Local Area
Pont du Diable and the gardens of St. Guilhem-le-Desert
The superb medieval village of St. Guilhem-le-Desert is the high point of Languedoc monasticism. The Devil`s Bridge crosses the Herault here - it is the oldest medieval bridge in France (1036-1048). The gorges of the Herault offer many places to swim and canoe, and you can visit the grottoes.
The Mediterranean beaches are close by, ranging from a 7-mile long stretch of sand at Marseillan Plage to lively, cosmopolitan resorts like Cap d`Agde.
The Herault River and thc Canal du Midi offer numerous opportunities for walking, swimming, fishing and boat trips. The magnificent Lac du Salagou 30 minutes away inland provides bathing, wind-surfing, fishing and excellent hilly walks.
Pezenas hosts a Festival of Arts and Music every summer from June to September. There are exhibitions and concerts, and many free outdoor performances ranging from clowns to flamenco dancers to classical music. There is an interesting local museum and an easily-followed numbered tour of the town can be made. The town is immensely proud of its connection with Molière, the 17th century dramatist. In the other direction is Beziers, 20 minutes\' drive away, a city with a turbulent past but now one of the jewels of the Midi. Apart from the extraordinary turreted Cathedral there are numerous sites to visit, art galleries, cinemas, a theatre, and of course dozens of restaurants and bars.
In August there is the week-long 'Feria', when the whole of Beziers takes to the streets to celebrate. There is a market and a flower market every Friday, and a monthly antiques market.
Longer excursions could take you to the Camargue, the Upper Languedoc National Park, the African Safari Park at Sigean, the Cevennes or the Pyrenees, or even to Spain. There are Roman/Greek excavations at Oppidum d`Enserune, and even older natural wonders at the Cirque de Navacelles and the Chaos de Moureze.
Nearby towns and cities worth visiting include Montpellier, Sète, Agde, Sommières and Narbonne, and, at slightly greater distance, Avignon, Perpignan, Carcassonne and Nimes.