There are holidays; and then there are holidays in the South of France. If you've been fortunate enough to have spent some time poking around exploring the charming villages of the South of France, you'll know exactly what we mean. If you haven't yet treated yourself to this privilege - what are you waiting for? It's a simple enough matter to rent a gorgeous holiday villa in a prime location, giving you the perfect opportunity to get into the French "terroir" without it having to cost you the earth. Well connected to the rest of continental Europe due to extensive networks of low-cost flights, the South of France is an appealing year-round destination for summer fun and winter sports.

From the UK it's even possible to avoid flying by taking advantage of the Eurostar from London to Paris, and then taking a high-speed TGV across France to your chosen destination. It's a simple matter to traverse the whole of the country in a mere matter of hours, which means that you're ensured a quicker way to get where you're going, without the need to check-in to Paris hotels in transit. Travelling by train is also an effective way to minimise your eco-impact, leaving you to get set to enjoy your holidays in an environmentally-friendly way.

Spotlight on: Languedoc-Roussillon

One of the 26 regions of France, Languedoc-Roussillon is sometimes overlooked in favour of the neighbouring regions of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Rhône-Alpes, Auvergne, and Midi-Pyrénées, but stretching down to Spain and Andorra whilst the Mediterranean Sea laps at its shores, it certainly has a lot to offer holidaymakers. The region consists of the departments of Hérault, Gard, Aude, Lozère, and the Pyrénées-Orientales, ensuring not only a diverse cultural experience, but also diversity in terms of geography and climate.

Access: Uzès

By car: A9, Remoulins exit, then D981 (follow Alès).

By train: TGV to Nîmes or Avignon, then by bus.

By plane: Nîmes, Avignon, Montpellier.

To explore the north-east of the region and nearby Avignon, a stay in Uzès is recommended. This small and unassuming town not only boasts of being the first peerage Duchy in France, with an abundance of medieval architecture remaining to this day, but also of being home to the best butcher in Languedoc-Roussillon! Savour the past whilst enjoying the finest culinary offerings of the day, that's what it's about in Uzès, all whilst basking in more sun than you'd find at a Sydney beach or Los Angeles hotel! Hike amongst Roman ruins that lead to the famous Pont du Gard, then top it all off with a delicious ice cream or sorbet in the main square. This is bliss, and all a close distance from Nîmes, Montpellier, and Avignon. Those with sweet teeth will also have a great time running wild at the Haribo Museum.