My Travels in France, Marcus Travel Journal

Occitanie

Occitanie, or Occitania in english, was formed with the merging of the former Languedoc-Roussillon and Midi-Pyrénées Regions in 2016. The Region is a territory that in the 12th and 13th Centuries was ruled by the Counts of Toulouse. The name refers to the use of the Oiccitan launguage and its dialects. It is the second largest region in France.

Not to be missed in this Region are the towns of Carcassone and Montpellier, Narbonne, Perpignan, Pézenasand the Hérault Valley. A number of our trips have taken us to areas in this Region.

If you only had a few days, an often suggested route is to drive from Monpellier, Sète or Béziers into the Héault Valley. Have lunch in a town such as Ganges. Then travel up the Viz Valley and see the natural mountain amphitheater at Navacelles.

The entirely walled townof Carcassone is a must because of its remarkably well preserved state and the sheer size. Don't rush to get into the town, it is impressive from a distance. Inside, well altough it is impressive, the feel of tourism is very in your face. It is rated as one of the most popular attractions in Occitanie.

The Gouffre de Padirac is an amazing undereground cave complex. We enjoyed it but make sure you wear warm clothing.

I can never see the Pont du Gard enough, this Roman aqueduct is simply impressive.

Carcassone

We have found that Carcassone is so impressive, especially when you see it in the distance as you approach the town.

This is the "Region of the Cathars" and for a period of time, was the scene of horrific battles. The Cathar Sect held the view that good resided only in the spiritual world, and therefore, the material world of man was intrinsically evil. The Cathars rejected the sacraments of Catholicism and raised a clergy that included men and women — known as the Perfects. The Cathars centered in the Languedoc and lived under the protection of the Counts of Toulouse.

Well rejecting the sacraments of the Catholic Church had a price. The movement was condemned by the Pope. After the Papal Legate to the Region was assassinated in 1208, Simon de Montfort, an Anglo-French warrior, lead a crusade that would sack and destroy the Cathars villages. The battles ended in 1229 with the fall of the Count of Toulouse to the French Crown.

We visited Montepllier and Uzès on a couple trips, with the most recent being our 2002 visit where we rented a house not far from Narbonne and used that as our base to tour the area. While staying in Avignon in 2022 and 2023, the Occitanie Region starts right across the river so there were easy drives to vist many of the eastern sights of the Region.

photo: mytravellinglens.com

Carcassone

Albi

Located on the River Tarn, Albi has an impressive cathedral, that has been added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sights. When we visited Albi a very strong storm moved across the area. There was a down pour of rain, the river turned brown and rose in height, and at one point we has to stay in the Cathedral, with many others, as the storm passed. What a place to stay and ride out a thunderstorm.

The Sainte Cécile Cathedral is considered a masterpiece in terms of Gothic style. It dates from the 13th to 15th Centuries. The interior is all painted in a rich blue and gold, so although massive in size, there is a real warmth to the appearance of the interiior of the cathedral.

The church retains it rood screen, integrate stone work that divides the church into the private area and that of the common masses. It has over 200 statutes. The photos are 20 year old slides, but I include them to conveythe size and detail of the cathedral.

Albi Catheddral, Occitanie, France, My Travels in France, Marcus Travel Journal

Main door, Albi Cathedral

Impressive ceiling, Albi Cathedral

Montauban

The cathedral (14th C) was demolished in 1560 when the bishops and masitrates embraced Protestantism, expelling the monks and demolilshed the catherdral.

During World War II, the famous painting, the Mona Lisa, was briefly hidden in a secret vault in one of the wine cellars of this town.

The fortifications are now boulevards. The old bridge (Pont Vieux) dates from the early 14th C and took 30 years to build. The bridge used to have fortified towers. It is noted as most medieval bridges were of a humpback design, and this one is flat.

