Tourism Béziers
Would you like to visit Béziers, but are wondering what you’ll be able to see during your stay at our campsite in the Hérault? Béziers has a rich history: it is said to have been built by the Greeks in the 7th century BC, making it the oldest town in France. Today, it is one of the largest communes in the Hérault department.
At the foot of the Haut-Languedoc Regional Nature Park, it lies between the River Orb and the Canal du Midi. The heart of the town is full of monuments steeped in history.
The heritage of the past is complemented by a more recent style, century after century: Béziers has a rich heritage to explore, from the arena to the 12th-century Pont-Vieux, the Canal du Midi, the Penitent chapel and the Cathedral of Saint-Nazaire… Discover its many must-see tourist attractions.
A TOUR OF DOWNTOWN BÉZIERS
Relaxation in the water is guaranteed!
The historic heart of Béziers boasts a number of attractive alleyways. You can walk all the way to the Allées Paul Riquet, where all the hustle and bustle of the city is concentrated. This is where all the festive events take place, and it’s also where you’ll find plenty of shops to do your shopping and bring back some lovely vacation souvenirs. This 650-meter-long pedestrian street linking the theater and the Plateau des Poètes is often compared to Barcelona’s iconic Ramblas avenue.
At the center of the promenade, you can admire the 19th-century statue of Pierre-Paul Riquet, founder of the Canal du Midi. Enjoy a glass of wine on a terrace.
Opposite the statue, the vast 2-hectare Place Jean-Jaurès features two water mirrors. Every evening, one of them is transformed into a musical jeyser, lit up in a thousand colors, a magical spectacle for the whole family to enjoy.
Less than 15 minutes’ walk away, you can admire the medieval Pont-Vieux, typical of the Romanesque style, which spans the Orb river. It has been a listed monument since 1963.
Discover the Plateau des Poètes, a superb, vast downtown garden created in 1867 and designated a historic monument in 1995. Its 5 hectares of greenery, stones, ponds and statues of poets, offer harmonious spaces and beautiful botanical arrangements.
RELIGIOUS BUILDINGS IN BÉZIERS
Béziers boasts a number of religious buildings, including the Cathedral of Saint-Nazaire, the Church of Saint-Jacques, the Penitent Chapel, the Basilica of Saint-Aphrodise and the Church of the Madeleine.
Gothic in architecture, Saint-Nazaire Cathedral was built in the Middle Ages, between the 13th and 15th centuries, on the ruins of a religious edifice that caught fire in 1209 during the Crusades. It has been listed as a historic monument since 1840.
You won’t be able to miss it: it will appear in your field of vision even before you cross the boundaries of the town of Béziers!
The Saint-Jacques church is one of the oldest in Béziers, with its apse classified as a historic monument in the early 20th century. It offers a splendid view of the Saint-Nazaire cathedral.
The chapelle des Pénitents features a 15th-century Gothic entrance, which is unusual in the Languedoc region. Many paintings and an ex-voto can be seen inside.
Enter the pre-Romanesque Basilica of Saint-Aphrodise and admire its magnificent stained glass windows.
The Madeleine church is Romanesque and dates back to the 11th century. Listed as a historic monument since 1987, it witnessed a massacre during the Crusades in the 13th century.
MUSEUMS TO DISCOVER IN BÉZIERS
The Musée du Biterrois presents collections that provide a better understanding of the natural history and evolution of Béziers and the surrounding area, as well as everything you need to know about life in Béziers from prehistory to the present day.
The Musée Fayet houses works by Béziers-born sculptor Injalbert. There are many sculptures and bronzes to admire. A pretty garden adjoins the museum, where concerts are held in June.
Afficionados can visit the bullfighting museum, which opened in 2015. You’ll learn all about the culture of bullfighting, which is very important in Béziers. Discover paintings depicting Spanish bullfighting between the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
THE ARENAS
Are you a fan of bullfighting and like to take part in ferias? Then you’ll love the Arènes. Known as the “Arènes du Plateau de Valras”, they were built in 1897. A landmark of Occitan tradition, the Béziers bullring has propelled the city to the rank of France’s leading bullfighting commune. Various cultural events take place here throughout the year, and part of August is devoted to the feria.
THE CANAL DU MIDI AND ITS LOCKS
The Canal du Midi: Conceived and built in the 17th century by Pierre-Paul Riquet, the Canal du Midi is both a masterpiece and an outstanding technical achievement. It revolutionized merchant transport at the time, linking the Garonne in Toulouse to the Etang de Thau in the Hérault, a distance of 241 km!
The Canal du Midi is the ideal place for family walks or bike rides along its banks. You can also hire a boat to take you out on the calm waters of the canal from Béziers, a unique way to discover the area during your camping vacation near Béziers!
The Fonseranes locks: 8 locks belonging to the Canal du Midi. This “Octuple”, comprising a succession of 9 basins, covers a height difference of over 21 meters over a distance of 300 meters. 350 years after its construction, the feat of the locks has so impressed visitors that they are now the third most visited site in the Languedoc region.
Ensérune archaeological site and museum
In Nissan-lez-Ensérune, a commune about 13 km from Béziers, there’s an exceptional site to visit. Ensérune is a Gallic village unearthed after archaeological excavations in the 19th century, and is said to be one of the most notable in the Midi. It appears to have been continuously inhabited from the 6th century BC until the 1st century AD. The village was a prosperous oppidum occupied by the Greeks between the 3rd and 5th centuries B.C., before being inhabited by the Gauls while continuing to develop. Discover the remains of this fortified town, its urban layout and the streets and houses of the Gauls of the time. The view from the site is breathtaking, with panoramic views across the Languedoc plain to the coast. To find out more about our Gaulish ancestors, the Musée d’Ensérune invites you to discover how they lived their daily lives through a collection of period objects.
HOW TO GET TO BÉZIERS
Béziers is easily accessible by train, bus, car and even plane, thanks to the Béziers-Cap d’Agde airport, just 15 kilometers away. Buses and cabs can then take you from the airport to the center of Béziers.
As for the train, it takes you to Béziers itself, which has a station in the city center. However, the easiest way to get to Béziers is by car, which gives you more freedom to explore the surrounding area.
WHERE TO FIND ACCOMMODATION IN BÉZIERS?
Just 15 km from Béziers, Le Cayola campsite offers a variety of comfortable accommodation just a stone’s throw from the beach. Ideal for a carefree holiday in Béziers!
