Here is a selection of the best discovery trails and excursions leaving from La Gabinelle campsite in the Hérault region of Occitanie in partnership with the CABEM (Béziers Mediterranean Conurbation Authority).
Cap d’Agde, a famous seaside resort in Hérault, is nicknamed the black pearl of the Mediterranean. It is well known for its summer atmosphere and naturist area.
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At the heart of the Hérault region, the small town of Pézenas has plenty to attract visitors with its magnificent traditional architecture and exceptional arts and crafts. Sculptors, potters, cabinetmakers, glass blowers and many others are part of the rich heritage of Pézenas.
ExploreBéziers was the birthplace of Pierre-Paul Riquet, the architect of the Canal du Midi. The town combines centuries-old architecture and the beauty of the Orb, Hérault's iconic river. Overlooking the river is a majestic monument, much loved by fans of architecture:
The Oppidum d'Ensérune
is a real open-air museum in Nissan-lez-Enserune. It stands on a hill looking out over a vast panorama.
At the heart of a quiet valley in the Corbières mountains, nestling amid cypress and pine trees, the former St-Mary of Fontfroide Abbey is a picturesque and charming site. It was founded in the 11th century by Benedictine monks and became part of the Cistercian order in 1145.
ExploreThe Canal du Midi was designed by Pierre-Paul Riquet in the 17th century. It is now listed as part of World Heritage by UNESCO. The colossal waterway runs for 24 kilometres through 64 locks from Toulouse to Etang de Thau, linking the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.
12,000 workers spent 15 years building it from 1666 to 1681.
The Amphoralis Museum overlooks an archaeological site containing a Gallo-Roman pottery workshop. The museum traces the history of pottery-making in Sallèles-d'Aude from the 1st century B.C. to the 3rd century A.D.
ExploreBetween the Mediterranean Sea and Etang de Thau, Sète, with its old harbour, canals, bridges and buildings with colourful façades, fully deserves its nickname as the Venice of Languedoc. It is the most important fishing port in the Mediterranean.
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Valmagne Abbey, a jewel of the Languedoc region, will delight all lovers of medieval architecture.
ExploreThe picturesque village of Roquebrun, overlooking the Orb valley, fully deserves its nickname. It is located in the Upper-Languedoc regional nature park, 30 km away from Sauvian.
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Étang de Thau is a lake covering 7,500 hectares near the town of Bouzigues in Hérault. It is 19 km long, 5 km wide and has an average depth of 4.5 m. This is the biggest natural pool in Languedoc and has the Natura 2000 listing. The abundant phytoplankton, a natural resource, has led to the expansion of oyster-farming and mussel-farming.
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