Editing Languedoc-Roussillon

{{See also|Languedoc-Roussillon wine}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!-- See Template:Infobox settlement for additional fields and descriptions -->
| official_name          = Languedoc-Roussillon
| native_name            = {{native name|oc|Lengadòc-Rosselhon}}
| native_name_lang       = 
| settlement_type        = [[Regions of France|Region of France]]
| image_skyline          = 
| image_caption          = 
| image_flag             = Flag of Languedoc-Roussillon.svg
| flag_size              = 120px
| image_shield           = Arms of the French Region of Languedoc-Roussillon.svg
| shield_size            = 
| image_blank_emblem     = Région Languedoc-Roussillon logo.svg 
| blank_emblem_size      = 75px
| image_map              = Languedoc-Roussillon in France.svg
| map_caption            = 
| motto                  = 
| coordinates            = 
| subdivision_type       = Country
| subdivision_name       = {{flagu|France}}
| extinct_title          = Dissolved
| extinct_date           = 2016-01-01
| seat_type              = [[Prefectures in France|Prefecture]]
| seat                   = [[Montpellier]]
| parts_type             = [[Departments of France|Departments]]
| parts_style            = list
| parts                  = 5
| p1                     = [[Aude]] (11)
| p2                     = [[Gard]] (30)
| p3                     = [[Hérault]] (34)
| p4                     = [[Lozère]] (48)
| p5                     = [[Pyrénées-Orientales]] (66)
| p6                     = 
| p7                     = 
| p8                     = 
| p9                     = 
| p10                    = 
| p11                    = 
| p12                    = 
| p13                    = 
| p14                    = 
| leader_party           = [[Miscellaneous Left|DVG]]
| leader_title           = [[President of the Regional Council (France)|President]]
| leader_name            = Damien Alary
| area_footnotes         = 
| area_total_km2         = 27376
| area_land_km2          = 
| area_water_km2         = 
| population_footnotes   = 
| population_total       = 2700266
| population_as_of       = 2012-01-01
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym     = 
| timezone1              = [[Central European Time|CET]]
| utc_offset1            = +1
| timezone1_DST          = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
| utc_offset1_DST        = +2
| demographics_type1       = GDP
| demographics1_footnotes  = <ref>{{cite web | url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/tgs00003/default/table?lang=en | title=EU regions by GDP, Eurostat|access-date=18 September 2023}}</ref>
|demographics1_title1     = Total
|demographics1_info1      = €85.916 billion (2022)
| demographics1_title2     = Per capita
|demographics1_info2      = €30,400 (2022)
| blank_name_sec2        = [[First level NUTS of the European Union#France|NUTS Region]]
| blank_info_sec2        = FR8
| website                = [http://www.laregion.fr/ laregion.fr]
| iso_code               = FR-K
| footnotes              = 
}}

'''Languedoc-Roussillon''' ({{IPA|fr|lɑ̃ɡ(ə)dɔk ʁusijɔ̃|-|LL-Q150 (fra)-Benoît Prieur-Languedoc-Roussillon.wav}}; {{langx|oc|Lengadòc-Rosselhon}} {{IPA|oc|ˌleŋɡɔˈðɔk ruseˈʎu|}}; {{langx|ca|Llenguadoc-Rosselló}}) is a former [[regions of France|administrative region]] of [[France]]. On 1 January 2016, it joined with the region of [[Midi-Pyrénées]] to become [[Occitania (administrative region)|Occitania]].<ref name="reform law">{{cite French law|number or usual name=n° 2015-29|date in French=16 janvier 2015|full name=relative à la délimitation des régions, aux élections régionales et départementales et modifiant le calendrier électoral|language=French|lower case=|URL=http://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/affichTexte.do;jsessionid=9FECBA9D9314D1D2C093CF793C886ED5.tpdila21v_1?idSectionTA=JORFSCTA000030109623&cidTexte=JORFTEXT000030109622&dateTexte=29990101}}</ref> It comprised five [[departments of France|departments]], and bordered the other French regions of [[Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur]], [[Rhône-Alpes]], [[Auvergne]], [[Midi-Pyrénées]] towards the north, and [[Spain]], [[Andorra]] and the [[Mediterranean Sea]] towards the south. It was the southernmost region of mainland France.