Montauban was one of the first bastides in the region. Bastides are fortified new towns built in the Lanquedoc and Aquitaine Regions during medieval times as part of the colonization of the wilderness. At the time, the southwest of France was partly owned by France and partly by the kings of England. England? At the time, the kings of England spoke French, were Angevins, one of the four great French dynasties. Although they moved families and residence from Angers in the Loire Valley to England they retained large areas of land in France, mainly in the Aquitaine. There were between 500 -700 bastides built in France.

Creation of the bastides was another means of landowners collecting revenue from taxes. When families moved to the bastides, they were no longer a vassal of the local lord, but a freeman, who paid taxes on their trade. Landlords could be a group of local lords or the abbot of the local monastery.

The main square of a bastide town is typically a square, with arcades along the sides. This was the market place. Trade paid the taxes, so this was the true center of activity.

A charter outlined life in a bastide. The sovereign held feudal rights. The local lord the duties of enforcer of local justice and the liaison between the sovereign and the residents.. New inhabitants were required to build a house within a set time, typically one year. Residents received a house lot, a kitchen garden lot (casale) and lot of land for cultivating crops (arpent).

Bastides

Montauban was one of the first bastides in the region. Bastides are fortified new towns built in the Lanquedoc and Aquitaine Regions during medieval times as part of the colonization of the wilderness. At the time, the southwest of France was partly owned by France and partly by the kings of England. England? At the time, the kings of England spoke French, were Angevins, one of the four great French dynasties. Although they moved families and residence from Angers in the Loire Valley to England they retained large areas of land in France, mainly in the Aquitaine. There were between 500 -700 bastides built in France.

Creation of the bastides was another means of landowners collecting revenue from taxes. When families moved to the bastides, they were no longer a vassal of the local lord, but a freeman, who paid taxes on their trade. Landlords could be a group of local lords or the abbot of the local monastery.

The main square of a bastide town is typically a square, with arcades along the sides. This was the market place. Trade paid the taxes, so this was the true center of activity.

A charter outlined life in a bastide. The sovereign held feudal rights. The local lord the duties of enforcer of local justice and the liaison between the sovereign and the residents.. New inhabitants were required to build a house within a set time, typically one year. Residents received a house lot, a kitchen garden lot (casale) and lot of land for cultivating crops (arpent).

Tarn Gorges

A great way to spend a day. Drive the Tarn Gorges. Take the D907 for the 80 km drive between Florac and Millau. If you can, staying at the scenic Chateau de Caze won't be cheap, but you are staying in a 500 year old chateau right along the river.

We rented canoes and spend the day going along the river. There are numerous companies all along the way do you do not have to worry about only finding one.

photo: mytravellinglens.com

» More Pont du Gard photos

Pont du Gard

The Roman aqueduct bridge, Pont du Gard, 1AD moved water over 50 km to the Roman colony of Nemausus, now the city of (Nîmes). The majority of the acquaduct system, about 35 of the 50 km is actually build undergrouns. But it rises to great height to cross the Gardon River near the town of Vers-Pont-du-Gard in southern France.

Its the tallest of all Roman aqueduct bridges, as well as one of the best preserved. Added to the UNESCO's list of World Heritage sites in 1985.

Take the D981, there are signs for the car lot. Park the car and walk back in time as you approach the Pont. While there is no charge to see the bridge, there is a hefy parking fee. Once in the parking lot, unless you want to stop and see the museum (ticket required) just walk on down the path to the river and the bridge. The river area is a beautiful park and open for swimming.

photo: mytravellinglens.com

Conques

Fit in some time to visit Conques. The Roman abbey-church has incredible stained-glass windows, the tympanum of the Last Judgment, the cloister's vestiges with its great serpentine basin. The village appears to be one of those places frozen in time.

The Abbey-Church Saint Foy is considered to be a masterpiece of roman art.

Just being in the village is a treat. It is in gorge and made up of narrow lanes and timber-frame houses. The rue Charlemagne is the main street in town on which pilgrims made their way to abbey.

Were visited Conques in May, but in July and August there are a series of concerts that take place in the abbey.