The birthplace of Pierre-Paul Riquet, founder of the Canal du Midi, Béziers combines its age-old architecture with the beauty of the Orb, Hérault's emblematic river. A majestic monument, cherished by architecture-lovers, towers over its waters: the Cathedral of St. Nazarius, built in the 13th century. This Gothic fortress dominating the city is uniquely original. You could be forgiven for thinking you were visiting a castle! And yet the machicolations above the rose window, and the arrowslits beside the towers and turrets are only a decoy: this display was a way for the Catholic faith to assert its dominance over the Cathar heresy. Other original features await visitors inside. The carved wooden doors set in recesses in the stone are also a kind of optical illusion. They are actually never opened because of the wind, which could sweep away anything in its path.

To admire a breathtaking view of the whole of Béziers, head to the Bishop's Palace Garden (Jardin de l'Évêché) downhill from the cathedral. There you can enjoy a unique view over the Orb Plain and the city's bridges, which seem to spring from the ground. Take a stroll in the city centre along its cobbled, narrow streets. You will probably come across other treasures hidden between the old buildings, like the statue of Pépézuc, a mythical Béziers figure said to have saved the city from invaders during the Hundred Years War. Another curiosity: Béziers' old Roman arena. Unlike its counterpart in Nîmes, it is inhabited by locals. Above the ruins stand colourful residential buildings, a wonderful blend of past and present. However, visits must be arranged in advance as you cannot go in and out freely.

To get away from the urban hustle and bustle, take a trip to Béziers' old cemetery, which has echoes of Père-Lachaise in Paris. You can walk among the sculptures, cypress trees and graves, some of which are seemingly vying to be the most eccentric: unusual typography, elegant statues and other wonders adorn the stone.

Lastly, a trip to Béziers would not be complete without a visit to the legendary Allées Paul-Riquet, a pleasant avenue lined with plane trees, shops and lively café terraces.

Located in Nissan-lez-Enserune, on a hill overlooking a vast panorama, the Oppidum of Ensérune is a real open-air museum with reminders of its glorious past. As early as the 3rd century BC, the city experienced incredible expansion: it served as a trading platform occupied by Gaulish aristocrats. The latter controlled the site, which was located on the main routes linking the Italian and Spanish worlds via the Mediterranean. In order to keep pace with this expansion, all kinds of facilities and buildings were constructed, including streets and houses erected accordingly.

Along the signposted trail created to help visitors to discover this archaeological site, you can now admire a large number of silos dug into the rock that were once used to conserve water and store agricultural produce. Other objects and vestiges illustrate the opulence of Ensérune, as evidenced by archaeological excavations. Vases, weapons and warriors' attire are now on display in an impressive museum. All sorts of amphorae, bronze ornaments and coins can also be seen there, providing evidence of Ensérune's erstwhile affluence.

Make the most of the oppidum's advantageous position to admire the site's direct view over the drained wetland of Montady and its plots of farmland forming an incredible sun shape.

About fifteen kilometres to the east of Narbonne, City of Art and History, at the foot of the Clape mountain, in the Regional Natural Park of Narbonne in the Mediterranean, lies the seaside resort of Narbonne-Plage. Carrying the European Blue Flag label, the resort is appreciated for its long beach – no fewer than five kilometres of fine sand – which is great for relaxing, bathing, and for sports activities such as sailing, beach volleyball, jet-skiing, sand yachting, catamaran or sea kayak. There is also lots of entertainment in the summer at Narbonne-Plage, such as evening markets, open-air shows and traditional festivals...

For nature-lovers, the resort is a good starting point for rambles on the wild, unspoilt Clape massif.

Known as the Black Pearl of the Mediterranean, this famous seaside resort in Hérault is renowned for its summery atmosphere and naturist district. Its unspoilt natural environment stretches out around Mont Saint-Loup, an ancient volcano rising to 113 metres which last erupted 750,000 years ago. Whether wild or developed, Cap d'Agde's 14 kilometres of beaches all attract travellers in search of relaxation. Unique in the region, the Grande Conche beach enchants lovers of dreamlike landscapes with its black sand and tall volcanic cliffs facing the turquoise sea!

After a swimming session, treat yourself to a walk along Cap d'Agde harbour and its ten basins. More athletic types will no doubt prefer the water sports centre offering a range of marine activities such as windsurfing, catamaran, canoe-kayaking, pedal boating and stand up paddleboarding. Opposite, you will see Brescou Fort, built at the end of the 16th century, its stone form seeming to emerge from the water.

