Vacations and tourism in Vias, Hérault
Have you chosen your pitch or mobile home from our range of rentals? Have you been seduced by the large aquatic area with heated swimming pool, the children’s playground and the unforgettable activities supervised by our camping club entertainers?
Discover the sporting and cultural activities on offer in the beautiful town of Vias!
An attractive destination in the Hérault region, Vias offers visitors 5 km of fine sandy beaches, traditional markets with a warm atmosphere and unspoilt natural areas to discover on pleasant discovery tours, ideal for camping vacations in the Occitanie region.
Both a typical Occitan village nestled in a remarkable natural area and a modern, dynamic seaside resort, Vias is an ideal destination for a family holiday.
It’s the starting point for magnificent walks along the banks of the Canal du Midi, through vineyards, between wild ponds and in typical garrigue areas.
Discover the activities and visits to do during your family vacation at our campsite in Vias.
VIAS’ HERITAGE ON THE MEDITERRANEAN COAST
In the old town of Vias in the Languedoc Roussillon region, lovers of fine stonework and history will discover an important historical and architectural heritage: the maze of picturesque alleyways punctuated by small sunny squares conceals thefortified basalt church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste, beautiful 17th-century facades with Italianate doors, a belfry with double staircase, a picturesque covered market with circular facade, and a remarkable fountain.
Guided tours of the old town of Vias also reveal the remains of its circular ramparts and fortified gates, including the Porte de Saint-Thibéry. The Maison du Patrimoine is also a meeting place for history buffs and anyone interested in learning more about the past of the charming town of Vias.
WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH YOUR FAMILY IN VIAS IN LANGUEDOC ROUSSILLON?
On foot, by bike or at sea, Vias offers a wide range of tourist activities for all ages and tastes:
WATER SPORTS ACTIVITIES AT VIAS PLAGE MÉDITERRANÉE
The Vias resort offers a wide range of leisure activities to suit all holidaymaker profiles: children, families, keen sportsmen and women, water sports enthusiasts and thrill-seekers all find the ideal aquatic activities.
Scuba diving, sailing, jet skiing or paddling, kite surfing and wakeboarding, sea kayaking and towed buoys are all within easy reach of Le Cayola. Introductory dinghy courses, catamaran courses and windsurfing sessions are offered by the Vias sailing school.
For a more relaxing family experience, consider renting pedalos with toboggans. The fine sandy beaches, gentle waves and gradual depths of the sea are particularly suited to family holidays: children find an endless playground and enjoy safe swimming.
VIAS BY BIKE
There’s something exciting about exploring a city by bike, especially if you’re discovering it for the first time. Street life seems more vibrant, and the tastes and sounds overwhelm the senses.
When you’re out and about by bike, you can’t help but feel completely alive and immersed in the moment. Instead of simply gazing passively at monuments, you interact with these sites in a certain sense.
In and around Vias Plage, you can choose from a number of cycling routes. We have selected five of the most popular routes:
Le Grand Salan – Vias (medium level)
This 19.5 km route starts at the Vias Plage tourist office, avenue de la Méditerranée. The trails are marked with FFC (Fédération française du cyclisme) signs.
This means that the site is equipped for mountain biking, and that at least one mountain bike washing point is available, as well as tools for last-minute adjustments.
Along the way, hikers discover a number of major tourist sites, including the Libron locks at Vias. The route also follows the emblematic Canal du Midi, and takes visitors as far as Portiragnes, where they discover the Bel Air belvedere and the Grande Maïre, among others.
Les 3 Rivières – Vias (difficult level)
The starting point is the Vias tourist office on Avenue de la Méditerranée. The 23.8 km route is also suitable for mountain bikes, and is signposted by the FFC. It’s also a great opportunity to discover the Canal du Midi by bike, whether in Agde or Vias. The trails also lead to Bessan and its Touroulle chapel.
Les 3 Domaines – Vias (medium level)
This 12.4 km trail starts at the Vias Plage tourist office on Avenue de la Méditerranée. The trails are also FFC-certified, which means they are specially designed for mountain biking. The itinerary offers a leisurely ride on small roads towards the north of Vias, an area of breathtaking scenery and mostly farmland and vineyards.
Un Pichon de Cada Camin – Vias (medium level)
This is one of the most beautiful routes on the Vias mountain bike site, which, like all the others, starts at the town’s tourist office on Avenue de la Méditerranée. Riders set off over a 15 km distance and discover a mosaic of breathtaking landscapes, including the Canal du Midi and the Libron locks.
