Béziers, with its old stone avenues, is situated on a hilly site overlooking the Orb River, and it is only a couple of kilometers from the Med Sea. Tourists ought to start with the River of Orb, where there is an old bridge beneath the Saint-Nazaire Cathedral. The vast scenery from this Cathedral is a genuine charm. The street named for Paul Riquet, who built the Canal of the Midi, separates the old town (west) from the modern. For five days in mid-August, the Féria de Béziers provides a bullfights program, and vacationers from around the globe come to watch this staggering event. Here are some examples of the many attractions that this place invites you to visit:
1. Saint-Nazaire Cathedral of Béziers
The Cathédral Saint-Nazaire is a remarkable example of the southern French Gothic style of the fourteenth century. It is built in the western part of the old medieval town, on a prominence which overlooks the plain of the Orb River spreading underneath. It draws on all sides the view of the city. Pause for a minute to discover the excellence of the cathedral’s walls and to appreciate the beauty. Inside the cathedral, there are a couple of collections from the Romanesque period, and frescos dating back to the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries.
St Nazaire Cathedral
Address: 2 Impasse Baudin, 34500 Béziers, France
Contact: +33 467282289
Website: St Nazaire Cathedral (in French)
2. Canal du Midi
Canal du Midi was finished in 1681 due to the fantastic work of Paul Riquet. You will easily notice his name in many of Béziers’ landmarks. This Canal was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996. There is something exceptionally unique about this Canal, something that basically makes individuals become hopelessly enamored with it. Nowadays the Canal is a sanctuary for vacationers from over the world who come to luxuriate in its excellence. It is genuinely a magical holiday destination.
The Canal du Midi gloats some novel and genuinely stunning scenes. This delightful canal’s green waters wander aimlessly through the countryside flanked by a road of thousands of plane trees. There are presently an expansive number of companies offering both hire boats and hotel barges. The wide assortment of options is extraordinary. Some will even enable you to bring a pet!
Canal du Midi
Address: Beziers, France
Website: Canal du Midi
3. Fonserannes Locks
Fonserannes Locks are staircase locks on the Du Midi Canal comprising of seven working lock chambers and nine gates. These locks empower vessels to go through the chambers, enabling them to either go up or down the hill. At the time of their creation in the seventeenth century, the locks initially had nine chambers. Nowadays, they are only seven.
Fonserannes Locks
Address: Béziers, France
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4. Malpas Tunnel
The Malpas Tunnel was planned and excavated in 1679 by Pierre-Paul Riquet. It was Europe’s first navigable canal tunnel. By the time the Malpas Tunnel was excavated in the seventeenth century, the hill had already for several centuries been the site of a tunnel, dug in the Middle Ages. This pre-existing tunnel is said to have been Riquet’s inspiration for the Malpas Tunnel.
Malpas Tunnel
Address: 34440 Nissan-lez-Enserune, France
5. Old Bridge
The old bridge or “Pont Vieux”, which goes back to the twelfth century, is a wonderful Romanesque structure, famous for its asymmetrical arches. This landmark was entered on the rundown of historical landmarks in 1963. Today, le Pont Vieux is crossed by walking or by car. Inquisitively the Avenue de Pont Vieux is one-way now.
Pont Vieux
Address: 34500 Béziers, France
Opening Hours: Open 24 hours
6. Du Biterrois Museum
Du Biterrois Museum or “Musée du Biterrois” in an old barracks of the seventeenth century. It uncovers the history and the advancement of the man in this region. The collections of history, archeology, ethnology and natural sciences tell the social and economic existence of Béziers, from ancient times to the present day.
Musée du Biterrois
Address: Caserne Saint-Jacques, Rampe du 96EME Régiment d'Infanterie, 34500 Béziers, France
Contact: +33 467368161
Opening Hours: from 10am to 6pm (except Mondays)
Website: Musée du Biterrois (in French)
7. The Poets Plateau
The Poets Plateau or “Plateau des Poètes” is an immense arranged garden, situated toward the finish of the Paul Riquet alleys. This stop is portrayed by winding alleys, diversified vegetal environments, superb trees, a lake, fountains and above all the works of the sculptor Antonin Injalbert, including a fantastic Titan, a noteworthy piece of the garden.
Plateau des Poètes
Address: 21 Rue de la Rotonde, 34500 Béziers, France
Opening Hours: from 7am to 8pm
Website: Plateau des Poètes (in French)
8. Bishops’ Garden
The Bishops’ Garden or “Jardin des Evêques” was originally reserved for the clergy. It’s as quiet now as it was when the clergy withdrew here seeking some serenity a long time ago. At the foot of the cathedral, this garden terrace tenderly slips towards the Orb River. It overwhelms the encompassing scene, going by Du Midi Canal.
Jardin des Evêques
Address: 3 Rue des Albigeois, 34500 Béziers, France
Contact: +33 467768400
9. Allées Paul-Riquet
The Allées Paul-Riquet is a promenade bearing the name of the maker of the Canal du Midi, Pierre-Paul Riquet, a local of the city. They bear this name since 1868, while it was known in 1857 as “The walk of the theater,” alluding to the theater built in 1844 at the highest point of these alleys. The road is exceptionally wide and long, with twin rows of trees and stupendous old apartment blocks on each side. There is an extensive variety of restaurants and bars with terraces outside, and each Friday you can come shopping at the flower market.
Allées Paul Riquet
Address: 34500 Béziers, France
10. The Béziers Feria
Consistently around 15 August, nearly one million individuals come to Béziers for five days to participate in one of the biggest yearly festivals. The Béziers Feria comprises fundamentally of great corridas in the arena. In the nights there is additionally a giant festival in the town’s avenues. A lot of the nightly entertainment takes also place in Allées Paul-Riquet. A wide range of music and dance, shows and entertainment divert the public in an extraordinary tornado of feeling.
Arènes de Béziers
Address: 1 Avenue Jean Constans, 34500 Béziers, France
Contact: +33 467761345
Website: Arènes de Béziers (in French)
11. River activities
The temperature of the Orb River is moderate, specifically on the hot days. So, you could enjoy activities like canoeing, kayaking or paddle boarding. It’s likewise an approach to see the old bridge, Saint-Jacques Church, and the Jardin des Evêques.
Orb River
Address: Beziers, France
12. Wine tourism
Winery visits will likely be on the menu in the world’s biggest wine area. The diversification of this area makes any definition truly confused, yet as a dependable guideline, the reds delivered in this region are of the same quality as in other districts. The Canal du Midi additionally goes through a great number of wine developing regions, including the Herault, the Aude, Minervois, and Corbieres.
Vinodaqui
Address: 5 Allees du Chablis, 34500, Béziers, France
Brilliant Béziers!
The charming town of Béziers is well worth a visit. As you walk through the streets, you can’t help but pause for a while and enjoy the warm ambiance that envelops this city. It is indeed a feast for the senses.
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