To the north of Cap d'Agde lies the Bagnas national nature reserve, spanning 561 hectares. The site is dotted with ponds and is totally devoid of buildings, offering a chance to get away from it all, deep in the Occitan countryside. Bird-watchers will have a field day with around 250 bird species inhabiting the area, changing with the seasons. For those wanting to admire the scenery, there are paths for walkers and cyclists around the reserve.

At the heart of Hérault, the small city of Pézenas has great visitor appeal with its magnificent old architecture and exceptional crafts. Sculptors, potters, cabinetmakers, glassblowers and so many others contribute to Pézenas' rich heritage.

This treasure is a legacy of the city's glorious past. As the capital of the Estates General of Languedoc in the 16th century, the city enjoyed a golden age: many private mansions were built alongside other sumptuous buildings. Today, you can visit some of them, such as the Lacoste mansion, which houses a very fine rib vaulted vestibule, as well as a magnificent square spiral staircase. The Malibran mansion, meanwhile, is remarkable for its façade decorated with mascarons of smiling female faces. Admire the wrought iron balconies, a reminder of the opulence of the period.

As Languedoc's answer to Versailles, Pézenas welcomed some illustrious personalities, the most famous of whom was Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, better known as Molière. As he was not welcome in the French capital, he moved to Pézenas in 1647. In a small square on Place du 14 Juillet, a monument is dedicated to him, created in 1897 by Jean-Antonin Injalbert.

Continue your visit to Pézenas by strolling through the cobbled streets where the old houses - some of which date back to the Middle Ages - are decorated with colourful shutters echoing the bright hues of the art and craft shops. At the House of Crafts (Maison des Métiers d'Art), based in the 17th-century former consular house, you can discover work by creative craftspeople, such as sculptures, jewellery, fashion items, tableware and decorative objects. You can't leave Pézenas without a handmade souvenir! To add a gastronomic touch to your visit, indulge in the succulent petits pâtés de Pézenas (pies with a sweet and savoury mutton filling) from Maison Alary.

The 2,500 year-old City of Art and History of Narbonne has a rich heritage; it was the capital of the Narbonne region of Gaul, the place where the Visigoth kings resided and the site of the Archbishops' palace. In the heart of the historic centre, two buildings, listed as Historic Monuments, merit a visit: the cathedral of Saint-Just-et-Saint-Pasteur and the Archbishops' Palace.

Unfinished, the 13th and 14th-century Narbonne cathedral has retained an absolutely spectacular choir; with 41-metre-high arches it is the highest Gothic choir in the south of France! The axial chapel is distinguished by a splendid 14th- century altarpiece in polychromatic stone. The Treasure Room reveals a rich collection of gold and silver artefacts, tapestries and liturgical objects. Afterwards, don't forget to take a stroll in the peaceful Gothic cloister, before heading off to the Archbishopric's garden, where you can admire the flying buttresses and the south tower of the cathedral as well as the façade of the new palace, at your leisure. The site of the Town Hall and the Museums of Art and Architecture, the Archbishops' Palace has a number of different areas which are open to visitors: the old palace, Romanesque in origin, the Gilles Aycelin keep, the new Gothic style palace and the Saint-Martial and Madeleine towers. Dating from the end of the 13th and beginning of the 14th centuries, the keep offers a panoramic view of Narbonne, the coast, the Corbières and the Pyrenees from its upper terrace!

Then there's nothing better than a coffee break at one of the café terraces in the lively Place de l'Hôtel de Ville, before resuming your walk towards the Canal de la Robine and its charming Promenade des Barques, where you can treat yourself to a ride in an electric boat.

Narbonne also has plenty to offer when it comes to museums, with its archaeological museum which houses a remarkable exhibition of Romanesque paintings, its Museum of Art and History, with substantial collections of fine and decorative art, its Museum of Masonry located in the ancient church of Our Lady of Lamourguier, and the house where Charles Trenet was born, which is now entirely dedicated to the famous "Singing Fool".

"Y'a d'la Joie" ("Joy is all around") sang Charles Trenet, and there is certainly joy at the end of August every year when the Trenet Festival takes place, celebrating French popular song with concerts, shows, bodegas and street art!

Overlooking the archaeological excavation site of a Gallo-Roman potters' workshop, the Amphoralis Museum describes the history of pottery production in Sallèles-d'Aude, which lasted from the first century B.C. to the third century A.D.

In this museum, which is divided into four sections (production, firing, daily life and trade), you can learn about the business and daily life of these potters of Antiquity, who mass produced amphorae for transporting wine.

There is an outside walk, where you can see reconstructions of kilns and a dwelling, as well as a garden with more than 900 plants which existed in the Gallo-Roman period, to pleasantly round off your visit.