==Toponymy==
The first part of the name of the province of Languedoc-Roussillon comes from the French {{lang|fr|langue d'oc}} ("language of {{lang|oc|oc}}"), and is also a [[Languedoc|historical region]]. In southern France, the word for ''yes'' was the [[Occitan language]] word {{lang|oc|oc}}.  Prior to the 16th century, the central area of France was referred to as {{lang|fro|Languedoil}}, there the word for ''yes'' was {{lang|fro|oil}} in [[Old French]], later becoming {{lang|fr|oui}}.  These old place names referred to the areas where Occitan and Old French were spoken.<ref>Encyclopaedia Britannica - French language https://www.britannica.com/topic/French-language</ref> The [[Edict of Villers-Cotterets]] made French the official national language in 1539. [[Roussillon]] was the name of the medieval [[County of Roussillon]].

== History ==
[[File:Carte des Gouvernements de Languedoc.. Roussillon.jpg|thumb|Map of the Governments of Languedoc, Foix and Roussillon by [[Rigobert Bonne]] (1727–1795), Paris, circa 1783|left]]
[[File:Carte du Languedoc.svg|left|thumb|The province of Languedoc within its 18th century limits and the current communes and departments.]]
Towards the end of the 3rd century BC, a [[Celts|Celtic people]], the {{lang|la|italic=no|[[Volcae]]}}, took up residence in the region between the [[Rhône]] and the [[Garonne]], from the [[Cévennes]] to the [[Pyrenees]].<ref>{{EB1911|inline=y|wstitle=Volcae|volume=28|page=178}}</ref><ref>"At the time of [[Hannibal]]'s [[Second Punic War|invasion of Italy]], the Volcae had also possessions east of the Rhône" (Smith 1854); see [[Livy]] xxi. 26 and [[Strabo]] 203).</ref> Their capitals were [[Toulouse]]<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Ring |first1=Trudy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yfPYAQAAQBAJ |title=Northern Europe: International Dictionary of Historic Places |last2=Watson |first2=Noelle |last3=Schellinger |first3=Paul |date=2013-10-28 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-136-63944-9 |pages=730 |language=en}}</ref> and [[Nîmes]].<ref>{{Cite thesis |title=Des Volques Arécomiques à la colonie de Nîmes. Contribution à l'étude de la politique coloniale de Rome en Gaule méridionale (2eme siècle avant J. -C. -1er siècle après J. -C. ) |url=https://www.theses.fr/1987PA040325 |publisher=Paris 4 |date=1988-01-01 |degree=These de doctorat |first=Danièle |last=Roman}}</ref>

They made a pact with the Romans from the 1st century BC. [[Narbonne]] was created to pacify the province in 118 BC and became the capital of the [[Gallia Narbonensis|Narbonnaise]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Grand |first=Chantal |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LaiaCwAAQBAJ |title=Le douloureux passé de la Méditerranée: Histoire |date=2016-02-19 |publisher=BoD - Books on Demand |isbn=978-2-8106-2854-4 |pages=91 |language=fr}}</ref>

At the beginning of the 5th century, the [[Vandals]] invaded the province and then the [[Visigoths]] settled there. The Narbonne region, like the [[Iberian Peninsula]], remained Visigothic until its conquest by the [[Moors]] between 719 ({{Interlanguage link|Siege of Narbonne (719)|lt=fall of Narbonne|fr|Siège de Narbonne (719)}})<ref>{{Cite book |last=Sismondi |first=Jean Charles Léonard Simonde de |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2ykPAAAAQAAJ |title=Histoire de la Chute de L'émpire Romain Et Du Déclin de la Civilisation, de L'an 250 a L'an 1000 |date=1842 |publisher=N.J. Gregoir |pages=59 |language=fr}}</ref> and 725 (fall of [[Carcassonne]] and Nîmes).<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Ghazali |first=María |date=2009-12-15 |title=Introduction |url=https://journals.openedition.org/cdlm/4900 |journal=Cahiers de la Méditerranée |language=fr |issue=79 |pages=11–26 |doi=10.4000/cdlm.4900 |issn=0395-9317}}</ref> Narbonne then became the capital of one of the five provinces of {{transliteration|ar|italic=no|[[Al-Andalus]]}} led by a {{transliteration|ar|[[wali]]}} for nearly forty years.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schlama |first=Olivier |date=2017-10-28 |title=Chronique : Quand le Languedoc faisait partie du monde musulman |url=https://dis-leur.fr/chronique-languedoc-faisait-partie-monde-musulman/ |access-date=2022-04-06 |website=Dis-leur ! |language=fr-FR}}</ref>

