Following the Greeks who established the trading town of Massilia (Marseilles) in about 600 BC, Southern France was subjected to classical influences for many centuries. Gaul (i.e. France) as a whole consisted of three regions: the lands of the Belgae in the north and east of the rivers Marne and Seine; the Aquitani south and west of the river Garonne; and in between the people we call Gauls, although they called themselves Celts, occupied much of present day Languedoc.
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The Languedoc, as it name suggests, was not a core region of the original France. Prior to the 13th century the inhabitants of this region spoke the Language of Occitania — Occitan — the langue d’oc. As in adjacent Catalonia (the Catalan-speaking area of Spain), many road signs and town names have the local version of the name alongside the national one. Occitan was very similar to Catalan.
By the opening of the 13th century this region professed |
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