Both regions share certain qualities. Both have mountainous areas and
sit on the Mediterranean coast, with Mediterranean climates. Both share
Greek (Antibes, Nice, Marseilles and Agde) and Roman (Aix-en-Provence,
Arles, Nîmes, Narbonne) heritage.
The food shares similarities also with garlic, tomatoes, herbs,
truffles, olives and olive oil forming the base for many recipes.
Typical Provencal food will tend towards fish rather than meat, though
lamb is also a traditional dish. Languedoc recipes include more
varieties of meat, with pork and game in traditional recipes such as
cassoulet and beef from the Camargue. Oyster farming in the Bassin de
Thau forms an important industry for Languedoc. Fruit is grown
extensively in Provence and Roussillon. Cheese is produced in Languedoc
but less so in Provence.
Vines grow abundantly and wine is a major industry, especially in
Languedoc, where over one third of French wine is produced, but equally
on the Rhône river, where Hermitage and Châteauneuf du Pape are
locations of top quality wine producers. The Languedoc, long a producer
of cheap bulk wines, is now attracting attention from a small but
growing number of producers looking to make top quality wines.
Major towns and many villages have centuries of history and a variety of
influences. But whereas Provence has more Italian influence, in
Languedoc, and Roussillon in particular, the influence is Spanish. A
feature of both landscapes is mediaeval stone villages built around
churches and manor houses, often perched on a hill overlooking the
surrounding area.
Provence has been attracting tourists and foreign investment for more
than one hundred years. Interest in the Languedoc, by contrast, is much
more recent, as Provence has become more expensive and more crowded. The
coastline of Languedoc has many fine sandy beaches, although development
in the 60's and 70's resulted in a number of large modern resorts and
camping sites. However, unspoiled stretches of coast can still be found.
Provence is crowded in summer and generally more expensive than the
Languedoc-Roussillon region. Property prices particularly are higher,
though the Languedoc region is catching up, with prices doubling in the
past five years.