The region was conquered by [[Pepin the Short|Pépin the Short]] ([[Siege of Narbonne (752–759)|fall of Narbonne in 759]]),<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Graboïs |first=Aryeh |date=1973 |title=I. Une principauté juive dans la France du Midi à l'époque carolingienne ? |url=https://www.persee.fr/doc/anami_0003-4398_1973_num_85_112_4805 |journal=Annales du Midi |volume=85 |issue=112 |pages=192 |doi=10.3406/anami.1973.4805}}</ref> who made it the [[marquisate of Gothia]], included in the [[Duchy of Aquitaine|kingdom of Aquitaine]]<ref>Lauranson-Rosaz, Christian. “Les Guillelmides : une famille de l’aristocratie d’empire carolingienne dans le Midi de la Gaule (VIII<sup>e</sup>-X<sup>e</sup> siècles)”. Macé, Laurent. ''Entre histoire et épopée. Les Guillaume d’Orange (IX<sup>e</sup>-XIII<sup>e</sup> siècles): Hommage à Claudie Amado.'' Toulouse: Presses universitaires du Midi, 2006. (pp. 45-81) Web. http://books.openedition.org/pumi/36238.</ref> created in 778. This vast territory encompassed all of the south of the Rhône to the [[Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic]] and was bequeathed by [[Charlemagne]] to his son [[Louis the Pious]] in 781.<ref name=":0" /> The administration was entrusted to the [[Count of Toulouse|counts of Toulouse]].

During the feudal era, a great political fragmentation took place: the [[County of Roussillon|counties of Roussillon]] and [[County of Cerdanya|Cerdanya]] passed into the orbit of the [[Crown of Aragon]],<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Cayx |first1=Charles |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ppPRZxrvQ-AC |title=Précis de l'histoire de France depuis les temps les plus anciens jusqu'à la révolution de 89: pour servir à l'enseignement dans les collèges royaux et les autres établissements d'instruction publique |last2=Poirson |first2=Auguste |date=1840 |publisher=L. Colas |pages=33 |language=fr}}</ref> while Bas-Languedoc passed under the domination of the [[Trencavel|house of Trencavel]] and their rivals the counts of Toulouse.<ref>{{Citation |last=Débax |first=Hélène |title=Chapitre 6. Une principauté féodale au xiie siècle, l'exemple des Trencavel |date=2020-02-27 |url=http://books.openedition.org/pumi/13164 |work=La Féodalité languedocienne - xie-xiie siècles : Serments, hommages et fiefs dans le Languedoc des Trencavel |pages=269–325 |series=Tempus |place=Toulouse |publisher=Presses universitaires du Midi |isbn=978-2-8107-0876-5 |access-date=2022-04-06}}</ref>

[[Raymond IV, Count of Toulouse|Raymond IV]] (1042–1115) achieved through marriage the objective of reunification by enlarging his state to the [[Rouergue|county of Rouergue]], Nîmes, Narbonne, [[Gévaudan]], [[Agde]], [[Béziers]] and [[Uzès]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Raimond IV dit Raimond de Saint-Gilles - LAROUSSE |url=https://www.larousse.fr/encyclopedie/personnage/Raimond_IV/140207 |access-date=2022-04-06 |website=www.larousse.fr |language=fr}}</ref>

The fight against [[Catharism]] and the [[Albigensian Crusade]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ducret |first=Alix |date=2016-05-04 |title=Le monde des Enfers |url=http://www.historia-nostra.com/?option=com_content&task=view&id=278&Itemid=39 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210614195428/https://www.historia-nostra.com/?option=com_content&task=view&id=278&Itemid=39#federation=archive.wikiwix.com |archive-date=14 June 2021 |access-date=2022-04-06 |website=historia-nostra.com }}</ref> led to the extinction of the dynasty of the Counts of Toulouse. The province was united to the [[Kingdom of France]] in 1271, with the exception of [[Montpellier]], which remained under the influence of the [[House of Barcelona]] and then of Majorca, and which was not attached to the Kingdom of France until 1349. From there was born the royal Languedoc which persisted until the [[French Revolution]].

