A Guide to the Mediterranean Herault Valley region

<body bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tr><td> <p align="center"><font size="6"><strong></strong></font><br> </p> <p align="center"> </p> </td></tr></table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tr><td valign="top"> <title></title> <table width="96%" bgcolor="#0000FF" background="file:///D%7C/FrontPage%20Webs/blue.JPG" height="34"> <tr valign="top" background="/blue.JPG"> <td><font size="-7" color="#000099">Villas,houses,apartmentsfor vacation lets in Sunny Southern France.Many house rentals with pools,house lets in the french country.You will find Mediterranean vacation villas,luxury lets in Southern france chez nous at WWW.SouthernFrance.com .,holiday houses gites and other seasonal accommodation,lets,South southern,gites, house rentals,villa vacations,chez nous,French Connections,french connection,french connections,ChezNous,France,french,Provence,holiday lets, to let, houses, pools,season,Villa, Herault,Languedoc,</font></td> </tr> </table> <table width="96%" border="0" bordercolorlight="#FFFFFF" bordercolordark="#FFFFFF" height="371"> <tr bordercolor="#999900" bgcolor="#FFFF00"> <th width="10%" height="27"> <div align="center"><font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif" size="2" color="#2010A8"><a href="/RegionalInformation.htm">Region</a></font></div> </th> <th width="15%" height="27"> <div align="center"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman, Times, serif" color="#2010A8"><a href="/Wine.html">Local Wine</a></font></div> </th> <th width="19%" height="27"> <div align="center"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman, Times, serif" color="#2010A8"><a href="/_vti_bin/shtml.exe/Houses_for_Sale/index.html">House Buying</a></font></div> </th> <th width="20%" height="27"> <div align="center"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman, Times, serif" color="#2010A8"><a href="/House1.htm">Accommodation</a></font></div> </th> <th width="12%" height="27"> <div align="center"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman, Times, serif" color="#2010A8"><a href="/House1.htm">Property</a></font></div> </th> <th width="8%" height="27"> <div align="center"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman, Times, serif" color="#2010A8"><a href="/index.htm">Home</a></font></div> </th> <th width="16%" height="27"> <div align="center"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman, Times, serif" color="#2010A8"><a href="mailto:Rob@SouthernFrance.com">Contact Us</a></font></div> </th> </tr> <tr align="center" valign="top" nowrap> <td colspan="7" height="347" background="/Header2.jpg"> <div align="left"> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <div align="center"><br> <table width="100%" border="0"> <tr nowrap> <td height="119" valign="bottom"> <div align="left"> <p><font color="#0000CC" size="2"><b><a href="/What%92s%20on%20in%20and%20around%20P%E9zenas.htm">What's On</a></b></font></p> <p><font size="2" face="Times New Roman, Times, serif" color="#0000CC"><b><a href="/RegionalInformation.htm" target="_self">Introduction to the Region</a></b></font></p> </div> </td> <td rowspan="2"><img src="/Regional/images/Canal_du_Midi_Winter2.jpg" width="219" height="201" align="top" alt="Canal du Midi in Winter, by Mark Lloret"></td> <td height="119" valign="bottom"> <div align="right"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman, Times, serif" color="#0000CC"><b><a href="/Newsletter/News_Feb7th.htm" target="_self">The Pezenas Newsletter</a></b></font></div> </td> </tr> <tr nowrap> <td valign="bottom" height="83"> <div align="left"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman, Times, serif" color="#0000CC"><b><a href="/Regional/Villages%20in%20Herault.html" target="_self">A-Z of Local Towns and Villages</a></b></font></div> </td> <td valign="bottom" height="83"> <div align="right"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman, Times, serif" color="#0000CC"><b><a href="/Regional/Markets%20H%E9rault.html" target="_self">Local Markets</a></b></font></div> </td> </tr> </table> </div> </div> </td> </tr> <tr align="center" valign="top" nowrap bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <td colspan="7" height="316"> <p><font size="+3" color="#2010C0"><font color="#2010C0">Languedoc Roussillon</font><font size="+3" color="#2010C0"><b><br> </b><font size="+3" color="#2010C0"><b><font size="6" face="Brush Script MT">by Jane </font><font size="+3" color="#2010C0"><font size="+3" color="#2010C0"><font size="+3" color="#2010C0"><b><font size="+3" color="#2010C0"><font size="+3" color="#2010C0"><font size="+3" color="#2010C0"><b><font size="6" face="Brush Script MT">Ll</font></b></font></font></font><font size="6" face="Brush Script MT">oret</font> </b></font></font></font></b></font></font></font></p> <p align="left"> </p> <p><font color="#2010C0">Introduction</font></p> <p align="left"><font color="#2010C0"> In Languedoc Roussillon we can count on an average of 300 sunny days per year, and the 200 km of sandy beaches on the Mediterranean attract tourists from all over the world in summer. It is an ideal part of France to spend a holiday. But you will find far more in this area, which is attractive all year round than just sand and sun.