Béziers – a review by South France Holiday Villas
Beziers is a vibrant town bustling with traditional Mediterranean shops and its magnificent Cathedral that looks out from its great height over oceans of vineyards. The Canal du Midi cuts through town, ideal for boat hire, or cycling along the tow path. Each summer the ‘Feria’ Carnival brings tourists from around the world.
The main boulevard is in the centre of the town and is lined with platanes trees and lots of restaurants and bars. The old town has plenty of interesting shops along its little cobbled streets in the old town.
From your self-catering villa, visit the imposing St Nazaire Cathedral which overlooks the river Orb and Biterrois plain, for a voluntary contribution you can climb the 164 steps winding up through the Cathedral to see a magnificent view of the whole area but take care if you have very young children, some of the walls have holes just that bit too large for my comfort with a little child!
The cathedral adjoins Béziers Courthouse, the gardens of which you can visit by passing through the cloister of the cathedral. This historic centre is charming and ideal for a day strolling around, soaking up the culture or doing some shopping.
Other sights would be the bull arena, the theatre and the Plateau des Poètes (a stunning English style garden where you can find many species little known in this part of the world). The paths running along the top of the park have fine façades honouring the Allées Paul Riquet, the inventor of the Canal du Midi who was born in the town.
If you are in the town in the morning then have a look in the central covered food market, Les Halles.
It has perhaps the best flower market in the whole of the south on Friday mornings in the beautiful tree-lined main boulevard.
There is a tourist train which you can take from the St Nazaire Cathedral to the Locks and back through the old town – great fun and the guided tour is delivered in several languages.
To book accommodation, please visit us at www.southfranceholidayvillas.co.uk
