LanguedocRoussillon

Languedoc-Roussillon was a former administrative region of France in the south of the country along the Mediterranean coast. It consisted of five departments: Aude, Gard, Hérault, Lozère, and Pyrénées-Orientales. Its capital and largest city was Montpellier. In 2016, as part of a territorial reform, it merged with Midi-Pyrénées to form the region of Occitanie.

Geographically, the region stretched from the Gulf of Lion along the Mediterranean to the inland uplands of the Cévennes and the foothills of the Pyrenees. It had a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild winters. The area encompassed coastal towns, wine-growing valleys in Languedoc and Roussillon, and upland areas in Lozère.

The area has ancient roots in the Roman province of Gallia Narbonensis and later played a central role in medieval Cathar history. It is a major wine region, with Languedoc and Roussillon wines accounting for one of the world's largest production areas. Heritage sites include Carcassonne in Aude, the Pont du Gard in Gard, and Roman remains in Nîmes. The Occitan language and traditions continue to influence regional culture.

Economy centers on wine production, tourism, agribusiness, and growing technology activity around Montpellier. The region had about 2.7 million inhabitants in the early 2010s, with Montpellier, Nîmes, Perpignan, Béziers, and Narbonne among its largest cities.

Governance was carried out by a regional council based in Montpellier. With the 2016 territorial reform, Languedoc-Roussillon merged with Midi-Pyrénées to form Occitanie, a wider region whose capital is Toulouse.