Languedoc-Roussillon

- January 1, 2007 est. Montpellier ( Occitan Montpelhièr) is a City in the south of France. In France, the president of the regional council (French Président du conseil régional) is the elected official who heads the Conseil régional Georges Frêche (born July 9, 1938) is a French Politician. As of 2006 he serves as President of the Languedoc-Roussillon region The Socialist Party ( Parti Socialiste, PS is the largest left-wing political party in France. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " In the context of the political and geographic organization of France and many of its former colonies a department (département depaʁtǝmɑ̃ is an Administrative division Aude ( Occitan: Aude) is a department in south-central France named after the Aude River. Gard ( Occitan: Gard) is a département located in southern France in the Languedoc-Roussillon region Hérault ( Occitan: Erau) is a department in the southwest of France named after the Hérault river. Lozère (in Occitan Losera) is a department in southeast France near the Massif Central. Pyrénées-Orientales (Eastern Pyrenees Pirineus Orientals Pirenèus Orientals is a department of southern France adjacent to the northern Spanish frontier The 100 French departments are divided into 342 arrondissements, which may be translated into English as districts. The cantons of France are territorial subdivisions of the French Republic's 341 arrondissements and 100 departments. The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. The following are ranked lists of French regions. Population figures are from the 1999 census To help compare Orders of magnitude of different geographical regions Areas between 10000 km² and 100000 km² are listed here The following are ranked lists of French regions. Population figures are from the 1999 census New Year See also New Year The Ancient Romans began their consular year on January 1st since 153 BC Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century.

2,548,000

- March 8, 1999 census

2,295,648

- Density (2007)

93/km²

¹ French Land Register data, which exclude lakes, ponds, and glaciers larger than 1 km² (0. Events 1618 - Johannes Kepler discovers the third law of planetary motion. Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) The following are ranked lists of French regions. Population figures are from the 1999 census 386 sq. mi. or 247 acres) as well as the estuaries of rivers

Languedoc-Roussillon (Occitan: Lengadòc-Rosselhon; Catalan: Llenguadoc-Rosselló) is one of the 26 regions of France. An estuary is a semi-enclosed Coastal body of Water with one or more Rivers or Streams flowing into it and with a free connection to the open Occitan ( IPA BrE: /ˈɒksɪtn/ AmE: /ˈɑksəˌtɑn/ known also as Lenga d'òc or Langue d'oc (native name occitan Catalan ˈkætəˌlæn ( català kətəˈla or) is a Romance language, the national and official language of Andorra, and a co-official France is divided into 26 regions or régions (in French of which 21 are in continental Metropolitan France, one is the island of Corsica, This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. It comprises five departments, and borders the other French regions of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Rhône-Alpes, Auvergne, Midi-Pyrénées on the one side, and Spain, Andorra and the Mediterranean sea on the other side. In the context of the political and geographic organization of France and many of its former colonies a department (département depaʁtǝmɑ̃ is an Administrative division Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (PACA ( Provençal Occitan: Provença-Aups-Còsta d'Azur in classical norm or Prouvènço-Aup-Costo d'Azur in Mistralian Rhône-Alpes ( Franco-Provençal: Rôno-Arpes; Occitan: Ròse Aups) is one of the 26 regions of France, located on the Auvergne ( Occitan: Auvèrnhe / Auvèrnha) is one of the 26 administrative regions of France. Midi-Pyrénées ( Occitan: Miègjorn-Pirenèus or Mieidia-Pirenèus) is the largest region of Metropolitan France by area larger Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Andorra, officially the Principality of Andorra ( Catalan: Principat d'Andorra) is a small Landlocked country in western

1 Geography
2 Politics
3 Wine
4 Major communities
5 See also
6 External links
7 References

Geography

The region is made up of the following historical provinces:

68. The Kingdom of France was organised into Provinces until March 4, 1790, when the establishment of the département 7% of Languedoc-Roussillon is the province of Languedoc: departments of Hérault, Gard, Aude, extreme south and extreme east of Lozère, and extreme north of Pyrénées-Orientales. Languedoc ( in French Lengadòc in Occitan) is a former Province of France, now continued in the modern-day ''régions'' of Languedoc-Roussillon Hérault ( Occitan: Erau) is a department in the southwest of France named after the Hérault river. Gard ( Occitan: Gard) is a département located in southern France in the Languedoc-Roussillon region Aude ( Occitan: Aude) is a department in south-central France named after the Aude River. Lozère (in Occitan Losera) is a department in southeast France near the Massif Central. Pyrénées-Orientales (Eastern Pyrenees Pirineus Orientals Pirenèus Orientals is a department of southern France adjacent to the northern Spanish frontier The former province of Languedoc also extends over the Midi-Pyrénées region, including the old capital of Languedoc Toulouse. Midi-Pyrénées ( Occitan: Miègjorn-Pirenèus or Mieidia-Pirenèus) is the largest region of Metropolitan France by area larger Toulouse ( pronounced in standard French, and in the local accent ( Occitan: Tolosa, pronounced) is a city in southwest

17. 9% of Languedoc-Roussillon is the province of Gévaudan: Lozère department. Gévaudan is an historical area of France, nowadays situated in Lozère département. A small part of Gévaudan is also inside the Auvergne region. Auvergne ( Occitan: Auvèrnhe / Auvèrnha) is one of the 26 administrative regions of France. Gévaudan is often considered to be a sub-province inside the province of Languedoc, in which case Languedoc accounts for 86. 6% of Languedoc-Roussillon.

13. 4% of Languedoc-Roussillon, located in the southernmost part of the region, is a collection of five historical Catalan pays: Roussillon, Vallespir, Conflent, Capcir, and Cerdagne, all of which are in turn included -east to west- in the Pyrénées-Orientales département. Catalonia (Cataluña Catalunya Aranese: Catalonha) is an Autonomous Community in the northeast part of Spain. In France, a pays is an area whose inhabitants share common geographical economic cultural or social interests who have a right to enter into communal planning The Comarca of Roussillon ( Catalan: Rosselló) is a historical Catalan comarca of Northern Catalonia, now part of the French Vallespir is a historical Catalan comarca of Northern Catalonia, part of the French Département of Pyrénées-Orientales. Conflent is a historical Catalan comarca of Northern Catalonia, now part of the French Département of Pyrénées-Orientales Capcir is an historical Catalan comarca of Northern Catalonia, now part of the French Département of Pyrénées-Orientales. French Cerdagne is the northern half of Cerdanya, which came under French control as a result of the Treaty of the Pyrenees in 1659, while the southern Pyrénées-Orientales (Eastern Pyrenees Pirineus Orientals Pirenèus Orientals is a department of southern France adjacent to the northern Spanish frontier These pays were part of the Ancient Regime province of Roussillon, owning its name to the largest and most populous of the five pays, Roussillon. Ancien Régime ( pronounced: /ɑ̃sjɛ̃ ʁeʒim/ refers primarily to the aristocratic social and political system established in Roussillon ( French: Roussillon, ʀusiˈjɔ̃ Catalan: Rosselló, pronounced; Spanish: Rosellón, pronounced) is "Province of Roussillon and adjacent lands of Cerdagne" was indeed the name that was officially used after the area became French in 1659, based on the historical division of the five pays between the county of Roussillon (Roussillon and Vallespir) and the county of Cerdagne (Cerdagne, Capcir, and Conflent). The County of Roussillon or Rosselló was one of the Catalan counties in the Marca Hispanica during the Middle Ages. Cerdanya (Ceritania Cerdagne Cerdaña is a small region of the eastern Pyrenees divided between France and Spain and which is historically one of the

Politics

At the regional elections in March 2004, the socialist mayor of Montpellier Georges Frêche, a maverick in French politics, conquered the region, defeating its center-right president. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " The Socialist Party ( Parti Socialiste, PS is the largest left-wing political party in France. Montpellier ( Occitan Montpelhièr) is a City in the south of France. Georges Frêche (born July 9, 1938) is a French Politician. As of 2006 he serves as President of the Languedoc-Roussillon region Since then, Georges Frêche has embarked on a complete overhaul of the region and its institutions. The flag of the region, which displayed the cross of Languedoc as well as the Flag of Roussillon (the "Senyera"), was changed for a new nondescript flag with no reference to the old provinces, except in terms of the colors (red and yellow), which are the colors of both Languedoc and all the territories from the former Crown of Aragon. Languedoc ( in French Lengadòc in Occitan) is a former Province of France, now continued in the modern-day ''régions'' of Languedoc-Roussillon The Senyera (roughly meaning "signal flag" in Catalan) is a Vexillological symbol based on the Coat of arms of the Crown of Aragon The Crown of Aragon was a permanent union of multiple titles and states in the hands of the King of Aragon.

In the same spirit, Georges Frêche also wanted to change the name of the region, wishing to erase its duality (Languedoc vs. Roussillon) and strengthen its unity. Thus, he wanted to rename the region "Septimanie" (Septimania). Septimania was the western region of the Roman province of Gallia Narbonensis that passed under the control of the Visigoths in 462 when Septimania was ceded to Septimania was the name created by the Romans at the end of the Roman Empire for the coastal area corresponding quite well to present day Languedoc-Roussillon (including Roussillon, but not including Gévaudan), and used in the early Middle Ages for the area. The Roman Empire was the post-Republican phase of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial This name, however, has not been in use since the 9th century, and it sounded quite odd to French people. The 9th century is the period from 801 to 900 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Christian / Common Era. A strong opposition of the population led to Georges Frêche giving up on his idea. He declared that he still believed in it but could not go ahead without a mandate.

Regional Council in Montpellier, designed by Spanish architect Ricardo Bofill

Actually, Catalan nationalism in Roussillon would like the Pyrénées-Orientales department to secede from Languedoc-Roussillon and become a region in its own right, which they wish to name "Catalunya Nord" (i. Montpellier ( Occitan Montpelhièr) is a City in the south of France. Ricardo Bofill (born December 5, 1939) is a Spanish Architect born in Catalonia of Jewish descent Catalan Nationalism, or Catalanism (from Catalanisme in Catalan) is a political movement advocating for either further political Roussillon ( French: Roussillon, ʀusiˈjɔ̃ Catalan: Rosselló, pronounced; Spanish: Rosellón, pronounced) is Pyrénées-Orientales (Eastern Pyrenees Pirineus Orientals Pirenèus Orientals is a department of southern France adjacent to the northern Spanish frontier e. Northern Catalonia), but the public is not demanding it and the French government opposes it anyway. The government of France is a Semi-presidential system determined by the French Constitution of the fifth Republic, in which the nation declares

On the other hand, in the current debate over the reform of French political divisions, which focuses on the fact that there exist too many small regions in France, there are some who would like to merge the Languedoc-Roussillon and Midi-Pyrénées regions, thus reunifying the old province of Languedoc, and creating a large region able to compete at the European level. Midi-Pyrénées ( Occitan: Miègjorn-Pirenèus or Mieidia-Pirenèus) is the largest region of Metropolitan France by area larger Languedoc ( in French Lengadòc in Occitan) is a former Province of France, now continued in the modern-day ''régions'' of Languedoc-Roussillon It seems probable that Georges Frêche, with his idea of a "Septimanie" region, would not support such plans, although political leaders in Béziers, Narbonne, and especially Nîmes, would probably support such a merger, hostile as they are to Montpellier, which was chosen as the capital of Languedoc-Roussillon instead of their own city, and which they accuse of hegemony. Béziers ( Besièrs in Occitan, and Besiers in Catalan) is a town in Languedoc, in the southwest of France. Narbonne ( Narbona in Catalan and in Occitan, the Roman Narbo) is a commune in southwestern France in the Nîmes ( Provençal Occitan: Nimes in both classical and Mistralian norms is a city in southern France. Montpellier ( Occitan Montpelhièr) is a City in the south of France. Hegemony (hɨˈdʒɛməni (Amer /hɨˈɡɛməni/ (Brit (ἡγεμονία hēgemonía) is a concept that has been used to describe and explain the dominance of one social

Wine

Former flag of Languedoc-Roussillon.

