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.

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.

Some forty kilometres from Montpellier, the Hérault Valley offers visitors an incredible variety of landscapes, both natural and architectural. You haven't truly seen the valley until you've explored its majestic gorges. Over the ages, water has shaped the rock to create all sorts of cavities, arches and giant's cauldrons, all forming a spectacular canyon in a resolutely wild and unspoilt setting!

Man has also contributed to the beauty of the landscape, notably through the construction of the Devil's Bridge (Pont du Diable), built in the 11th century at the entrance to the gorges. Today it is cobbled with pebbles, as in medieval times, and is a very popular place of passage for pilgrims on the Way of St. James. They stop by Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert, one of the main stopovers in the Hérault Valley. Nestling within a narrow valley, this beautiful and charming village is known for its Gellone Abbey, a gem of Languedocian Romanesque art which houses the relics of St. William and the True Cross. An ideal place for a leisurely stroll, the medieval town is sure to win you over with its picturesque lanes dotted with artisans' shops, and its pretty square in the shade of a magnificent century-old plane tree. Nearby, it's well worth spending some time at the Cirque of L'Infernet, a gigantic natural wall formed by tall cliffs.

Lastly, don't forget to visit one of Hérault's most impressive natural sites: the Clamouse Cave, whose impressive concretions make it a truly magical place to be...

If you are going to the Hérault Valley in the summer period, be sure to take a canoe-kayak ride on the river, an ideal way to explore the area from a different angle!

At the heart of the Hérault Gorges, in the municipality of Saint-Jean-de-Fos, three kilometres from the medieval village of Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert, the Clamouse Cave contains a magical world. Discovered by potholers in 1945, it is now a listed Scientific Site.

On the guided tour, you can admire stunning concretions adorning the ground, ceilings and walls of the large chambers. This is the most diverse range of crystalline formations seen in France. Incredible-looking stalactites, stalagmites, discs and other shapes grace the walls, forming irregular lines. Bathed in magnificent crystalline glows or immaculate colours, they look dazzling thanks to the ingenious LED lamp lighting, the first of its kind in France. In the white corridor and the eccentric room, a truly extraordinary sight awaits you: incredible, winding lines of extreme whiteness seem to move in the rock. The draperies of stalactites and snowflake-like aragonite crystals are also among the treasures in this famous cave, a favourite among underground explorers.

For sportier visitors, a speleopark trail provides a chance to explore the cave in a more acrobatic manner while receiving an introduction to potholing. A fun and immersive itinerary!

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!

On the Way of St. James, about forty kilometres from Montpellier in the heart of the wild Hérault Gorges, nestles a superb village known for its famous Gellone Abbey, which attracts many pilgrims and visitors every year. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it fits in perfectly with the surrounding rocky landscape and is remarkable for housing the relics of St. William and the True Cross. To get there, walk along the picturesque, flowery streets to Place de la Liberté, where the abbey church portal stands. After admiring the abbey's Romanesque architecture and especially its remarkable chevet, don't hesitate to pay the cloister a visit. Bathed in natural light, it offers a peaceful setting that once more demonstrates the serenity of this place.

Then go for a stroll on the cobbled streets lined with old stone houses interspersed with the little artisans' shops that make the town so charming. Take a break on its pretty square, complete with fountain, and enjoy a drink in the shade of its magnificent century-old plane tree.

If you love scenic viewpoints, don't forget to climb to the heights of the medieval city, where a breathtaking view of the valley awaits you! You can also go from Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert to the Cirque of L'Infernet, an immense natural wall formed by gigantic cliffs, where vines and olive trees grow on tiered terraces. To get there, take Rue du Bout du Monde from Place de la Liberté and follow the path along the river. A wonderful change of scene!

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Navacelles cirque is located between the limestone plateaus of Le Larzac and Blandas, between the departments of Gard and Hérault, and is a listed Grand National Site, forming an impressive natural amphitheatre with its tall limestone cliffs. The beauty of the place can be fully appreciated from the panoramic viewpoints of La Baume Auriol and Blandas. At the centre of the cirque, the picturesque village of Navacelles is particularly photogenic, with its waterfall and spectacular environment. Superb!