</font></p> <p align="left"><font color="#2010C0"> From a purely geographical point of view, mountainous country - from the picturesque Cévennes and the Gorges du Tarn (cf. RL Stevenson's " Travels on a Donkey ") to the impressive heights of the Pyrennees - is never more than an hour's drive from the sea. Although the climate is often dry, rivers abound and the valleys of the Hérault, Orb or Aude rivers and lakes, such as Salagou provide a green and refreshing change from the beach.</font></p> <p align="center"><font color="#2010C0"> <img src="/Regional/images/Beziers_bridge.jpg" width="327" height="229" alt="Beziers Cathedral from Old Bridge by Mark Lloret"><br> <font color="#000000">Béziers Cathedral from old bridge in Winter<br> by Mark Lloret</font></font></p> <p align="left"><font color="#2010C0"> As in every part of France, food and drink are taken seriously in Languedoc Roussillon. Emerging from nearly a century of doldrums, the regional wines are now of excellent quality, often developed using the latest techniques and equipment to produce surprising wines at reasonable prices.</font></p> <p align="left"><font color="#2010C0"> Sun-soaked ingredients invoke a typically Mediterranean cuisine. Colourfully displayed on local markets you will find all varieties of fruit and vegetables grown locally, and those magic ingredients : olives, olive oil, all the herbs from the garrigue... Seafood here is succulent - oysters and mussels from Bouzigues, anchovies from Collioure, etc. The choice of local cheeses is not as rich as that of Normandy, but all have great character : Pélardon des Cévennes (goat cheese) or bleu des Causses (a fine blue cheese) for example.</font></p> <p align="center"><font color="#2010C0"> <img src="/Nezignan/images/Pezenas%20market.jpg" width="368" height="253"><br> <font color="#000000">Market in Pézenas<br> by Sarah Broadbridge</font></font></p> <p align="left"><font color="#2010C0"> Opportunities for practically every sport you can think of exist in Languedoc Roussillon - all sea and snow sports of course, but also climbing, kayak, golf, riding, walking, biking, caving, ... You name it, you can be sure to find experts available to help you enjoy your favourite sport in this part of the world, and not forgetting of course, that this area has been for many years the real centre for Rugby in France. How many famous members of the French contenders for the five nations come from Béziers and Toulouse ?</font></p> <p align="center"><font color="#2010C0"><img src="/Regional/images/Beziers_team.jpg" width="287" height="161"><br> <font color="#000000">Beziers rugby team</font></font></p> <p align="left"><font color="#2010C0"> However, if you just want to improve your health with a thermal cure, true to France's long-standing tradition for such gentle medication there are no less than 13 towns throughout the area offering treatment for a complete range of health problems.</font></p> <p align="left"><font color="#2010C0"> Traces of history of mankind can be found right back to prehistoric times in this area rich in history. Many sites are open to the public : the most ancient trace of prehistoric man in Europe (-450 000 years old) may be discovered at Tautavel near Perpignan and all you ever wanted to know about dinausaurs at Espéraza (Aude) or in the new Dinosaur Park near Mèze, where dinosaur eggs have been recently unearthed.</font></p> <p align="left"><font color="#2010C0"> The civilisation of Ancient Greece left its mark on this part of France. Over 2500 years ago, the Greeks discovered Agde and established a port there for trading. The Phoenicians brought a delicious variety of green olive to the hills just behind Agde, the Lucque variety.</font></p> <p align="center"><font color="#2010C0"><img src="/Regional/images/Agde.jpg" width="171" height="185"> </font></p> <p align="left"><font color="#2010C0"> Witnesses of Roman times abound in this area - the city of Nîmes comes to mind immediately, or the aqueduct at " Pont du Gard ", but there are traces of Roman civilisation right across the whole area, in particular around the splendid Roman road, the " via domitia " leading merchants and soldiers from Italy to Spain across the ages.