve Africaine, a giraffe family takes the air whilst junior has a snack

As the name suggests, Sigéan is dedicated to African species but the staff here take part in captive breeding programmes with other zoos across Europe so there’s always a sprinkling of species from other parts of the World. There are more Tibetan Bears here than back home on the Tibetan plateau.

Wild species are attracted to this wild protected area. It’s coastal lagoons are host to many larger, easy to see species such as flamingos, spoonbills and pelicans. It’s also on a migration route since many birds avoid flying over the Pyrenees on their way south by following the coastline.

As with any drive through park, the signs tell you to keep the windows closed. It’s a good idea to close the sunroof too given that ostriches and giraffes are taller than the average 4 x 4. They can't help being curious about man-cubs.

Children love this place because apart from all the big exciting animals, there are also plenty of smaller critters which can be seen close up. There’s a special kids’ area where they can mingle with some of the less intimidating furry friends. Goats actually like being cuddled.

This is a day out which works whatever the weather and it’s guaranteed to amuse youngsters of any age.

4. Aquarium Mare Nostrum, Montpellier

Montpellier’s new aquarium has 24 pools with 3,500 animals from almost 300 species. The entire show is designed to immerse visitors in an aquatic universe from the open oceans to tropical lagoons.

Aquarium Mare Nostrum Montpellier Bull Shark Photo: Bull Sharks at the Ocean Theatre pool, Mare Nostrum

The largest pool, Ocean Theatre, offers a panoramic view in 8.5 metre deep pool. It’s home to several species of shark, including Bull Sharks which grow up to 3.5 metres. Other areas feature a coral reef, tropical forest , an ice cave and a colony of Cape Penguins.

Although native to South Africa, this little lot were not dragged here in chains from the freedom of the south seas. They were bred in captivity.

Amongst the computer games for grown-up kids, there’s a hurricane simulator, a ship’s bridge and an undersea exploration environment.

Aquarium Mare Nostrum is open every day from 10:00 to 19:00. On public holidays and in July/August, hours extend to 22:00. On the same site, Odysseum, there’s a large shopping complex, a planetarium and an ice-skating rink.

5. La Bambouserie, Anduze

Renowned French botanist, Eugène Mazel, created this garden in 1856. He collected plants from China, Japan, the North America and the Himalayan region. Today it contains one of the largest collections of exotic plants in Europe including over 200 varieties of bamboo.

La Bambouserie Pavillon_du_phenix_rouge Photo: The Phoenix pavillion at La Bambouserie

So classic is this botanic garden that it’s been made a historic monument. Visitors treasure its piece and tranquility. Artists come here for inspiration or to work on projects with a botanic or exotic theme.

Many French residents buy plants or seek new ideas here in the onsite bookstore.

Open seven days a week between March and mid-November, La Bambouserie is at Anduze, between Nîmes and Alès. For Pure France property owners seeking gardening ideas, the Bambouserie website (link given below), is well-designed and informative.

6. Ensemble Monumental, Narbonne

At the heart of Narbonne’s historic centre, the 13th and 14th century monuments include the Bishop's Palace which contains the art and archaeological museums, together with St Just’s Cathedral. It all overlooks the famous Via Domitia built by the Romans.

The Gilles Aycelin donjon, the Palace’s fortress tower, built on Gallo-Roman ramparts, houses three large rooms and a main floor that welcomed several kings of France.

When you’ve climbed the 162 steps, you will be rewarded with superb views of Narbonne which extend to the Pyrenees in good weather.

Why not finish the visit with a trip on the Canal de la Robine, either by barge or by a self-drive small boat ?

7. Seaquarium, Grau de Roi

Midway between Montpellier and the Camargue, the Seaquarium is home to over 200 species of marine animals with special areas dedicated to the Mediterranean and the tropics.

There are featured collections for sea lions and sea turtles. In the adjoining Requinarium there are around 25 species of sharks and rays.

8. Arènes de Nîmes

Dating from Roman times the Arènes are the venues for ferias or bullfights, which take place in at Pentecost in June and to celebrate the vendage in September.

During the rest of the year other outdoor events are held there, sometimes even including gladiatorial displays. It is apparently illegal for the gladiators to kill each other, so Russell Crowe is unlikely to reprise his role as Maximus anytime soon.

9. Espace Liberté, Narbonne

At the south end of Narbonne on Avenue d’Espagne, this new leisure centre houses multiple swimming pools including one Olympic-sized, an ice rink and a bowling alley.

10. Musée de Bonbon - Haribo, Uzès.

Haribo is a French institution, a sweet and candy manufacturer known to generations of children aged from 4 to 80. They have a museum at Uzès, midway between Nîmes and Alès.

Apart from a museum dedicated to the history of sweet making, real addicts can see the products being made. There are games for younger members of the candy-owning fraternity and, of course, a sweetshop. Go for it!

The 10 most visited sites in Languedoc Roussillon

Montpellier-based newspaper, Midi-Libre, publishes its Top Ten tourism sites

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