Holidays and tourism in Vias, Hérault
Have you chosen your pitch or mobile home from among our various rentals? You have been seduced by the large aquatic area with a heated swimming pool, by the children’s playground and the unforgettable activities supervised by our campsite club’s activity leaders?
Discover now the sports and cultural activities to do in the beautiful town of Vias!
An attractive destination in the Hérault, Vias offers its visitors 5 km of fine sandy beaches, traditional markets with a warm atmosphere and preserved natural areas to discover through pleasant discovery tours, ideal for a camping holiday in Occitania.
Both a typical Occitan village nestled in a remarkable natural area and a modern and dynamic seaside resort, Vias is an ideal destination for a family holiday.
It is the starting point for magnificent walks along the banks of the Canal du Midi, through the vineyards, between the wild ponds and in the typical garrigue areas.
Discover the activities and visits to do during your family holiday around camping Paradis Le Cayola in Vias.
THE HERITAGE OF VIAS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN COAST
In the old town of Vias in the Languedoc Roussillon region, lovers of beautiful stones and history will discover an important historical and architectural heritage: the maze of picturesque streets punctuated by small sunny squares conceals the basalt fortified church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste, beautiful 17th century facades with Italianate doors, a belfry with double staircases, a picturesque covered market with a circular facade, or a remarkable fountain
Guided tours of the old town of Vias also allow you to discover the remains of its circular ramparts and fortified gates, among which the Porte de Saint-Thibéry still remains today. The Maison du Patrimoine is also a meeting place for history buffs and anyone who wants to know more about the past of the charming town of Vias.
WHAT TO DO WITH YOUR FAMILY IN VIAS IN LANGUEDOC ROUSSILLON?
On foot, by bike or at sea, there are many tourist activities in Vias, and there is something for all ages and all tastes:
- Spend the day at Europark Plage in Vias and its new attraction: the Dark Zone, for the pleasure of young and old alike
- A day trip on the Canal du Midi
- Stroll through the streets of Vias en front-de-mer, and stop in one of the many restaurants
- Try your hand at stand up paddling or canoeing on the beach at Vias in the sunny south of France
- Rent a bike and ride along the famous Canal du Midi or along the Mediterranean coastline
WATER SPORTS ACTIVITIES AT VIAS PLAGE MÉDITERRANÉE
The resort of Vias has a wide range of leisure activities adapted to all types of holidaymakers: children, families, sports enthusiasts, water sports enthusiasts and thrill-seekers will find the ideal water activities.
Just a few steps away from the Paradis Le Cayola campsite, you can go diving, sailing, jet skiing or paddling, kite surfing and wakeboarding, sea kayaking, as well as towed buoys. Introductory dinghy courses, catamaran courses and windsurfing sessions are offered by the Vias sailing school.
For a more relaxing family experience, consider hiring pedalos with slides. The fine sandy beaches, gentle waves and gradual depths of the sea are particularly suitable for families: children have endless playgrounds and enjoy safe swimming.
VIAS BY BIKE
There is something exciting about cycling through a city, especially if you are discovering it for the first time. Life on the street seems more vibrant and the flavours and sounds overwhelm the senses.
When you ride a bike, you can’t help but feel completely alive and immersed in the moment. Instead of just passively looking at the monuments, you interact with these sites in a certain sense.
In Vias Plage and the surrounding area, there are several cycling routes to choose from. 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 tracks are marked with FFC (French Cycling Federation) signs.
This means that the site is equipped for mountain biking, that at least one mountain bike washing point is available, as well as tools for last-minute adjustments.
Along the way, hikers discover various major tourist sites, including the Libron locks in Vias. The route also follows the emblematic Canal du Midi, and takes visitors as far as Portiragnes where they discover, among other things, the Bel Air lookout and the Grande Maïre.
The 3 Rivers – Vias (difficult level)
The starting point remains the Vias tourist office, avenue de la Méditerranée. This 23.8 km route is also suitable for mountain bikes and is signposted by the FFC. The trip is a great opportunity to discover the Canal du Midi by bike, either in Agde or Vias. The tracks also lead to Bessan and its Touroulle chapel.
Les 3 domains – Vias (medium level)
This 12.4 km route starts at the Vias Plage tourist office, avenue de la Méditerranée. The tracks are also FFC approved, which means that they are specially designed for mountain biking. The itinerary offers a quiet ride on small roads towards the north of Vias, an area with breathtaking landscapes and where you will cross mainly agricultural areas and wine estates.
