6500 BC: During the excavation of the bypass north of town, remains have been uncovered, the study shows that the history and settlement of Béziers at the foot of the hill of St. Nazaire, debuted ago 6500.
The Roman occupation: The city was founded by the Greeks in the 6th century BC. Then comes the Roman Empire: Béziers, fortress, is connected to the Domitian Way Narbonne. Around the city of "Biterre", develops the culture of vines and olive trees, oak forests are cleared. This jewel "Gallo-Roman" is then invaded by the Visigoths, who fleece the country and settled there.
Oh, but Charles Martel! If Charles Martel repulsed the Saracens at Poitiers in 732, he also conquered and occupied Béziers in 737 (destroying the Roman Amphitheatre), as he finished the "renew" the Arab army to the other side of the Pyrenees ...
The crusade against the Cathars: "Kill all, God will know his own. These few words of a papal legate of Rome give free rein to the "great slaughter" of 22 July 1209. A "mazel gran" as they say in Occitan. The Albigensian Crusade against "the Cathar heresy," thus results in the bag, the fire Béziers and massacre its population. The army of the king of France and Rome will then forty years to finish this war looting, burnings expiation.
Troubadours and Town: Béziers among the first cities in the south get its town charter: it is administered by consuls who exercise their power over the site of the ancient Roman forum, where now stands the City Hall. Béziers wife as fast culture of the troubadours. Here they are named Matfre Ermengaud, Azalais Portiragnes ... The pace of life, this cultural development, not resistant to invasions, famines, epidemics of the 14th century.
The Canal du Midi: Pierre-Paul Riquet, a grateful France. Pierre-Paul Riquet Béziers born in 1609. He draws and imagines the Canal du Midi, then obtained permission from Louis 14th to build it. Because Ricky has found the solution - that already searching the Romans - to provide water to the channel permanently. By linking the Garonne (ie the Atlantic), the Mediterranean, it provides, develops and secures trade between the two seas. There followed a period of great prosperity Béziers.
Southern Wine and splendor Fortunes: The most prosperous period in the history of Beziers is situated in the 19th century. The rise of industry, the car and open trade in local vineyards in domestic and world wine. It provides employment to thousands of people, causing unprecedented population growth. With wine, huge fortunes are being created, the "castles wine carrier" bloom in the vineyards of Béziers. The company Railways of the South grows, it builds the Aisles Paul Riquet, the board of Poets, theaters, arenas (where Camille Saint-Saëns, Gabriel Fauré give lavish performances). Such wealth ends at the beginning of the 20th century. At the point that in 1907 the tenants rebelled Clemenceau represses the less severely.
Jean Moulin, the honor of France: The defeat of 1940 and the German occupation is a wound to pride suspicious of Beziers. This is a house of Champs de Mars, where he was born, that rises the fresh air of rebellion. Jean Moulin, prefect by vocation, Beziers by birth, Democratic and free from conviction, becomes the hero of the French Resistance. It coordinates at the height of the Occupation. Before being betrayed, arrested, tortured. And die in the train that took him to deportation ...
Béziers today ... It is a city of just over 74,000 inhabitants, the heart of a conurbation which has 107 000. Located in the heart of a region highly tourist, where she finds her own place, Béziers traces its own path to the future: academic development, diversification of economic base, increase access infrastructure (A9, A75, TGV train to the Spain ...).
SIGHTSEEING
The Canal du Midi: the genius of a man ...
The statue of Pierre-Paul Riquet: She came to the throne of Aisles that bear his name. Born in 1609 to Béziers, it was the equivalent of a tax inspector present in the region of Languedoc. In 1662, he proposed to the King's plan to create a canal connecting the Atlantic to the Mediterranean via the Garonne. One idea already advanced by the Romans, among others. But ever. In 1666, Louis the 14th entrusted the construction of the canal, which leads to the Thau lagoon and saw the creation of the port of Sete. Pierre-Paul Riquet urges his fortune in the construction of the Canal du Midi (then the Royal Canal of Languedoc). He died on 1 October 1680, exhausted by the task, so it remained only to dig 1.6 kilometers before reaching the Thau lagoon?? His son takes over the site, and the Canal was opened eight months later. Pierre-Paul Riquet was knighted by Louis 14th in 1674, became Baron Bonrepos (Canton Verfeil Haute-Garonne), and his remains lie beneath a marble slab in the cathedral of Saint-Etienne in Toulouse. And his work was classified as World Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 1996.
Technical Canal: Length: 240 km (from Toulouse to the entrance to the Etang de Thau) - Channel Width: 20 m at the surface to the bottom 11 m - Depth of Channel: 2 m - average vertical drop: 58 m between Toulouse and the threshold Naurouze (Haute-Garonne), 110 m between Sete and Naurouze - Total number of locks: 63 - Total number of Structures: 350 (130 bridges) - Volume of earthworks: 7 million m3 of earth touched by hand - Construction time: 14 years.
The 9 locks Fonseranes: This is the major work of the canal at the foot of Béziers: eight egg-shaped basins (this is more resistant to pressure), nine gates, which can take a drop of 21.50 m, a length of 300 m. The majesty of the place, the technical prowess and engineering they are, grab the visitors still locks Fonseranes: they are the third most visited tourist site in Languedoc-Roussillon, after the Pont du Gard and Carcassonne. Historical monument since 1996.
The Canal Bridge: Built in Fonseranes immediately downstream, this "boat deck" spans the Orb since 1858. It facilitates the navigation of barges, overcomes the difficulties associated with very irregular flow of the Orb. Top 12 m wide, 28 m, 240 m along the canal bridge also has, since inception, a gallery which runs under the channel to facilitate inspections of the work.
