| |       |
 |  he nearest mountain slopes belong to the Monts de l’Espinouse, whose name is taken from the rampant thorn bushes. The massif forms part of the Parc Naturel Regional du Haut Languedoc, which was founded in 1973 over an area of 145.000 hectares. The region is rich in forests with gorges and lakes, where the largest population of moufflons lives. This is an extraordinary recuperation area for friends of nature and sport enthusiasts. |
| |
 Olargues: counts among the most beautiful villages of France. Here are neither coffee shops, nor hotels, tourist information offices or shops. |
Lac de Salagou: the lake in an artificial setting fills the crater of an extinct volcano, the red soil makes a wonderful contrast with the blue waters of the lake. |
| |
 lso within easy reach are the “Black Mountains”, the Montagne Noire. In its rock massifs is the source of the wells which were used by Paul Riquet for the water supply of the Canal du Midi. In the Middle Ages, the narrow, densely overgrown and therefore difficult accessible valleys of the Cathars, gave protection against the crusading papal troops. |
| |
| Montolieu: in the “village of the books” the tradition of paper making is still carried out, with 14 book shops - an Eldorado for bookworms. |
| Gouffre Geant de Cabrespine: a giant grotto, up to 250 meters deep. A must for cave enthusiasts! |
| Saissac: as an old cloth-worker village with its old house facades it counts among the picturesque villages in the Montagne Noire ... >>> |
| |
