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Carcassonne Loft - Penthouse Apartment
in the Languedoc, South of France

The Languedoc

The Languedoc-Roussillon is one of the most fascinating areas of Europe, bordering the Mediterranean Sea to theeast and the Pyrenees Mountains to the south.It benefits from a typical Mediterranean climate and has an unusually rich wildlife, a spectacular coast, and surprising history.Things to see include mountains, rivers and lakes, ancient cities, towns, villages, thermal springs, abbeys, and cathedrals, châteaux and castles, notably the famous mountain fortresses popularly known as Cathar Castles.

In recent yearsit has become a popular French holiday destination, with long sunny days, Mediterranean beaches, tourist facilities, thousands of miles of walks, and rides, National Parks and wildlife reserves (such as the Camargue and the Cevennes), thermal springs and spas, grottoes and caves, and vestiges of the Languedoc's long history, including dinosaur bones and eggs, prehistoric human remains, dolmens and megaliths, geology, archaeology and palaeontology, Greek and Roman architecture, and everywhere reminders of the the Cathars, the papal Crusade against them, and the Papal Inquisition that followed the crusade.

Things to do in the Languedoc-Roussillon include a range of holidays, including naturist holidays and activity holidays. Sports include a wide range of land sports, water sports, air sports, mountain sports, winter sports, golf, hunting, shooting, hawking, and fishing. There are also numerous cultural activities, along with French regional food specialties, and Languedoc wines. Local festivals range from bull-running to the Fecos in Limoux and from sea-jousting in the north to celebrating la jour de St-Jean in the south by fire-jumping.

The Languedoc has a rich prehistory and history, including Celts, Hannibal with his elephants, Greeks, Romans, Visigoths, Moors, and Franks. Find out about the Medieval period, before the area was annexed by France, when its language, the Langue d'Oc, was the premier literary language of Europe, and its rulers, the Counts of Toulouse, were the most tolerant and enlightened rulers in the Western World.

Skiing

Ski areas cover the Catalan Pyrenees. There are 12 resorts at an altitude of 1200-2600m offering more than 200 downhill runs and 150 ski lifts. The Pyrenees region offers the 'Neiges Catalanes' ski-pass: a single priced ticket which allows you to ski across 10 resorts.

The following are downhill ski resorts in or near the Languedoc: Les Angles, Porté-Puymorens, Puy Valador, Prat-Peyrot, Font Romeu, Odeillo, Bolqueres, Pyrenees 2000, Ax-Bonascre, Mijanès, Ascou-Pailhères, Les Monts-d'Olmes, Goulier Neige, Le Puigmal 2600,  and Camre d'aze.

• Les Angles.   29 pistes, 19 ski lifts, (+114km cross-country tracks).   For the depth of snow and the number of pistes and ski lifts open.:
• Porté-Puymorens.   17 pistes, 13 skilifts, (+25km cross-country tracks).   For the depth of snow and the number of pistes and ski lifts open.
• Puyvalador.   For the depth of snow and the number of pistes and ski lifts open.
• Prat-Peyrot.   For the depth of snow and the number of pistes and ski lifts open.
• Font Romeu, Odeillo, Bolqueres, Pyrenees 2000.  40 pistes, 33 skilifts, (+80 Km cross-country tracks). For the depth of snow and the number of pistes and ski lifts open.
• Ax-Bonascre.  Near Ax-les-Thermes.  el: 05 61 64 36 36.  www.vallees-ax.com, email: vallees.ax@wanadoo.fr,  Alt. 1400 m - 2400 m.  70 km of piste.  11 red, 2 black pistes.  One of the largest Pyrenean sites.  Three ski-stations.  shops, snowshoe hire, forest skiing.    Other activities such as hang-gliding on skis.
• Mijanès.  Near Axat.  Tel:04 68 20 40 44.  Alt. 1530-2000 m.  9 km of piste, 9 pistes, including 2 red and 1 black.  A family friendly station with a creche.
• Ascou-Pailhères.   Near Axat.  Tel 05 61 64 28 86, 05 61 64 21 23.  Alt. 1500-2000 m.  20 km of piste.  15 pistes including 6 red and 2 black.  Suitable for downhill lovers but also beginners.
• Les Monts-d'Olmes.   Near Lavelanet.  Tel:05 61 01 10 41.  Alt. 1400-2000 m.  18.5 km of piste.  20 pistes including 9 red and 2 black.  Family friendly.
• Goulier Neige.  Near Foix.  05 61 64 88 99.  Alt. 1500-2000 m.  6 km of piste.  Tiny ski station.  6 pistes.  Weekend skiing and horse riding.
• Le Puigmal 2600,   Cerdagne, 19 pistes, 9 skilifts, (+30km cross-country tracks)
• Camre d'Aze.   Eyne, 26 pistes, 17 skilifts (+nature reserve).

Distances from Carcassonne: