Lozère, Languedoc

Lozère is Languedoc Roussillon's odd-man-out. It differs from the other 4 departments in so many ways. Lozère has no Mediterranean coast. It has no major cities. It's all mountainous. It's not wine-producing. In fact, Lozère is a strange and beautiful place, France's least populated department, it sits high up in the 'Massif Centrale' - a rolling, mountain landscape that would remind you of Switzerland in places, Scotland in others. Lozère is green and lush, rather than dry and garriguey, with cows rather than vines, producing cheese rather than wine.

Lozère is famous for its cheeses - it even had quite a reputation for cheese-making in ancient Rome. Today, Roquefort, 'Bleu des Causses', and Tomme de Lozère are produced, and used in the region's rich cuisine - such as 'Aligot' - a delicious mix of mashed potato and cheese.

Lozère's village houses are made of blue-tinted shale, limestone and granite, again giving them a more northern feel. And the wildlife of Lozère is astounding: wolves prowl the Gevaudan area, and European Bison roam the high plains. Vultures can be found in the Jonte gorges.

Economically, Lozère is principally agricultural, producing those famous chesses and other dairy products. Tourism is growing, however, and the area is fast becoming a favourite with ramblers, bird watchers, campers and rock-climbers.

Property-wise, the Lozère region is still less popular than its Mediterranean cousins. It's a different ball-game really, more like The Lot or The Perigord, not a place for sun-lovers or city-slickers. But Languedoc's Lozère region is impressively beautiful and wild should you be looking to get away from it all.