</font></p> <p align="center"><font color="#2010C0"> <img src="/Regional/images/Roman_bridge.jpg" width="331" height="218"><br> <font color="#000000">Roman Bridge at St.Thibery,by Mark Lloret</font></font></p> <p align="left"><font color="#2010C0"> Here, you are right in the tragic Cathar country where from the XIIIth century Cathar protagonists fled to austere and impressive fortresses perched on rocks in mountainous countryside. The authorities in power, however, were not always discriminating and towns like Béziers still recall the terrible massacres of innocent populations.</font></p> <p align="left"><font color="#2010C0"> History has left its mark on the architecture and monuments throughout the region and if every tourist immediately thinks of visiting the splendid fortified town of Carcassonne, there are a myriad of tiny medieval villages, often dating back as far as 1000 AD. These villages were frequently built in a characteristic fashion from the top of a hill with the church spire at the top to be seen from far away, then narrow streets winding in circles around the summit, with tall narrow stone houses shading each other from the sun. Many such villages have been classified as "circulades". The streets are so narrow it is better to visit them on foot. Each village has a charm of its own and you are part of another world, if you visit them as the sun goes down, the shadows of sculptures darkening against the pale stone walls, mysterious carved doors leading to beautiful medieval or renaissance courtyards. Such villages are untouched by the passage of time... </font></p> <p align="center"><font color="#2010C0"><img src="/Nezignan/images/View%20from%20holiday%20house.JPG" width="272" height="217"><br> <font color="#000000">Nezignan l'Eveque by Sarah Broadbridge</font></font></p> <p align="left"><font color="#2010C0"> Throughout the centuries, men have left their mark on this impressive countryside. To name but a few, with the recent classification of the Canal du Midi by UNESCO as world monument, Pierre Paul Riquet, engineer born in Béziers built this extraordinary edifice to link the Mediterranean to the Atlantic back in 1681.</font></p> <p align="center"><font color="#2010C0"><img src="/Regional/images/Seven_locks.jpg" width="225" height="224"> <br> <font color="#000000">Canal du Midi - Seven Locks at Beziers<br> by Mark Lloret</font></font></p> <p align="left"><font color="#2010C0"> Molière, the famous French playwright, launched his career in this part of the world, in particular in Pézenas where Molière is at the centre of much local interest. More recently Salvador Dali is associated closely with Perpignan, and many artists throughout the centuries have sought inspiration throughout the region.</font></p> <p align="center"><font color="#2010C0"><img src="/Regional/images/Pezenas.jpg" width="286" height="180"> <br> <font color="#000000">Pezenas, by Mark Lloret</font></font></p> <p align="left"><font color="#2010C0"> A land of many traditions often originated centuries ago by some population travelling through the area, Languedoc is particularly rich in folklore. Each little village has its own traditions, festivals and even sports (Tambourin in Pézenas or spectacular jousting in boats at Sète). Bull-fighting - or racing - is extremely popular in this part of the world. If sensitive souls should refrain from the actual "corridas" in the ancient arenas, the atmosphere around the "Feria" in Nîmes or in Béziers is electric and the whole city becomes part of the festivities. Carnival is very much part of local life here and for early season visitors to Languedoc Roussillon street celebrations on or around Shrove Tuesday are impressive.</font></p> <p align="center"><img src="/Regional/images/Bullrunning.jpg" width="382" height="257"><br> Bull running in Pezenas, by Jane Lloret</p> <p align="left"><font color="#2010C0"> Dances are part of local folklore - Sardana in Catalonia and Treilles in Languedoc - and often towns and villages have a totem animal brought out for special occasions : the Poulain in Pézenas, the Camel of Béziers or the chevalet to be found in several towns, and paraded through the streets accompanied by traditional music and dancing.