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Economy :
There is no major industrial activity in the whole of Languedoc. The historic activities of the area were fishing, salt production, cultivation of fruit, wine and olive oil with some sheep and goat rearing in the hills. Silk and textile production was an important industry until the 1950's. The area north of Ales was an important mining and steel making area until the 1980's. Today the surviving industries have been supplemented by tourism. There has also been a huge growth in government services, research centres, universities etc.
Community :
The two cities of Montpellier and Nimes provide excellent shopping, educational and cultural facilities.
Small towns including Ales, Anduze, Calvisson, Castries, Caveirac, La Grande Combe, Lunel, Quissac, St Hippolyte du Fort, St Jean du Gard, Sauve, Sommieres, Sussargues, and Uzes amongst others provide varying levels of services, including doctors, schools, restaurants and a range of shops.
Smaller villages may have a boulangerie or village shop, but the majority do not. Public transport is often limited to buses corresponding to school hours (and holidays).
Property prices :
This area has lower prices than Paris and Provence, but they are more expensive than many more rural areas further north.
Prices are higher towards the coast and the commuter areas of Montpellier and Nimes. Values drop to the North, and remote parts of the Cevennes have the lowest prices in the region.
Geography :
To the south, the land is flat, and agriculture is based on vine, market gardening and fruit.
Further north are rolling hills between river valleys planted with vine and olives. Most of the villages are here.
Further north still, the Cevennes mountains are wild with little agriculture, and some small villages in the valleys.
Weather :
The area has 300+ days of sunshine each year. Max temperatures above 35C are common in summer. There are occasional winter nights below freezing. A warm winter spell can provide afternoon temperatures of 20C. Snow is rare (every few years) and normally melts within 48 hrs.
Annual rainfall is slightly more than London, but there are few wet days. It normally falls during short, but torrential storms (often overnight) in the autumn. Some river valleys are prone to flooding at that time.
The higher parts of the Cevennes have higher rainfall (snow in season) and lower temperatures.
The Mistral is a cold northerly wind that is worst in the Rhone valley. It blows for a few days at a time several times each year.
Communications :
There are a wide choice of flights by Ryanair and Easyjet to Girona (Spain, but 2 hrs away), Perpignan (1.5hrs), Carcassonne (1.5 hrs), Beziers (1hr), Montpellier (40 mins), Nimes (40 mins) and Marseille 1.25 hrs). Intercontinental flights link to Montpellier and Marseille with BA (Gatwick) and Air France (Paris).
The main A9 autoroute (15 mins from Sommieres) links to the southern autoroute network serving Lyon, Paris, Geneva, Cote d'Azur, Spain, Clermont Ferrand and Bordeaux.
Nimes (30 mins from Sommieres) has TGV links to Paris. The fastest trains take just under 3 hrs. |