The Languedoc-Roussillon region is dominated by 740,300 acres of vineyards, three times the combined area of the vineyards in Bordeaux. A vineyard is a Plantation of Grape -bearing Vines grown mainly for Winemaking, but also Raisins Table grapes and non-alcoholic ( Gascon: Bordèu) is a port city in southwest France, with one million inhabitants in its metropolitan area at a 2008 estimate The region has been an important winemaking centre for centuries. Grapevines are said to have existed in the South of France since the Pliocene period - before the existence of Man. The first vineyards of Gaul developed around two towns: Béziers and Narbonne. Béziers ( Besièrs in Occitan, and Besiers in Catalan) is a town in Languedoc, in the southwest of France. Narbonne ( Narbona in Catalan and in Occitan, the Roman Narbo) is a commune in southwestern France in the The Mediterranean climate and plentiful land with soil ranging from rocky sand to thick clay was very suitable for the production of wine, and it is estimated that one in ten bottles of the world's wine was produced in this region during the 20th century (Robinson 1999:395). A Mediterranean climate is one that resembles the Climate of the lands in the Mediterranean Basin, which includes over half of the area with this climate type world-wide Wine is an Alcoholic beverage made from the fermentation of Grape juice The twentieth century of the Common Era began on Despite this enormous quantity, the area's significance was often overlooked by scholarly publications and commercial journals, largely due to the fact that very little of the wine being produced was classified under an appellation contrôlée until the 1980s (Joseph 2005:190). Appellation d’origine contrôlée ( AOC) which translates as "controlled term of origin" is the French certification granted to certain French

Several entrepreneurs like Robert Skalli and James Herrick drastically changed the face of the region, planting more commercially viable grape varieties and pushing for new AOC classifications. This is a list of varieties of cultivated Grapes whether used for Wine, or eating as a Table grape, fresh or dried ( Raisin, currant, sultana While the AOC system has origins in the 15th Century, the Languedoc-Roussillon has some appellations like the Cabardes which have only existed by law since 1999 (Joseph 2005:190). Cabardès is an AOC named after the Lords of Cabaret who defended the Châteaux de Lastours against Simon de Montfort in 1209

Major communities

External links

Languedoc-Rousillon Tourist Board Official Tourism Committee Website for the Region (in English)
(French) Regional Council of Languedoc-Roussillon
Regordane Info - The independent portal for The Regordane Way or St Gilles TrailThe Regordane Trail runs north-south through Languedoc-Roussillon. Alès is a commune in southern France, in the Languedoc-Roussillon region. Béziers ( Besièrs in Occitan, and Besiers in Catalan) is a town in Languedoc, in the southwest of France. Carcassonne (Carcassona is a fortified French town in the Aude département, of which it is the Prefecture, Montpellier ( Occitan Montpelhièr) is a City in the south of France. Narbonne ( Narbona in Catalan and in Occitan, the Roman Narbo) is a commune in southwestern France in the Nîmes ( Provençal Occitan: Nimes in both classical and Mistralian norms is a city in southern France. Perpignan ( French: Perpignan, pɛʀpiɲɑ̃ Catalan Perpinyà,) is a commune and the Préfecture (administrative Sète ( Seta in Occitan) is a commune in the Hérault department in Languedoc-Roussillon in southern France Languedoc wine, including the Vin de pays labeled Vin de Pays d'Oc, is produced in southern France. The Appellation d'origine contrôlée of Languedoc-Roussillon include Eastern Languedoc Clairette de Bellegarde (in English and French)

References

Joseph, Robert (2005). French Wine Revised and Updated. Dorling Kindersley, pp. Dorling Kindersley is a leading publisher of illustrated reference books 190-201. ISBN 0-7566-1520-8.

Official Béziers Tourist Office Website

Dictionary