The Languedoc-Roussillon region is the single most productive wine region in the world. More than this it offers beautiful, sun-drenched landscapes that are ideal for camping and a whole host of outdoor activities. From your camp site in Languedoc-Roussillon you have access to some of the very finest attractions that the south of France has to offer.

Camping in Languedoc-Roussillon, the Heartland of French Wine.

Surrounded by the magnificent landscapes of southern France, camp sites in Languedoc-Roussillon enjoy a truly idyllic location. The beaches of the Mediterranean coast provide miles of golden sand for those who wish to stay near its shores, while the rich soils inland are the basis of a wine region whose output is without rival anywhere in the world.

Languedoc-Roussillon camping holidays are perfectly placed to investigate the astonishing history of wine production in the area. There are currently around 700,000 acres (2,800 km?) of vineyard within the five departments that make up Languedoc-Roussillon, making them over three times the size than the combined area of the, arguably, more famous wine region of Bordeaux. In total, Languedoc-Roussillon produces a third of France's wine, which is (remarkably) more than the entire output of the United States.

It is hardly surprising that the industry is so well established in this southern province as grapevines are known to have grown in the area since before the arrival of Homo Sapiens, with the first vineyards having been planted over 2,400 years ago. Since then there has been a pedigree of viniculture throughout the ages, with some of the varieties even being prescribed in medieval hospitals due to their supposed ?healing powers?.

From the industrial age through the two world wars and on, Languedoc-Roussillon has produced the wine enjoyed by the workers and soldiers of France; people who have wanted a hearty accompaniment to a well-earned meal, rather than an expensive pursuit of an elusive flavour.

So are Languedoc-Roussillon camping holidays as famous for their vineyard tours as the more traditional regions of, say, Burgundy or Bordeaux? Not yet. Part of the reason for this is that the vineyards of the area were not classified under an Appellation d'origine contr'l'e (a government certification to officially link a food product to an admired region) until the 1980's. As a consequence, critics, scholars and restaurateurs have been hesitant to praise the local producers as they have been without the official stamp they have long deserved. However, the situation is quickly changing and Languedoc-Roussillon is beginning to claim the reputation that it has rightly earned. With nearly every type of soil that a cultivator could desire, from rockier coastal areas to thick clay, there is no reason why it cannot shake off the criticism that it produces merely good table wines and stand alongside any of the wine regions in France.

From one of the many campsites in Languedoc-Roussillon you can visit the lively cities of B'ziers and Perpignan which act as the commercial hubs for the many hundreds of vineyards that surround them. Combine this with journeys through the warm and peaceful countryside, the charm of the many villages which colour the green landscape and the exciting attractions of the popular coastline and you have a region which competes ably with any other in France as a superb choice for your next camping holiday.