The [[Treaty of Corbeil (1258)|Treaty of Corbeil in 1258]] ratified the division with the southern territories of the region.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Treaty of Corbeil {{!}} France [1258] {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Treaty-of-Corbeil |access-date=2022-04-06 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref> The [[Corbières Massif|Corbières]] formed the border between the Kingdom of France and the [[Principality of Catalonia]] in the Crown of Aragon.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Pala |first=Marc |title=L'ancienne frontière: entre mythe et histoire, un espace de l'entre-deux |date=2008 |publisher=Parc naturel régional de la Narbonnaise en Méditerranée |isbn=978-2-9515804-5-9 |language=fr}}</ref>

In 1659, the [[Treaty of the Pyrenees]] led to the annexation of Roussillon and northern Cerdanya to the Kingdom of France.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Universalis |first=Encyclopædia |title=TRAITÉ DES PYRÉNÉES |url=https://www.universalis.fr/encyclopedie/traite-des-pyrenees/ |access-date=2022-04-06 |website=Encyclopædia Universalis |language=fr-FR}}</ref>

== Population ==
The region is experiencing the strongest demographic growth in France, and could have around 3,300,000 inhabitants by 2030,<ref>{{Cite web |year=2007 |title=Projections de population l'horizon 2030en Languedoc-Roussillon |url=https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/fichier/1285945/chi0712.pdf |access-date=2022-04-06 |website=[[INSEE]]}}</ref> an increase of 36% compared to 2000. This increase is mainly due to [[internal migration]], natural increase being rather low.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Degorre |first1=Arnaud |last2=Redor |first2=Patrick |year=2007 |title=Enquêtes annuelles de recensement de 2004 à 2006 |url=http://www.insee.fr/fr/ffc/ipweb/ip1116/ip1116.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019025124/http://www.insee.fr/fr/ffc/ipweb/ip1116/ip1116.pdf |archive-date=19 October 2012 |access-date=2022-04-06 |website=[[INSEE]] }}</ref>

[[Pyrénées-Orientales]] has the largest proportion of elderly people (12.10% over 75). [[Gard]] and [[Hérault]] are the "youngest" departments, but they are destined to "age" considerably in the coming years. By 2020, the number of people aged over 75 is expected to increase by 12% across the region.

=== Religion ===
[[Catholic Church|Catholicism]] is the most represented religion in the region, particularly at the level of historical monuments and associations.{{Cn|date=April 2022}} The Ecclesiastical Province of Montpellier ({{Langx|fr|Province ecclésiastique de Montpellier}}) corresponds to the administrative region. The region has 16 cathedrals ([[Agde Cathedral|Agde]], [[Alès Cathedral|Alès]], [[Alet Cathedral|Alet]], [[Béziers Cathedral|Béziers]], [[Carcassonne Cathedral|Carcassonne]], [[Elne Cathedral|Elne]], [[Lodève Cathedral|Lodève]], [[Maguelone Cathedral|Maguelone]], [[Mende Cathedral|Mende]], [[Montpellier Cathedral|Montpellier]], [[Narbonne Cathedral|Narbonne]], [[Nîmes Cathedral|Nîmes]], [[Perpignan Cathedral|Perpignan]], [[Saint-Papoul Cathedral|Saint-Papoul]], [[Saint-Pons-de-Thomières Cathedral|Saint-Pons-de-Thomières]], [[Uzès Cathedral|Uzès]]).

[[Protestantism]] is well represented in the region, especially in the [[Huguenots|Huguenot]] stronghold of the [[Cévennes]]. The ''Cévennes-Languedoc-Roussillon region'' of the [[United Protestant Church of France|United Protestant Church]] includes [[Gard]], [[Lozère]], [[Hérault]], [[Aude]], [[Pyrénées-Orientales]] as well as the eastern part of [[Aveyron]].<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=Histoire du protestantisme à Nîmes et dans le Gard |url=https://www.eglise-protestante-unie.fr/region-cevennes-languedoc-roussillon-r3/fiche/histoire-du-protestantisme-a-nimes-et-dans-le-gard-9466 |access-date=2022-04-06 |website=Eglise protestante unie de France |language=fr}}</ref> It is an important region by its Protestant population (approximately 20,000 homes), but one of the least extensive of the United Protestant Church of France.<ref name=":4" /> In addition to this majority church, the region has since the <abbr>19th</abbr> century a variety of [[Free church|Free]], [[Calvinism|Reformed Evangelical]], [[Baptists|Baptist]], [[Methodism|Methodist]] and <abbr>[[Pentecostalism|Pentecostal]]</abbr> churches.