A Pichon of Cada Camin – Vias (average 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 distance of 15 km and discover a whole mosaic of breathtaking landscapes, including the Canal du Midi and the Libron locks.
The Bishops’ loop – Vias (average level)
This 17 km route is also part of the mountain bike site from the Vias Plage tourist office; the tracks are FFC approved.
Several breathtaking landscapes can be discovered along the route. The Canal du Midi and the Libron locks come to mind.
The church in Bessan and the Mont-Saint-Claude lookout are also worth a visit. Passing through Saint-Thibéry, you will discover, among other things, the Roman bridge, the Solancière estate and the Sainte-Cécile castle.
WINE TOURISM IN VIAS IN THE HÉRAULT
The 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 ways of life. The built heritage is part of the imprint of the wine culture, as are the vast vineyard landscapes.
This vineyard, precisely, is appreciated for the quality of the wines it produces. One finds there some of the most prestigious domains of France. One thinks of course of Bosc and Médeilhan. Many visitors also go to the 13th century châteaux Preignes-le-Vieux and Preignes-le-Neuf from the 14th century.
The soils here are volcanic or clay-gravel. These unique characteristics, combined with the Mediterranean climate, give the Languedoc terroir its specificity. Above all, they are favourable to the gentle development of the vine.
A little bit of history
The digging of the Canal du Midi in the 17th century, as well as its opening to Bordeaux, contributed to the development of the vine. At that time, in Vias, the wines were transported to Bordeaux in barrels, at the Jonquié bridge.
The goods were then loaded onto so-called ‘boss’ boats. It was a time when mass production was favoured. 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, has given French wine the world-renowned prestige it enjoys today. Although the development of Languedoc wine dates back to the 17th century, the central place it occupies in the region goes back to antiquity.
“The magnificent wine amphorae in the Musée de l’Ephèbe in Cap d’Agde attest 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, for whom “the quality of the wines produced in the surrounding area, particularly on the volcanic tuffs of Agde, Vias, Portiragnes and Bessan,” is not new.
The Languedoc winegrower is not so sure about this. It is known that the signature of the winegrower, the name of the estate and the year of the harvest appear on each amphora sent to a Roman country. Even in Roman times, French wine had a certain international prestige. The name of the winemaker, the name of the estate and the year of the harvest also appear on each bottle.
Wine tours and tastings
Vias Plage tourism is an opportunity for many holidaymakers to breathe in the scent of the vines and the garrigue. These are all settings 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 wine estates, where winemakers and winemakers share their passion and culture.
Tasting is of course part of the programme.
Visitors can enjoy wines made from the best grape varieties, including Syrah, Grenache, Cinsault, Viognier, Chardonnay, Carignan and Mourvèdre. They can also taste atypical wines with subtle aromas.
The harvest festival: Per Vendémias
These festive events take place to highlight the Languedoc’s wineries and cellars. The events are organised in the historic centre. The programme includes music and dance, as well as bike rides and wine tastings.
THE BEACHES OF VIAS
The seaside resort of Vias is located between Cap d’Agde and Sérignan. It is one of the most popular family destinations in the region. The historic centre is about two kilometres from Vias Plage, also known as the Farinette district.
The resort offers holidaymakers five kilometres of fine sandy beaches. They are separated into three main areas. To the east of the canal to the sea is La Tamarissière, a wild beach shared with Le Grau d’Agde.
There are three beautiful sandy beaches in the centre. Close to the town centre, they are supervised in summer. The western part of the resort offers a succession of wild beaches up to Portiragnes.
There are several campsites on the edge of these beaches. They are difficult to reach by car because of the limited number of parking spaces. It is much more convenient to get there via Portiragnes.
Note that these beaches are not supervised in summer, with the notable exception of Sainte-Geneviève. Vias is one of the many communes through which the Canal du Midi passes.
More precisely, this emblematic waterway can be found between the seaside resort and the historic centre.
Many families take the time to walk or cycle along the banks of the river.
These trails are also suitable for mountain biking.
The walk along the Canal du Midi allows you to observe a whole mosaic of breathtaking landscapes, but also emblematic sites such as the locks which allow you to observe the different boats.
Other holidaymakers take advantage of Vias Plage tourism to enjoy a boat trip. You don’t need a licence to hire a boat for a day.
Others opt for cruises. These crossings take them to Agde, Béziers or the Etang de Thau.
