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See Carcassonne (accessible by...

by noahsdad

See Carcassonne (accessible by bus or train from Montpellier), one of the largest medieval walled towns left in Europe. While it's very touristy, it's also very evocative. Don't miss St.-Guilhem-le-Desert, a charming, out-of-the-way little medieval village. Part of its cloister is now in New York City, and some French have never forgiven the U.S. ...

Parc National des Cévennes

by JLBG

The Cévennes were and still are the stronghold of the ''Camisards'', local Calvinist Protestants who refused to abjure their faith after the revocation of the ''Edit de Nantes'' by the king of France. The Musée du Désert should be visited, in the Mas Soubeyran. It recalls all that history.
The countryside is very harsh, with nearly impenetrable mountains, numerous hamlets, which allowed the Camisards to resist to the french army. Two trees have contributed to the (relative) wealth of the Cévennes : the mulberry tree (the golden tree) for silk growing and the chestnut tree (the bread tree) for basic feed.

Le pont du Gard

by grannysmith

Le pont du Gard
This is one of the most amazing places I have ever seen!

It's a relic of the Roman era in the Mediterranean -- basically a bridge over a river. But the sheer size and majesty of it as it spans a whole valley and rises several floors is breathtaking.

What is totally incredible is that the sides are unprotected which preserves the original design but means you have to be extra careful of the drop.
Don't go if you suffer from vertigo!

LOST IN TRANSLATION

by roastie

"Do as the French do, party."

After our ski vacation spent the last two unforgetable nights in Montpellier, Thanks to the gals for the invitation to your party and for taking us to your favorite clubs. Enjoyed dancing with ya!

Seriously regretting lettimg my French slip away.

"Olde Town"

Due to the falling US dollar we did not spend much money on gifts. Primarily spent our money on food and wine.

10 Tips For Bargain Spotters

by toontraveller

1. Do your research. All markets should have some bargains up for grabs but some simply aren't worth the bother. Check for seasonal and specialist ones.

2. Get there early. You don't need to buy right away but you need to know what's on offer before it's gone.

3. Be Prepaired! Wrap up according to the weather and make sure you have plenty of change, some bags to carry off your buys and a pen and paper to write down any important information or contacts.

4. Have your breakfast. A warm drink and a light snack will give you the energy needed to get you through the crowds and keep you on your toes.

5. Pick things up. You can't judge something properly unless you pick it up and have a good look. The seller wouldn't be there if they didn't want to sell so don't buy a duffer and check thouroughly.

6. Ask questions. Ask things like how old is it, where did it come from, does it work, is it complete. If its good or cheap ask if there are any more!

7. Look out for damage. As tempted as you may be to buy something because of its price, if its damaged it will be worth far less and appeal to fewer people. There are some exceptions if an item is extremely rare but my tip is to buy near perfect items as the are easier to sell on and more likely to increase in value.

8. Look out for usefull objects. Ornaments are often very individual and unless a specific make or type they probably have a very fluid value but if you buy something usefull like a mirror, a picture frame, a coat hook or a piece of furniture then not only will prove more popular but you'll probably find more buyers for it yourself.

9. Barter. There is no way you should ever have to pay the asking price at a flea market of fair. A good seller will always start with a high but reasonable price and a good buyer should be able to get at least 20% knocked off. Ask for further discounts if you buy more things or ask the seller to throw something in for free.

10. Don't get carried away. Bargain hunting should be fun, a day out with something to show at the end of the day. Unless you are out to make serious money you should be able to find some nice things for yourself or friends, to keep or sell on but don't go silly on things you don't plan to keep. It's easy to turn a hobby into a nightmare and end up with a pile of unwanted junk. Be warned! there was a reason for these being sold in the first place so buy wisely.