Languedoc History and Culture

The Languedoc region has a diverse and complex history. Having been settled by the Greeks, Phoenicians and Romans, to only then be invaded by the Alamanni, Vandals, Visigoths, and Saracens its fair to say that Languedoc is anything but typical. The diversity of the people who have traversed this land over the years created a culture here like no other in France. Throughout the Middle Ages the area was an independent province, with its own language and government. Occitan was the official language of the region and was used by the Troubadours who embodied the ideas of equality and liberty by singing beautiful poetry of courtly love and the virtues of creativity.

In the 12th century, Languedoc was the center of the Cathar religious movement. The Roman Catholic Church declared them heretics, and the Albigensian Crusade successfully wiped them out. During this 40 year crusade the Cathars took refuge in cliff top castles and fortress that can be seen today throughout the area. In the end, the county of Toulouse was returned to the crown of France and has been part of France ever since. Later the name given to the area was Languedoc, literally meaning "language of oc", from the word "yes" in the local Occitan language.

Limoux has been a major historical and religious center of the area for centuries. It was the monks living here in the 16th century who created Blanquette de Limoux, the local sparkling white wine. Using ancient techniques they created a completely new type of wine. While passing through the area, Dom Pérignon the Benedictine monk who has gone down in history as the person who "invented" Champagne, was so impressed with this tasty bubbly that he learned the craft from the monks living in the nearby abbey of St. Hilaire and took it home with him to the Champagne region of France which is now world renowned for its strikingly similar sparkling beverage.