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Languedoc

Former province of southern France, bounded by the River Rhône, the Mediterranean Sea, and the regions of Guienne and Gascony. In 1791 Languedoc was replaced by the eight départements of Haute-Loire, Lozère, Ardèche, Aude, Tarn, Hérault, Gard, and Haute-Garonne. Chief cities include Montpellier, Narbonne, Béziers, and Nimes; wine is the chief product. Historic Languedoc's eastern part was united with the former province of Roussillon to form the modern region of Languedoc-Roussillon.

History

Historic Languedoc corresponds roughly to the Roman Gallic province of Narbonensis. Languedoc became united under one authority around the beginning of the 13th century; its capital was Toulouse. In the 10th-12th centuries it was important as a cultural and religious centre; here troubadour literature and Romanesque architecture flourished, while the religious sects of the Cathars or Albigenses (named after the town of Albi) had wide popular support. In the 16th century Languedoc was strongly Protestant and was home to the Camisards, who eventually rebelled against persecution by Louis XIV in 1702. The historic town of Carcassonne is in this former province.

Languedoc took its name from the Romance Provençal language widely spoken in southern France in the Middle Ages and known as langue d'oc (oc is Provençal for ‘yes’). The French spoken north of the Loire, with which it was in competition, was known as langue d'oïl (oïl also meaning ‘yes’).

Bourdaloue, Louis Gard (département) Hérault (département) Languedoc-Roussillon Le Roy Ladurie, Emmanuel Bernard

Lozère Montpellier Pyrénées Orientales rigaudon