Out of the villa kumquats
Béziers and his Féria
Information
Béziers
Let it be said, Béziers is the 2nd largest saved sector in France after Paris! From the ancient amphitheater to the bullring, one is under the Roman influence. From the cathedral to the Paul Riquet Alleys, the memory of the medieval towns and the Albigensian crusade floats in the air. And all around, Béziers the Triumph of the nineteenth century. displays its wine fortunes and its beautiful Haussmanian facades. Place of 14-July, the birthplace of Jean Moulin flirts with the media library, the university, the IUT. And on the side of the banks of the Canal du Midi, one can only bow to the genius of a certain Paul Riquet. In each place, another Béziers tells with his stories, his lives and especially his good addresses. Which town !
Féria
The Béziers Feria which happens in the month of August, is the biggest event of the year in the Languedoc-Roussillon region. A million people gather every year.
The heart of the Feria is the arènes – the arena with its prestigious bullfights. And when the Corrida is over the party envelopes the town with bodegas and casitas everywhere, a myriad of spectacular things to see, events, music, the renowned equestrian village, and parties until dawn where flamenco sets Béziers, the Sevillian, alight!
Théâtre de Béziers
Italian-style theatre founded in 1842. Today it seats 472 patrons divided among the stalls and 3 balconies.
In Béziers, the municipal theatre is part of the fabric of the city. It is the focal point for cultural events, major public performances and gatherings.
Plays, classical concerts, lyrical poetry, dance, circus acts and children’s shows are all performed here.
The ticket office is located on the narrow side of the Allées Paul Riquet.
Les Neuf Ecluses de Fonserane
This is the main structure on the Canal du Midi, located at the edge of Béziers. It features eight ovoid-shaped basins (specific to the Canal du Midi) and nine gates that allow boats to be raised and lowered by 21.5 m along a stretch of water extending over 300 m. The technical prowess and civil engineering genius that this represents still impresses visitors to this awe-inspiring site today. Traditional tow barges and buildings such as stables and the lock keeper’s house are still in evidence… All of this makes the Fonseranes Locks the third most popular tourist destination in Languedoc-Roussillon after the Pont du Gard and the city of Carcassonne.
Cimetière Vieux de Béziers
Created in 1812, the old cemetery was extended in 1863. Like any self-respecting Mediterranean cemetery it is planted with cypress trees that are almost as old as it is, and is essentially an open-air museum, as many of the tombs and mausoleums are decorated with superb statues by Jean-Antoine Injalbert, Jean Magrou, Jacques Villeneuve and Louis Paul. You can admire all of the amazing statues during a stroll through the arbours and alcoves.
Cathédrale de Béziers
The Saint-Nazaire and Saint Celse Cathedral in Béziers is the city’s largest Gothic monument. The cathedral is built in the western part of the old mediaeval city on a hill overlooking the Orb plain spread below. It is one of the “symbols” of the city, visible from afar because of its high position, particularly when you enter Béziers on the road from Narbonne. Construction began in the 10th century and it was entirely rebuilt in the 12th century. In 1209, during the bloody seizure of the city by crusaders from the Ile de France, a fire in the cathedral split the vaults “like a grenade”! Its reconstruction continued until the 15th century. Below the cloister, the bishop’s palace garden offers visitors a haven of peace. The garden has a magnificent panoramic view that takes in the Orb plain, the bridges (Pont-Vieux dating from the 13th century, Pont-Neuf and the Pont-Canal aqueduct) and the incredible Écluses de Fonseranes (Fonseranes Locks).