[[Judaism]] has been present since the [[Middle Ages]] with significant communities fleeing the [[Almohad Caliphate|Almohads]], in Narbonne and Béziers.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Abitbol |first=Michel |url=https://www.cairn.info/histoire-des-juifs-de-la-genese-a-nos-jours--9782262042806-page-138.htm |title=Histoire des Juifs |year=2013 |location=Paris |pages=138 |language=fr |chapter=6 - Les premiers pas du judaïsme ashkénaze |access-date=2022-04-06 |url-access=subscription |via=[[Cairn.info]]}}</ref> The Jews are thus cited in the will of [[William V of Montpellier]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Les établissements juifs de Montpellier au Moyen Âge |url=https://www.culture.gouv.fr/Regions/Drac-Occitanie/Ressources-documentaires/Publications/Collection-DUO/Les-etablissements-juifs-de-Montpellier-au-Moyen-Age |access-date=2022-04-06 |website=www.culture.gouv.fr |language=fr}}</ref> [[Islam]] is also present at the same time.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Jomier |first=Jacques |date=1983 |title=Note sur les stèles funéraires arabes de Montpellier |url=https://www.persee.fr/doc/cafan_0575-061x_1983_act_18_1_1318 |journal=Cahiers de Fanjeaux |volume=18 |issue=1 |pages=62–63 |doi=10.3406/cafan.1983.1318 |s2cid=192958122 |via=[[Persée (web portal)|Persée]]}}</ref>

[[Catharism]] appeared in the region in the middle of the 12th century, in Aude.

== Geography ==
[[File:Eschino d'Aze et puechs des Bondons.jpg|thumb|left|200 px|Landscape in [[Lozère]], Languedoc-Roussillon]]
The region is made up of the following historical [[provinces of France|provinces]]:
[[File:Mouthoumetpyrénées.JPG|thumb|left|200 px|Landscape in [[Aude]], Languedoc-Roussillon]]
* 68.7% of Languedoc-Roussillon was formerly part the province of [[Languedoc]]: the departments of [[Hérault]], [[Gard]], [[Aude]], the extreme south and extreme east of [[Lozère]], and the extreme north of [[Pyrénées-Orientales]]. The former province of Languedoc also extends over what is now the [[Midi-Pyrénées]] region, including the old capital of Languedoc [[Toulouse]].
* 17.9% of Languedoc-Roussillon was formerly the province of [[Gévaudan]], now the department of Lozère. A small part of the former Gévaudan lies inside the current [[Auvergne (region)|Auvergne]] region. Gévaudan is often considered to be a sub-province inside the province of Languedoc, in which case Languedoc would account for 86.6% of Languedoc-Roussillon.
* 13.4% of Languedoc-Roussillon, located in the southernmost part of the region, is a collection of five historical [[Catalonia|Catalan]] {{lang|fr|[[Pays (France){{!}}pays]]}}, from east to west: [[Roussillon]], [[Vallespir]], [[Conflent]], [[Capcir]], and [[French Cerdagne|Cerdagne]], all of which are now part of the department of [[Pyrénées-Orientales]]. These pays were part of the [[Ancien Régime]] [[Roussillon|province of Roussillon]], owning its name to the largest and most populous of the five pays, Roussillon. "Province of Roussillon and adjacent lands of Cerdagne" was indeed the name that was officially used after the area became French in 1659, based on the historical division of the five pays between the [[county of Roussillon]] (Roussillon and Vallespir) and the [[Cerdanya|county of Cerdagne]] (Cerdagne, Capcir, and Conflent).

[[Llívia]] is a town of Cerdanya, province of Girona, Catalonia, Spain, that forms a Spanish exclave surrounded by French territory (department of Pyrénées-Orientales).