La boucle des Evêques – Vias (medium level)
This 17 km route is also part of the mountain bike site starting from the Vias Plage tourist office; the trails are FFC-certified.
There are many breathtaking landscapes to discover along the way. These include the Canal du Midi and the Libron locks.
The church at Bessan and the Mont-Saint-Claude viewpoint are also worth a visit. Passing through Saint-Thibéry, you’ll discover the Roman bridge, the Domaine de la Solancière and the Château de Sainte-Cécile.
WINE TOURISM IN VIAS, HÉRAULT
Wine heritage naturally occupies a central place in the history and culture of the Languedoc. It is closely linked to the very identity of this beautiful Mediterranean territory, having influenced minds, exchanges and lifestyles. The built heritage is just as much a part of the winegrowing culture as the vast vineyard landscapes.
These vineyards are renowned for the quality of the wines they produce. Some of France’s most prestigious estates can be found here. Le Bosc and Médeilhan spring to mind. Visitors also flock to the 13th-century Preignes-le-Vieux and 14th-century Preignes-le-Neuf châteaux.
The soils here are volcanic or clay-gravel. These unique characteristics, combined with the Mediterranean climate, give the Languedoc terroir its distinctive character. Above all, they are conducive to the gentle development of the vines.
A little history
The digging of the Canal du Midi in the 17th century, and its opening to the Bordeaux region, contributed to the growth of the vineyard. In Vias, wine was transported to Bordeaux in barrels at the Jonquié bridge.
Goods were loaded onto “boss” boats. It was a time of mass production. It was only a few years after the Second World War that French winegrowers slowly but surely moved towards quality production.
This transformation, however slow, gave French wine the world-renowned prestige it enjoys today. Although the Languedoc wine boom dates back to the 17th century, its central role in the region dates back to antiquity.
“The magnificent wine amphorae on display at the Musée de l’Ephèbe in Cap d’Agde bear witness to the vitality and importance of a very large port in our area some 2,500 years ago,” explains Pierre Bésinet, a winegrower in Vias, who believes that “the quality of the wines produced in the surrounding area, particularly on the volcanic tuffs of Agde, Vias, Portiragnes and Bessan” is nothing new.
The Languedoc winegrower has a point. The signature of the winemaker, the name of the estate and the year of harvest appear on every amphora shipped to a Roman country. Even in Roman times, French wine enjoyed a certain international prestige. The name of the winemaker, the estate and the vintage also appear on every bottle.
Wine tours and tastings
Tourism in Vias-Plage is an opportunity for many holidaymakers to breathe in the scent of vines and garrigue. These are just some of the sceneries that seduce visitors, after the joys of swimming or during a walk or bike ride.
Audiences of all ages and backgrounds are warmly welcomed to Languedoc wineries, where winemakers and winegrowers share their passion and culture.
Tasting is, of course, part of the program.
Visitors can enjoy wines made from the finest grape varieties, including Syrah, Grenache, Cinsault, Viognier, Chardonnay, Carignan and Mourvèdre. They can also taste atypical wines with subtle aromas.
The grape harvest festival: Per Vendémias
These festive events showcase Languedoc wineries and cellars. The events take place in the historic center. On the program: music, dance, bike rides, tastings… All to be discovered during your vacation on a cheap campsite in Vias.
THE BEACHES OF VIAS
The seaside resort of Vias lies between Cap d’Agde and Sérignan. It is one of the region’s most popular family destinations. The historic center is about two kilometers from Vias Plage, also known as the Farinette district.
The resort offers holidaymakers five kilometers of fine sandy beaches. They are divided into three main zones. To the east of the canal is La Tamarissière, a wild beach shared with Le Grau d’Agde.
There are three magnificent sandy beaches in the center of town. Close to the town center, they are supervised in summer. The western part of the resort offers a succession of wild beaches as far as Portiragnes.
These beaches are not supervised in summer, with the notable exception of Sainte-Geneviève. Vias is one of the many towns crossed by the Canal du Midi.
More precisely, this emblematic waterway can be found between the seaside resort and the historic center.
Many families take the time to stroll along the banks of the river, on foot or by bike.
These trails are also ideal for mountain biking.
A walk along the Canal du Midi offers a breathtaking mosaic of landscapes, as well as emblematic sites such as the locks where you can watch the various boats.
Other holidaymakers take a boat trip when visiting Vias. You don’t need a license to rent a boat for a day.
Others opt for cruises. These take them to Agde, Béziers or the Etang de Thau.