River Tourism: Béziers invites you to discover the charm of boating holidays on the Canal du Midi. Another way to achieve your romantic weekend is to let yourself be seduced by a cruise on the canal. You can also use the towpaths to explore the surrounding area while walking (biking, hiking, etc..) Or a ride (horse, tour, etc..) Or hiking (mountain bike, trek , etc..).
Guided tours:
Béziers, nose in the air: General Tour of the birth of the city until today (duration 2 hours).
Paul Riquet or the work of a life: how and why this child Béziers created the Canal du Midi (1H30).
Beziers Walks over water, boat trips, locks of Fonseranes New Port Pier, passing by the Canal Bridge. Reservations at the Tourist Office.
Béziers: Romanesque and Gothic Cathar. Discover all the medieval heritage in the city (1h30).
La Belle Epoque Béziers: the 19th century was so prosperous that he changed the face of the city (1h30).
"Ole! Béziers": enter the backstage arenas, rituals and culture bullfighting.
Walking the gardens, four walks, botanical and bucolic (duration 2 hours).
The Bestiary Biterrois: gargoyles, chimeras and monsters populate the stones (duration 2 hours).
Secrets course: behind the eaves of houses of Béziers, the legacy of medieval times, the classical period of prosperity wine (duration 2 hours).
Pere Lachaise is good, old cemetery is better! : Statuary and sumptuous tombs, this place is an outdoor museum (duration 2 hours).
Photos of Languedoc-Roussillon to view and download
WEATHER
Saturday 2 June
Day
Night
Min. 17°C - Max. 31°C
Sunday 3 June
Day
Night
Min. 17°C - Max. 28°C
Monday 4 June
Day
Night
Min. 15°C - Max. 21°C
RESTAURANTS
Les deux mondes
9
Portiragnes
Joined Smart Guide French cuisine.
Located 10.8 km from Béziers
From 15 € to 40 € per person
Mucrina
Vias
A hotel restaurant traditional family, regional specialties, seafood platter direct from the producer to order, quiet, comfortable, private and closed parking reserved for hotel guests....
Located 17.2 km from Béziers
From 10 € to 25 € per person
Hostellerie de Saint Alban
10
Nézignan-l'Évêque
A welcome awaits you at the Hostellerie de Saint Alban at Nézignan-l'Evêque – just 15 minutes from the beaches of Cap d'Agde and 5 minutes from Pézenas. This fine 19th century house...
On board the barge Durandal, everything is designed for your pleasure and comfort. 4 large cabins, all offering views of the Canal, bathroom and toilet, flat screen, DVD, double bed....
Located in Béziers
From 90 € to 110 € the double room
Villa gabrielle
Sauvian
Valérie and Robert accommodate you in a spatieuses villa, located in the South of france, near Béziers and 4 km of sandy beaches. The rooms (160 bed) with air conditioning, flat screen...
Located 7 km from Béziers
From 65 € to 80 € the double room
Chambres d'hotes La Colombière 4 epis
9.8
Colombiers
Ranked 4 ears Gîtes de France in December 2010, at Columbia, with direct access to the Canal du Midi between Beziers and Narbonne, Languedoc remains in a fully restored, Pierre-Claude...
The house is optimal up to 16 people and three babies. The surface area is 350 m².7 rooms with en-suite bathrooms 1 kitchen, 1 fireplace, 2 lounges, 1 veranda and a playroom. Before...
Located in Béziers
From 2800 € to 3800 € per week
Apartment for 4 persons
Lieuran-lès-Béziers
Field of Hortaleche, country cottage situated in an old winery between sea and mountains in the heart of the vineyards. Apartment of 60 m² with solon, dining room and two bedrooms with...
Located 8 km from Béziers
From 450 € to 600 € per week
Maison de village à portiragnes
10
Portiragnes
Holiday rental in village house for 10 people plus a baby in Portsmouth at the entrance of the village next to the Canal du Midi, 5 minutes from the beaches of the resort. Village house...
- Cap Soleil Camping Hérault - Camping Family shaded, beachfront, 4 stars, located on the West Coast of Vias Plage and 700 meters, 5 minutes walk from a small beach, 20 min walk from...
Located 16 km from Béziers
From 12 € to 24.50 € per day
Camping les Terrasses
Saint-Chinian
Between mediterranean sea and mountains, Camping les terrasses is setting in the vignobles of Saint Chinian, Swimming-pool, tennis course, river at 800 meters. Safe and quiet.
Located 24 km from Béziers
From 12 € to 16 € per day
Vacances à la ferme Languedoc
9.2
Montagnac
Quiet, Relaxation & Serenity, Softness of Southern Living. Our farm complex is defined primarily as a Haven of Peace and Well-Being and offers peaceful holiday in the countryside. We...
Located in Beziers, set between the Allées Paul Riquet and Les Arenes concert hall, Appart'city Béziers has air-conditioned apartments and studios with a fully equipped kitchenette....
Located in Béziers
Room from 41 €
Campanile Béziers ~ Villeneuve-Les-Béziers
7.6
Béziers
Ideally situated just 5 km from Béziers city centre, the hotel is part of the Campanile chain and features its own unique character and friendly atmosphere. Located southwest of Montpellier...
Located in Béziers
Room from 42 €
Hotel De France
7.5
Béziers
Ideally located to enjoy the historic centre of Béziers on foot, the Hotel de France offers comfortable, affordable accommodation and free Wi-Fi near the Allees Paul Riquet. Guest rooms...
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