==Politics==
{{See also|Regional Council of Languedoc-Roussillon}}[[Image:Arms of the French Region of Languedoc-Roussillon.svg|thumb|right|Unofficial coat of arms of Languedoc-Roussillon]]
At the regional elections in March 2004, the [[Socialist Party (France)|socialist]] mayor of [[Montpellier]] [[Georges Frêche]], defeated its center-right president. Since then, Georges Frêche has embarked on a complete overhaul of the region and its institutions. The flag of the region, which displayed the [[Occitan cross|cross of Languedoc]] as well as the [[Senyera|Flag of Roussillon]] (the {{lang|ca|Senyera}}), was changed for a new flag with no reference to the old provinces, except in terms of the colors (red and yellow), which are the colors of both Languedoc and all the territories from the former [[Crown of Aragon]].

Georges Frêche also wanted to change the name of the region, wishing to erase its duality (Languedoc vs. Roussillon) and strengthen its unity. Thus, he wanted to rename the region Septimanie ([[Septimania]]). {{lang|la|Septimania}} was the name created by the Romans at the end of the [[Roman Empire]] for the coastal area corresponding quite well to present day Languedoc-Roussillon (including Roussillon, but not including Gévaudan), and used in the early [[Middle Ages]] for the area. This name, however, has not been in use since the 9th century, and it sounded quite odd to French people.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.historia.fr/mensuel/710/la-septimanie-seme-la-zizanie-01-02-2006-50957 |title=La Septimanie sème la zizanie |author=Historia |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150723223246/http://www.historia.fr/mensuel/710/la-septimanie-seme-la-zizanie-01-02-2006-50957 |archive-date=23 July 2015  }}</ref> Strong opposition of the population led to Georges Frêche giving up on his idea. He declared that he still believed in it but could not go ahead without a mandate.

[[Catalan nationalism|Catalan nationalists]] in [[Roussillon]] would like the [[Pyrénées-Orientales]] department to secede from Languedoc-Roussillon and become a region in its own right, under the proposed name of {{lang|ca|Catalunya Nord}} ([[Northern Catalonia]]), as part of the {{lang|ca|[[Països Catalans]]}} (Catalan Countries), a new country. {{Citation needed|date=May 2012}} This idea has minimal popular support.{{Citation needed|date=November 2012}}

On the other hand, there are some who would like to merge the Languedoc-Roussillon and [[Midi-Pyrénées]] regions, thus reunifying the old province of [[Languedoc]], and creating a large region. It seems probable that Georges Frêche, with his idea of a "Septimanie" region, would not support such plans, although political leaders in [[Béziers]], [[Narbonne]], and especially [[Nîmes]], would probably support such a merger, hostile as they are to [[Montpellier]], which was chosen as the capital of Languedoc-Roussillon instead of their own city, and which they accuse of [[hegemony]].{{Citation needed|date=February 2008}}

==Culture==
[[File:Pont du Gard BLS.jpg|thumb|left|[[Pont du Gard]] aqueduct near [[Nîmes]]]]

===Language===
Prior to the 20th century, [[Occitan language|Occitan]] was the language spoken in Languedoc, and [[Catalan language|Catalan]] was the language spoken in Roussillon. Both have been under pressure from French. In 2004, research conducted by the Government of Catalonia showed that 65% of adults over the age of 15 in Roussillon could understand Catalan whereas 37% stated they were able to speak it.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www20.gencat.cat/docs/Llengcat/Documents/Dades%20origen%20territori%20i%20poblacio/Altres/Arxius/catnord2004.pdf |title=Enquesta d'usos lingüístics a la Catalunya Nord |year=2003 |publisher=Generalitat de Catalunya, Secretaria de Política Lingüística |access-date=24 November 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130114204222/http://www20.gencat.cat/docs/Llengcat/Documents/Dades%20origen%20territori%20i%20poblacio/Altres/Arxius/catnord2004.pdf |archive-date=14 January 2013  }}</ref>

In recent years there have been attempts at reviving of both languages, including Catalan-medium schooling through the [[La Bressola]] schools.

===Literature===
[[Occitan literature]] – still sometimes called Provençal literature – is a body of texts written in Occitan in what is nowadays the South of France. It originated in the poetry of the eleventh- and twelfth-century troubadours, and inspired the rise of vernacular literature throughout medieval Europe.

===Music===
[[Aimeric de Peguilhan]], [[Giraut de Bornelh]] and [[Bertran de Born]] were major influences in [[troubadour]] composition, in the [[High Middle Ages]]. The troubadour tradition is considered to have originated in the region.

