The Region Languedoc-Roussillon

A Region to be proud of its diversity

Like an amphitheatre on the Mediteranean sea, with a soft and sunny climate, the Languedoc Roussillon Region is a very diverse area with fullness of quality sites.

220 km of seacoast, both rocky and wild and 180 km of white sand beaches and numerous lagoons,
A vast littoral plain, from the Rhone to the Pyrenees, where a beautiful town with an amazing heritage meet with modern and dynamic agriculture,
A diverse landscape with hills and scrublands, where the growing of vines and olive trees are suitable, crossed by many waterways and coastal rivers passing through the mountains,
The mountain: the Massif Central in the North, with diverse sites (Aubrac, Margeride, Cévennes et Grands Causses) and the Pyrenées in the South, with its high mountain top and ski resorts.

A open Region in the heart of the mediteranean arc

Situated in the heart of the Mediterranean basin, the Languedoc-Roussillon region holds a key geographical place within Europe, with privilege access to European and Mediterranean markets thanks to :

Its multi transport network (maritime, air, railway, waterways and roads),
Its university and research activities open to an international cooperations,
The high level of its professional network willing to work on international markets,
The numerous foreign companies already set up in the Region.

Assets of the regional area

An environment of great quality : wild natural protected areas, a well preserved rural environment, a network of towns insure the quality of life.
Demographic attraction and controlled urbanisation : the regional population increases twice as fast as the average of the other regions.
Quality of the regions infrastructures : the water for the agriculture, the tourism and the urbanisation is under control, the coast is organised (7 new resorts and 22 marinas), an efficient transport network (5 airports, 3 seaports and the crossroads of 4 motorways).
A Region well organised to welcome new activities : special areas to welcome new businesses, a network to help setting up new activities on a high level.

The Languedoc-Roussillon Region: some facts and figures

Source : INSEE

Land Area: 27.376 km²
5 Départements : Aude, Gard, Hérault, Lozère, Pyrénées-Orientales
1 545 towns
186 counties

Population

Population in 1999 : 2 295 648
Population in 2002 : 2 375 615 (estimation)
Population in 2003 : 2 401 800
Population in 2007 : 2 497 000
Population density : 91 (hts/km²)

Main towns (figures from 01/2005)

Montpellier : 287 981 hts
Avignon : 253 581 hts
Perpignan : 162 678 hts
Nîmes : 148 889 hts
Béziers : 77 996 hts
Alès : 76 159 hts
Sète : 66 177 hts
Arles : 53057 hts

Companies

Number of companies on december 2006 : 140 446
Industry : 11 676
Construction : 20 551
Shops et repairs: 38 406
Services : 40 713
Education, health, social domain : 19538

Discover our region