Languedoc-Roussillon
French Région |native_name = Région Languedoc-Roussillon |common_name = Languedoc-Roussillon |image_flag = Languedoc Roussillon flag.svg|image_flag_size = 115px |flag = (Région flag)|image_logo = |image_logo_size=115px |capital =
Montpellier |area = 27,376 | area_scale = 10 |Regional president =
Georges Frêche(
PS) (since
2004)|population_rank = 10th|population_census = 2,295,648 |population_census_year = 1999 |population_estimate = 2,497,000 |population_estimate_year = 2005 |population_density = 91 |population_density_year = 2005 |arrondissements = 14 |cantons = 186 |communes = 1,545 |départements =
AudeGardHéraultLozèrePyrénées-Orientales |image_map = Carte Localisation Région France Languedoc-Roussillon.png |footnotes=|}}
Languedoc-Roussillon (
Occitan:
Lengadòc-Rosselhon;
Catalan:
Llenguadoc-Rosselló) is one of the 26
régions of
France.
The
région is made up of the following historical
provinces:
*68.7% of Languedoc-Roussillon is the province of
Languedoc:
départements of
Hérault,
Gard,
Aude, extreme south and extreme east of
Lozère, and extreme north of
Pyrénées-Orientales. The former province of Languedoc also extends over the
Midi-Pyrénées région, including the old capital of Languedoc
Toulouse.
*17.9% of Languedoc-Roussillon is the province of
Gévaudan: Lozère
département. A small part of Gévaudan is also inside the
Auvergne région. Gévaudan is often considered to be a sub-province inside the province of Languedoc, in which case Languedoc accounts for 86.6% of Languedoc-Roussillon.
*13.4% of Languedoc-Roussillon is a collection of culturally
Catalan pays (i.e. "countries"):
Roussillon,
Vallespir,
Conflent,
Capcir, and
Cerdagne, all of which located from east to west inside the Pyrénées-Orientales
département.
All of these
pays (in
Catalonia, on the other side of the border, a
pays is known as a
comarca) were part of the
Ancient Regime province of Roussillon, owning its name to the largest and most populous of the five
pays, Roussillon. "Province of Roussillon and adjacent lands of Cerdagne" was indeed the name that was officially used after the area became French in
1659, based on the historical division of the five
pays between the
county of Roussillon (Roussillon and Vallespir) and the
county of Cerdagne (Cerdagne, Capcir, and Conflent).
Catalan nationalists prefer to use the name "
Northern Catalonia" (
Catalan:
Catalunya Nord), but this name has no official recognition, and it is quite controversial.
Finally, it should be noted that Roussillon, Vallespir, Conflent, and Capcir lie entirely inside the Languedoc-Roussillon
région, but that only the northern half of Cerdagne is inside the
région. The southern half of Cerdagne is on Spanish territory, since the
Treaty of the Pyrenees of 1659 divided
Cerdanya between France and Spain. People in Catalonia refer to the
French part of Cerdagne as "High Cerdanya" (
Alta Cerdanya), but this name has no recognition in France.
At the regional elections in March
2004, the fiery and domineering
socialist mayor of Montpellier
Georges Frêche, a maverick in French politics, conquered the
région, defeating its center-right president. Since then, Georges Frêche has embarked on a complete overhaul of the
région and its institutions. The flag of the
région, which displayed the
Occitan cross of Languedoc as well as the
stripes of Catalonia for Roussillon, was changed for a new nondescript flag with no reference to the old provinces, except in terms of the colors (red and yellow), which are the colors of both Languedoc and Catalonia.
In the same spirit, Georges Frêche also wanted to change the name of the
région, wishing to erase its duality (Languedoc vs. Roussillon) and strengthen its unity. Thus, he wants to rename the
région "Septimanie" (English:
Septimania). Septimania was the name created by the Romans at the end of the
Roman Empire for the coastal area corresponding quite well to present day Languedoc-Roussillon (including Roussillon, but not including Gévaudan), and used in the early
Middle Ages for the area. The name would had transcended the difference between the
Occitan and
Catalan speaking areas of Languedoc-Roussillon, and shown a unity that goes back before
Languedoc or
Catalonia appeared. Even if, the name has not been in use since the
9th century, and it sounds quite odd to French people. A strong opposition of the population led to Georges Frêche giving up his idea, and cutting almost all use of the name. He declared that he still believed in it but could not go ahead without a mandate.
Actually, few
Catalan nationalists in
Roussillon would like the
Pyrénées-Orientales département to secede from Languedoc-Roussillon and become a
région in its own right, which they wish to name "Catalunya Nord" (i.e.
Northern Catalonia), but it is quite probable that the
French government will oppose.
On the other hand, in the current debate over the reform of French political divisions, which focuses on the fact that there exist too many small
régions in France, there are few others who would like to merge the Languedoc-Roussillon and
Midi-Pyrénées régions, thus reunifying the old province of
Languedoc, and creating a large
région able to compete at the European level.
*
The Languedoc *
La SeptimaNO - Platform against Septimania denomination*
*
Books on the Languedoc-Roussillon Reviews of Tourist Guides, Maps, Histories, Wine guides, Accounts of the Cathars, Restaurant Guides, etc