The [[Romantic music]] composer [[Déodat de Séverac]] was born in the region, and, following his schooling in Paris, returned to the region to compose. He sought to incorporate the music indigenous to the area in his compositions.

===Wine===
{{Main|Languedoc-Roussillon wine}}
The Languedoc-Roussillon region is dominated by {{convert|740300|acre|km2}} of [[vineyard]]s, three times the combined area of the vineyards in [[Bordeaux]] and the region has been an important winemaking centre for several centuries. Grapevines are said to have existed in the South of France since the [[Pliocene]] period - before the existence of ''[[Homo sapiens]]''. The first vineyards of Gaul developed around two towns: [[Béziers]] and [[Narbonne]]. The [[Mediterranean climate]] and plentiful land with soil ranging from rocky sand to thick clay was very suitable for the production of [[wine]], and it is estimated that one in ten bottles of the world's wine was produced in this region during the 20th century (Robinson 1999:395).  Despite this enormous quantity, the area's significance was often overlooked by scholarly publications and commercial journals, largely because very little of the wine being produced was classified under an [[Appellation d'origine contrôlée|appellation contrôlée]] until the 1980s (Joseph 2005:190).

Several entrepreneurs such as Robert Skalli and James Herrick drastically changed the face of the region, planting more commercially viable [[grape varieties]] and pushing for new AOC classifications.  While the AOC system has origins in the 15th century, the Languedoc-Roussillon has some appellations like the [[Cabardès AOC|Cabardès]] which have existed by law only since 1999 (Joseph 2005:190).

The region is the largest contributor to the European Union's glut (dominance of supply over demand) of wine known as the [[wine lake]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Parfitt |first1=Trevor |last2=Tommer |first2=Yehonathan |date=July 1978 |url= https://www.jstor.org/stable/40395057 |title=Notes of the Month |journal=The World Today |volume=34 |issue=7 |pages=245–251 |jstor=40395057 |access-date=2021-03-23}}</ref>

The Languedoc-Roussillon region has adopted a [[Brand|marque]] to help market its products, in particular, but not limited to, wine. The {{lang|fr|Sud de France}} (''[[South of France|Southern France]]'') marque was adopted in 2006<ref name="Ind1">[[The Independent]] - ''[https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/europe/france/sud-de-france--the-brand-1061928.html Sud de France - The Brand]'' - '''6 December 2008''' (accessed 24 February 2009)</ref> to help customers abroad not familiar with the [[Appellation d'origine contrôlée|Appellation]] system to recognise those wines that originated in the L-R area,<ref name="TFrL">This French Life - ''[http://www.thisfrenchlife.com/thisfrenchlife/2008/05/sud-de-france-t.html Sud de France to highlight Languedoc Roussillon wines]'' (accessed 24 February 2009)</ref> but the marque is also used for other products, including [[cheese]]s, [[olive oil]]s and pies.<ref name="Ind2">The Independent - ''[https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/europe/france/sud-de-france-foods-1061930.html Sud de France Foods]'' - '''6 December 2008''' (accessed 24 February 2009)</ref>

===Sport===
Languedoc-Roussillon has been a major center of [[Rugby league in France]] since the sport was introduced to the country in the 1930s. The region is also home to the rugby union teams [[AS Béziers Hérault]], [[RC Narbonne]] and [[USA Perpignan]]. Since the following years of the retirement of this region, the popularity has gone down.

[[Montpellier]] is home to [[Montpellier HSC]], which was founded in 1974 and plays in the [[Ligue 1]], the French top division. It won the French Championship after the 2011/12 season. Home matches are played at the Stade La Mosson, named after the area where it is located, with a capacity of 31,250. It was built in 1998.

