Occitans

Occitans are an ethnolinguistic group associated with Occitania, a historical and cultural region of southern Europe that spans parts of modern-day southern France, with smaller communities in adjacent valleys of Italy and in the Aran Valley of Spain. The defining feature of this identity is the Occitan language, traditionally called langue d’oc, which belongs to the Occitano-Romance branch of Romance languages. Occitan comprises several regional dialects, including Provençal, Languedocien, Gascon, Limousin, Auvergnat, and Vivaro-Alpin; there is no single standard form, and usage varies by locality. In France, Occitan is recognized as a regional language and persists in education, media, and culture through associations and local initiatives; however, most speakers are bilingual in French, and intergenerational transmission has declined.

Historically, Occitan-speaking cultures flourished during the medieval troubadour era (12th–13th centuries), influencing poetry, music, and court culture across Europe. Following French centralization, Occitan use diminished in public life, though revival movements in the 19th and 20th centuries — associated with the Félibrige and later organizations such as the Institut d'Estudis Occitans (IEO) — promoted literature, language planning, and education, including immersion schools (Calandretas).

Contemporary Occitans maintain a regional and cultural identity tied to festivals, folk music, and regional literature. The largest concentrations are in southern France, with smaller communities in Italy’s Occitan valleys and the Aran Valley in Spain, where Aranese, a variety of Occitan, enjoys official status alongside Catalan. The language remains endangered, but revival efforts continue.