Languedoc-Roussillon

Region of southern France, comprising the départements of Aude, Gard, Hérault, Lozère, and Pyrénées-Orientales; area 27,376 sq km/10,570 sq mi; population (1999 est) 2,295,600. It was created in the 1980s as part of regionalization laws implemented by the French government, and corresponds approximately with what was historic Lower Languedoc. The administrative centre is Montpellier. Products include fruit, vegetables, and wine.

In the Middle Ages dialects were spoken in the Languedoc or Occitanie area in which the word ‘yes’ was oc (as opposed to oui in northern France) – hence langue d'oc, also known as Provençal. Resembling the Spanish Catalan dialect, the forms of modern Occitan are closer to Latin than northern French. This language of the troubadours was revived by Frédéric Mistral among others, and is spoken today in the regions of Languedoc-Roussillon and Provence-Côte d'Azur.