The picturesque village of Roquebrun, which overlooks the Orb Valley, truly deserves its nickname, "the little Nice of Hérault". It's ideally located in the Haut-Languedoc Regional Nature Park, 30 kilometres from Béziers. Its shale-rich soil, which has the particularity of retaining water and storing heat, makes it a unique place where exotic vegetation thrives.

Its exceptionally balmy microclimate enables mimosas, exotic plants, and orange, lemon and other citrus fruit trees to flourish, even in the middle of winter. The magnificent Mediterranean garden, with a remarkable collection of succulents and exotic plants, a Mediterranean orchard and a botanical trail dedicated to the local flora, is the unmissable highlight of this plant paradise.

But Roquebrun is also a charming village. It's a pleasure to wander its narrow streets, admiring its close-packed houses, sun-drenched roofs and vineyards, as well as the River Orb and the bridge across it dating from 1870. Water sports enthusiasts can go canoe-kayaking on the river. Keen photographers, meanwhile, can enjoy some beautiful viewpoints over the village from the Route de Laurenque or near the Church of St. Andrew!

The vast Regional Natural Park of Narbonne in the Mediterranean covers 80,000 hectares in the east of the department of Aude. It has a truly diverse countryside, from lagoons and fine sandy beaches on the Mediterranean coast, to vineyards and garrigue in the Corbières, as well as the rocky escarpments of the Clape massif.

This wild and unspoilt natural environment, which displays a remarkable degree of biodiversity, is protected by the Narbonne Park and its Regional Nature Reserve. Composed of lagoons, dunes, beaches, old salt marshes, pine woods and garrigue, the Ile Sainte-Lucie Nature Reserve, in the commune of Port-la-Nouvelle, is one of the largest nature reserves on the French coastline. There are so many natural treasures to enjoy during a revitalising ramble along the paths and lanes which run through this peaceful land...It is also a safe haven for a good number of birds, either nesting or migratory, which appreciate the resting and nesting places offered by the lakes of the Narbonne area.

With its seaside resorts such as Narbonne-Plage, Gruissan-Plage and Leucate, the Narbonne Park in the Mediterranean is also an ideal place to relax and enjoy a wide range of water sports!

A jewel in Languedoc's crown, Valmagne Abbey is a treat for medieval architecture enthusiasts. You can travel there from the pretty city of Pézenas: the vineyards suddenly transform into a river of limestone hills surrounding the majestic abbey, founded in 1138. This monument's originality lies in its mixture of styles, combining Cistercian and Benedictine architecture from the 12th and 14th centuries. It was taken over by the Count of Turenne in 1838 and passed on down the generations. 40,000 people now go there each year to visit the heart of the abbey, within its Gothic church standing 23 metres tall and 83 metres long.

Walk through the incredible series of arcades and bay windows that let in natural light beneath the remarkable rib vaults. You will notice a rather unique architectural feature for a place of this kind: the church was converted into a wine cellar at the end of the 18th century, of which the Russian oak casks still remain. This provides a reminder of the wine-making tradition of the abbey, formerly known as the Cathedral of the Vines. These vines still grow around the building and keep Valmagne's winemaking legacy alive.

Continue your tour with a visit to the cloister. In the middle stands a beautiful octagonal fountain, its peaceful song filling the air. Opposite, you can glimpse the lush greenery through the arches.

Another sight to discover is the charming medieval garden featuring plants used in the Middle Ages and offering a delightful botanical walk. Outside the abbey is also a large kitchen garden designed to supply the estate's farmhouse and inn. Gourmets will be pleased to hear that it is entirely organic!

Between sea and lagoons, in the heart of the Regional Natural Park of Narbonne in the Mediterranean, stands the old, circular village of Gruissan, overlooked by the Barberousse medieval tower. As well as its village with typical little streets, the commune of Gruissan has two marinas, and a pretty Blue Flag listed bathing resort two kilometres away. Endowed with beautiful fine sandy beaches, great for relaxing and water sports, the resort of Gruissan-Plage is also remarkable for its picturesque neighbourhood made up of 1,300 chalets on stilts...

Besides its numerous summer entertainments, in May every year there is a big festival in Gruissan, Les Festejades, lasting three days, where the public can enjoy concerts, brass bands and batucada groups in a party atmosphere.

A certified Tourist Resort (Station de Tourisme), Lamalou-les-Bains enjoys an ideal location at the heart of the Haut-Languedoc Regional Nature Park. Between vineyards and the Cévennes, its idyllic natural environment at an altitude of 200 metres will delight lovers of green, rolling landscapes.

