Languedoc-Roussillon
Languedoc Roussillon in south-west France curves around a corner of the Mediterranean, from Provence in the east down to the borders with Spain and Andorra in the south. The modern region was formed when two historic provinces were merged. Languedoc takes its name from langue d'oc, a language closely linked to Catalan, and Roussillon in the far south was known as France's Catalonia, but today Catalonia is confined to an autonomous region in north-eastern Spain.
Sandy beaches with some stylish resorts - shadowed inland by the swift A9 autoroute - means it is easy to loll in Languedoc, roam in Roussillon or zip between the towns and cities.
Nimes to Montpellier is about an hour's drive, but to cover the entire arc of coast by car takes a good four hours. Worthwhile inland detours to Carcassonne and the further flung mighty Parc National des Cevennes.