</font></p> <p align="left"><font color="#2010C0"> In the following pages we hope to give you a taste of life down here. If the local population is somewhat infamous throughout France for being particularly chauvinistic, when you have experienced a holiday here you can actually understand why... </font></p> </td> </tr> </table> <table width="96%" border="0" bordercolorlight="#FFFFFF" bordercolordark="#FFFFFF"> <tr bordercolor="#FFFFFF" valign="middle" align="center"> <td colspan="7" height="58"><font color="#2010C0"> </font> <div align="left"> <table width="100%" border="1"> <tr bgcolor="#FFFFB0" bordercolor="#999900" valign="top"> <th height="2" colspan="2" nowrap> <div align="center"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman, Times, serif" color="#0000CC"><b><a href="/RegionalInformation.htm" target="_self">Introduction to the Region</a></b></font></div> </th> <th bordercolordark="#FFFFFF" bordercolorlight="#FFFFFF" height="2" colspan="4" nowrap> <div align="center"></div> <div align="center"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman, Times, serif" color="#0000CC"><b><a href="/Newsletter/News_Feb7th.htm" target="_self">The Pezenas Newsletter</a></b></font></div> </th> <th width="27%" bordercolordark="#FFFFFF" bordercolorlight="#FFFFFF" height="2" nowrap> <div align="center"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman, Times, serif" color="#0000CC"><b><a href="/Regional/Villages%20in%20Herault.html" target="_self">A-Z of Local Towns and Villages</a></b></font></div> </th> <th width="33%" bordercolordark="#FFFFFF" bordercolorlight="#FFFFFF" height="2" nowrap> <div align="center"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman, Times, serif" color="#0000CC"><b><a href="/Regional/Markets%20H%E9rault.html" target="_self">Local Markets, Where, When What </a></b></font></div> </th> <th width="33%" bordercolordark="#FFFFFF" bordercolorlight="#FFFFFF" height="2" nowrap><font color="#0000CC" size="2"><a href="/What%92s%20on%20in%20and%20around%20P%E9zenas.htm">What's On </a></font></th> </tr> </table> </div> </td> </tr> </table> <table width="98%" border="1" bordercolor="#CCCC00"> <tr background="file:///D%7C/sfrance/Templates/Header2.jpg" bgcolor="#FFFFB0" bordercolor="#999900"> <td height="25"><a href="#top">Top</a></td> <th width="10%" bordercolordark="#FFFFFF" bordercolorlight="#FFFFFF" height="25" background="../Header2.jpg"> <div align="center"><font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif" size="2" color="#2010A8"><a href="/RegionalInformation.htm">Region</a></font></div> </th> <th width="15%" bordercolordark="#FFFFFF" bordercolorlight="#FFFFFF" height="25" background="../Header2.jpg"> <div align="center"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman, Times, serif" color="#2010A8"><a href="/Wine.html">Local Wine</a></font></div> </th> <th width="19%" bordercolordark="#FFFFFF" bordercolorlight="#FFFFFF" height="25" background="../Header2.jpg"> <div align="center"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman, Times, serif" color="#2010A8"><a href="/_vti_bin/shtml.exe/Houses_for_Sale/index.html">House Buying</a></font></div> </th> <th width="20%" bordercolordark="#FFFFFF" bordercolorlight="#FFFFFF" height="25" background="../Header2.jpg"> <div align="center"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman, Times, serif" color="#2010A8"><a href="/House1.htm">Accommodation</a></font></div> </th> <th width="12%" bordercolordark="#FFFFFF" bordercolorlight="#FFFFFF" height="25" background="../Header2.jpg"> <div align="center"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman, Times, serif" color="#2010A8"><a href="/House1.htm">Property</a></font></div> </th> <th width="8%" bordercolordark="#FFFFFF" bordercolorlight="#FFFFFF" height="25" background="../Header2.jpg"> <div align="center"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman, Times, serif" color="#2010A8"><a href="/index.htm">Home</a></font></div> </th> <th width="16%" bordercolordark="#FFFFFF" bordercolorlight="#FFFFFF" height="25" background="../Header2.jpg"> <div align="center"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman, Times, serif" color="#2010A8"><a href="mailto:Rob@SouthernFrance.com">Contact Us</a></font></div> </th> </tr> </table> <table width="98%" bgcolor="#0000FF" background="/blue.JPG" height="34"> <tr valign="top"> <td><font size="-7" color="#000099">Villas,houses,apartmentsfor vacation lets in Sunny Southern France.Many house rentals with pools,house lets in the french country.You will find Mediterranean vacation villas,luxury lets in Southern france chez nous at WWW.SouthernFrance.com .,holiday houses gites and other seasonal accommodation,lets,South southern,gites, house rentals,villa vacations,chez nous,French Connections,french connection,french connections,ChezNous,France,french,Provence,holiday lets, to let, houses, pools,season,Villa, Herault,Languedoc,</font></td> </tr> </table> </td></tr></table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tr><td> </td></tr></table></body>