Rent a South of France villa holiday and discover pre-history

Those taking South of France villa holidays will be sleeping on the same ground as some of the earliest settlers in Europe.

That is according to a new discovery by the National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), which discovered human artefacts in Languedoc's Herault Valley dating back 1.57 million years.

This means that the bones and tools uncovered significantly predate earlier estimations of when mankind first moved into Europe.

In fact, the remains are thought to be 200,000 years older than those discovered at sites such as Atapuerca in Spain.

"A discovery as rich as the one in the Herault Valley offers a real opportunity to better understand the Europe of this period," the CNRS said in a statement.

Languedoc is known for its historic villages and monuments, offering South of France holiday makers plenty to explore.

Beyond that, the region is also the largest single wine-producing area in the world, and offers everything from idyllic walks through the Pyrenees to large sandy beaches.

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