Its renowned thermal waters have neurological and rheumatological benefits, as recognised by Doctor Charcot. Lamalou is one of the few spa resorts to have developed genuine expertise in chronic illnesses and neurological ailments. Its thermal baths with certified pools, functional treatment areas and dedicated neurology treatments all contribute to effective multidisciplinary care. The resort also has a thermal spa offering balneotherapy treatments, where you can relax and unwind.

The surrounding area is also full of gems to discover! The Romanesque Priory of St. Peter of Rhèdes, dating from the 11th and 12th centuries and featuring Roman columns and a superb bas-relief of St. Peter, has become a centre of activities at the spa resort. Near the forest, 2 kilometres from the resort, Lamalou-les-Bains golf course is an inviting place to enjoy a few rounds, while the forest of soldier-writers, 7 kilometres away, offers numerous walks on its pleasant paths amidst various plant species. For craft enthusiasts, the Bell Museum in Hérépian, 4 kilometres away, teaches visitors about the manufacturing techniques used by the old bell foundry.

Lamalou also has a rich natural environment with the Passa Païs greenway running through the resort and extending into the mid-mountain landscapes, vineyards, forests and bucolic meadows. You may also come across a few tunnels and Eiffel bridges. Don't miss the Colombières gorges or Héric gorges either, or the villages of Villemagne-l'Argentière and Bédarieux.

This astounding geological phenomenon, resembling a huge amphitheatre covering 340 hectares, forms a curious forest of dolomite rocks of uneven appearance. These unruly lines are due to the fact that erosion affected individual parts of the site differently, to the delight of visiting photographers! With a bit of imagination, maybe you can spot the various animal-shaped rocks?

You can explore the 160 million-year-old site on the various hiking trails that wind their way between these limestone giants, at the foot of which lies golden sand that contrasts with their greyish colour. The rock is also draped with dense vegetation, exuding a delightful pine scent to the sweet sound of the cicadas.

In order to enjoy a stunning view of the dolomitic cirque, head towards the Courtinals Park, an integral part of the site. Its belvedere has an orientation table covering a superb panorama. Note: the paths are accessible from the medieval village of Mourèze, perched on a rocky spur. A walk along its pretty, narrow streets is a great way to complete your day out!

Covering 7,500 hectares, the Étang de Thau lagoon is located in the municipality of Bouzigues in Hérault, measuring19 km long and 5 km wide with a mean depth of 4.5 m. This Natura 2000 protected site is the biggest lagoon in Languedoc. The abundance of phytoplankton, a natural resource involved in the cultivation of oysters and mussels, has allowed the expansion of oyster and mussel farming.

The diversity of this small inland sea, with its many shades of blue, is exceptional! Numerous animal and plant species form a precious ecosystem. Algae and flowering plants thrive alongside many species of fish (sardines, sea bream, mackerel, sole, but also slugs, molluscs and crustaceans) which live on different levels, some near the surface and others close to the bottom.

The Bouzigues hollow oyster has been farmed there since Antiquity. The oyster beds now stretch as far as the eye can see, and this business employs nearly two-thousand people, mostly on family-run farms. You can learn more about the art of fishing and shellfish farming by visiting the Étang de Thau Museum, in Bouzigues. The producers based around the lagoon will be happy to meet you, show you their skills and invite you to taste their products.

Although it is a protected site, the Thau Basin is also a leisure destination. You can practise sailing, canoe-kayaking, windsurfing, stand up paddle and kitesurfing there.

Thermalism is also part of the local heritage. Between the Thau lagoon and the Mediterranean, the second largest spa in France, Balaruc-les-Bains, offers its guests the benefits of its healing waters. Those who like to take it easy can enjoy a moment of relaxation and wellness at the O'Balia thermal spa, whose two complementary areas have a variety of atmospheres.

Bordered to the south by the Canal du Midi and to the north by the Montagne Noire mountain range, the medieval town of Minerve nestles amid breathtaking scenery: the gorges carved into the limestone of the Causses are covered with vegetation, combined with human architectural feats such as the magnificent viaduct bridge giving access to the village. One of its advantages is its geographical location. Minerve is positioned on a rock at the confluence of two rivers, the Brian and the Cesse, creating the impression of a peninsula. So the houses are perched on their rocky spur and when seen from above, appear to be suspended in space. It's no surprise that Minerve is listed among the most beautiful villages of France!

Strolling around the town, you may notice remnants of its eventful history. A tall, medieval tower made of stone, the Candela, is still standing. It once belonged to the castle. The village also welcomed the Cathars, who refused to renounce their faith and surrender to the enemy army. You can make out a few ruined ramparts as well as some masonry elements that bear witness to the siege against them.