== Notable people ==

=== Writers ===

* [[Paul Valéry]] (1871–1945), writer, philosopher, poet and epistemologist.
* [[Claude Simon]] (1913–2005), writer, born in [[Madagascar]], was brought up in [[Perpignan]] and throughout his life showed a real attachment to the Catalan land. He spent part of his last years in his home in [[Salses-le-Château]].
* [[Malika Mokeddem]], born in [[Algeria]] in 1949, she continued her medical doctorate, begun in [[Oran]], in [[Paris]] in 1977. Based in [[Montpellier]], she is the author of ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=plewXyH2ghoC L'interdite]'' and ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=AMAdAQAAIAAJ&q=Je%20dois%20tout%20%C3%A0%20ton%20oubli%20malika%20mokeddem Je owe tout à ton oublie]''. Her works are inspired by her personal journey.
* [[Max Roqueta]] (1908–2005), poet and writer in [[Occitan language|Occitan]]. He created the French Tambourine Federation ({{Langx|fr|Fédération française de tambourin}}).
* [[Joseph Delteil]] (1894–1978), poet and writer; he was the friend of [[Georges Brassens]] and [[Pierre Soulages]].
* [[Jean Joubert]] (1928–2015), poet and writer for both youth and adults, wrote ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=li0THQAACAAJ Arche de la parole]'' ({{Translation|The ark of speech}}) and ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=Fsy4AAAACAAJ Le chien qui savait lire]'' ({{Translation|The dog who could read}}). He received the [[Prix Renaudot]] in 1975 for ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=AOjKOwAACAAJ L'Homme de sable]'' ({{Translation|The sand man}}).
* [[Alphonse Daudet]] (1840–1897), writer and playwright, born in [[Nîmes]] and grew up in [[Bezouce]].
* [[Robèrt Lafont]] (1923–2009), poet and writer in Occitan, essayist, linguist

=== Illustrators ===

* [[Albert Dubout]] (1905–1976) studied at the [[École des Beaux-Arts|School of Fine Arts]] in [[Montpellier]] and became the illustrator of many national newspapers, then the poster designer and designer. He very often parodied the little train linking Montpellier to [[Palavas-les-Flots]] where a museum is dedicated to him.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Musée Albert Bubout à Palavas-les-Flots - Museums - Palavas-les-Flots |url=https://www.ot-palavaslesflots.com/en/touristic_sheet/musee-albert-dubout-a-palavas-les-flots-palavas-les-flots-en-2668968/ |access-date=2022-04-06 |website=Office de Tourisme de Palavas-les-flots |language=en-GB}}</ref>

=== Singers ===

* [[Georges Brassens]], born in [[Sète]]
* [[Charles Trenet]], born in [[Narbonne]]
* [[Patric (singer)|Patric]], Occitan singer
* [[Olivia Ruiz]], born in [[Carcassonne]]
* [[Cali (singer)|Cali]], originally from [[Vernet-les-Bains]]
* [[Boby Lapointe]], born in [[Pézenas]]
* [[Julien Doré]], born in [[Alès]]
* {{Ill|Ricoune|lt=Ricoune|fr|Ricoune}}, singer-songwriter

=== Comedians ===

* [[Rémi Gaillard]]
* [[Mathieu Madénian]]

==Major communities==
[[File:Street montpellier.jpg|thumb|Street in Montpellier]]
* [[Alès]]
* [[Béziers]]
* [[Carcassonne]]
* [[Montpellier]]
* [[Narbonne]]
* [[Nîmes]]
* [[Perpignan]]
* [[Sète]]

==See also==
* [[Languedoc wine]]
* [[List of appellations in Languedoc-Roussillon]]
* [[List of châteaux in Languedoc-Roussillon]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

* {{Cite book| last = Joseph | first = Robert | title = French Wine Revised and Updated | publisher = [[Dorling Kindersley]] | year = 2005  | pages = 190–201  | isbn = 0-7566-1520-8 }}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080614211848/http://www.beziers-tourisme.fr/index.php3?id_gmenu=10618&code_menu=viti&langue=en&PHPSESSID=8e6c4de28354cee6aabdf3818f148629 Official Béziers Tourist Office Website]

==External links==
{{Commons}}
* [https://www.france.fr/en/occitanie-south-of-france/list/languedoc-a-week-in-which-you-get-to-play-the-action-hero Languedoc-Roussillon : Languedoc: a week in which you get to play the action hero] official French website (in English)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080915034847/http://www.cr-languedocroussillon.fr/ Regional Council of Languedoc-Roussillon] (in French)

{{Regions of France|former}}
{{Mediterranean Games}}

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[[Category:Languedoc-Roussillon| ]]
[[Category:Languedoc-Roussillon wine AOCs]]
[[Category:NUTS 2 statistical regions of the European Union]]
[[Category:Former regions of France]]
[[Category:France geography articles needing translation from French Wikipedia]]