Occitania: A journey to the heart of cultural diversity.

It's hard to speak of a single cultural unit when describing the Occitanie region. This vast territory includes five departments: Aude, Gard, Hérault, Pyrénées-Orientales and Lozère. That's more than any other region in France. This particularity is a strength, because it shows different faces. Occitanie has as much cultural identity as it has departments. The region is rich in contrasts. This diversity makes the region one of France's favourite holiday destinations. Sea, mountains, plains, lakes... the landscapes are varied and will appeal to hikers at heart as well as those who just want to laze around. Occitanie is a family-friendly region, with plenty of activities to do in the great outdoors.

With four departments bordering the Mediterranean, it would be difficult not to mention the importance of the Mediterranean in the landscapes of the Occitan region. But that would mean neglecting Lozère, whose only view is of the land - and what a land it is! Lozère boasts a host of earthly wonders, including Aven Armen, the Gorges du Tarn and the Parc National des Cévennes, where legends speak of wolves and the Beast of Gevaudan. Further south, the Hérault is a department bathed in sunshine and water, home to Montpellier and the Venice of Languedoc, Sète. Straddling Provence is the Gard, with its famous bridge, the town of Nîmes and its arena, whose borders give it the character of the Rhône valley, the Mediterranean and the Cévennes.

As one of France's most visited regions, Occitanie owes its reputation to the strong character of its inhabitants, who are proud of the local traditions they uphold. Camargue races, jousting, the Occitan or Catalan language - these traditions are not just put forward to attract tourists and give them a taste of the authentic, they are truly inscribed in the body and soul of the inhabitants. There is no common identity, but rather a multiplicity of characters, landscapes, traditions and cultures, and this is perhaps what unites the region.

In addition to its strong identity and colourful culture, the diversity of its landscapes is an incredible asset. And let's not forget to mention the region's tumultuous history, which has left many traces on both sides of the border. A visit to the Aude, culturally known as "Cathar country", is a must. The remains of the castles are numerous and are just waiting to be visited. Top of the list is Carcassonne, an excellent introduction to this part of history, before heading off into the Cathar lands. Children will feel like real knights. Those with a sweet tooth will be delighted to discover Castelnaudary, the capital of cassoulet.