Take a stroll along Minerve's ancient cobbled lanes. The houses with old stone façades seem to tell a thousand secrets. You can also visit its palaeontology and archaeology museum, become setting off to discover its natural heritage. In the summer, be sure to take a stroll near its two natural bridges, impressive tunnels carved into the rock that make for an unusual experience!

Nestling between the Mediterranean Sea and the Thau lake, with its old port, its canals, its bridges and its buildings with beautiful colourful facades, Sète wears well its nickname of Venice of Languedoc. First fishing port of the Mediterranean Sea, Sète is a favourite destination for the gourmets appreciating seafood.

The mount Saint-Clair, which dominates the city from the top of its 183 metres, offers a magnificent view of Sète and its surrounding countryside.

In August, during the Saint-Louis festival, takes place the famous jousts tradition Sète: two opponents standing each on a boat, armed with a lance and a wooden shield, must bring down each other in the water.

An important conservation area for the natural environment and endangered animal species, the Sigean African Reserve, nestling on the edge of the Bages-Sigean lagoons, is home to nearly 900 mammals, 600 reptiles and 2,000 birds living in its 300 hectares in semi-captivity.

Open to the public throughout the year, the Sigean Reserve provides two ways to enjoy the space:

A trip of about an hour by car, passing through the African Bush, the Tibetan bear park, the lion park and the African savannah, where you can admire white rhinoceroses, zebra and Somalian donkeys, amongst others.

There's a walking circuit of about three hours, for adults and children to go in search of antelopes, ostriches and other animals of the African plain. In the course of your walk you can also find the chimpanzees' island, the vivarium and the Œil de Ca lake, dotted with pink flamingos and pink-backed pelicans...

A listed site near the Cirque of Mourèze in Hérault, Lake Salagou looks like something from the other side of the world, with its crystal waters at the heart of a red desert resembling a miniature Far West. A real oasis, the lake is the only aquatic area in this arid territory. It was created in the 60s in order to irrigate the valley and is now a delight for anyone into swimming, fishing, walking and the great outdoors.

Apart from enjoying all the fun of the water and maybe a spot of sailing, stand up paddleboarding or canoe-kayaking, people also go there to take advantage of the 27 kilometres of trails surrounding the lake, on foot or by mountain bike. The deep red earth, which gives the place all its magic, is due to the presence of an ancient volcano.

On the north-western shore of the lake, the small village of Celles, which was abandoned following the expulsion of its inhabitants when the dam was filled with water in 1969, has been gradually coming back to life since the arrival of new residents in 2019.

At about fifteen kilometres from Narbonne, in the heart of a quiet vale in the Corbières, in a setting of cypress and pine trees, nestles the former Sainte-Marie de Fontfroide Abbey, a charming, picturesque ensemble founded at the end of the 11th century by Benedictine monks and affiliated with the Cistercian Order in 1145.

Admirably restored, this Cistercian monument is open to the public throughout the year, and can be seen in a guided tour of about an hour or during a themed tour... A great chance to appreciate some wonderfully serene places, such as the 12th-century abbey church, with modern stained glass windows, the cloister with Romanesque columns, the majestic, marble-columned chapter house, the buildings for monks and lay people, not forgetting the terraced gardens and the superb rose garden with no fewer than 2,500 rose bushes!

You can taste the AOP Corbières wines from the estate, and numerous cultural events take place here, from classical music concerts to exhibitions, as well as the Plant Festival in May.

Nestling at the heart of the Corbières Maritimes, in the Regional Natural Park of Narbonne in the Mediterranean, is the seaside resort of Leucate, which has a Blue Flag label, eight beaches and 18 kilometres of fine sand! A dream for lovers of relaxation and water sports...

A paradise for fans of board sports, Leucate and its little resort of La Franqui, full of retro charm, are great places to practise kitesurfing, sand yachting, windsurfing, stand-up paddle boarding and also kite-flying, thanks to the Tramontane wind which blows more than 300 days a year...

Leucate is also a typical village with a busy, lively square, a naturists' area, and a huge marina, Port-Leucate, which is one of the largest marinas in the European Mediterranean!

It is also a favoured spot for nature walks, like for example along the Cap Leucate cliffs, along Coussoles beach, listed by Natura 2000, or by the banks of Lake Salses-Leucate. Be sure to visit the Lake House (Maison de l'Étang), in the oyster-farming centre, which seeks to raise awareness of the natural heritage of Lake Salses-Leucate.

The high point of the board sports calendar is when the Mondial du Vent de Leucate-La Franqui takes place every year in the Easter holidays. As well as kitesurfing, windsurfing and stand-up paddle board competitions, there are numerous demonstrations and lots of entertainment!