Buy a French home near beautiful Béziers

Why the heritage, attractions and cuisine of this ancient Hérault city make it a great place to base your property search

One of the sous-préfectures of the department of Hérault, Béziers is one fo the oldest cities in France, dating back to 575BC. Perched above the Orb river, its historic buildings create an attractive centre, vibrant with shops, restaurants and markets, with more of an urban, imperfect feel than neighbouring town Pézenas. Popular destinations such as Narbonne, Carcassonne and Sète are within easy reach, and sandy beaches are just half an hour away.

Ancient architecture

Walking through Béziers, you get a great sense of history. There are the remains of the Roman amphitheatre – the new arena, built in 1905, hosts the annual bullfighting festival (féria) for which the city is famous. There’s the distinctive Pont Vieux which was constructed in the Middle Ages, St-Nazaire Cathedral which dates back to the 14th century, the Musée des Beaux-Arts from the 19th century, and of course the architecture involved with the Canal du Midi, which flows through the city and was constructed by Béziers local Pierre-Paul Riquet.

Culture and activities

Béziers offers all that epitomises Languedoc – food, wine, heritage and beautiful scenery. Head to one of the many restaurants to sample the lcoal cuisine, or take your pick of wine-tasting tours in and around the town.

The Musée du Biterrois is a good place to learn more about the region, which the Musée des Beaux-Arts features works from the likes of Rubens and Delacroix. To see the surrounding area in all its glory, the St-Nazaire Cathedral offers lovely views – or why not enjoy a relaxing bike ride along the towpath of the Canal du Midi.

Local specialities

One of the many sweet treats originating from the city is the Coque de St-Aphrodise. Not cockles like the name might suggest, these are actually small brioche ‘shells’ flavoured with citrus zest or orange blossom water. Other sugary delights include Riquets de Béziers, sweets consisting of two layers of nougat surrounding praline, coated in sugar.

Travel and property

Béziers is very accessible from the UK. It has its own airport,from which Ryanair operates several routes, and larger Montpellier airport is an hour away. If you want to travel by train, Béziers station is a four-hour TGV journey from Paris.

For the south of France, properties in and around Béziers are surprisingly affordable. The average house price in the city is €163,000 – making it considerably lower than the department average of €219,800, which is hiked up by prices in Montpellier and along the coast.

Take a look at these properties currently on the market near Béziers

1. €129,000, Villeneuve-lès-Béziers

This charming three-bedroom house is ideally situated in a village halfway between Béziers and the beach – you could head down early for a morning swim, and then travel the short distance back to Béziers to find lunch at the market! The property benefits from a large terrace overlooking terracotta rooftops and a small courtyard area. With a lick of paint it would make a beautiful bolthole or holiday rental property.

On the market with Artaxa

2. €335,000, Béziers

In an upmarket residential area of Béziers, a short walk from the attractions of the historic centre, this renovated four-bedroom house would make a wonderful fuss-free home in the Occitan sunshine. Bright, spacious and benefitting from new electrics, it comes with a garage and low maintenance garden perfect for barbecues.

On the market with Artaxa

3. €439,900, Roquebrun

What a beautiful place! This three-bedroom home is just outside the exquisite village of Roquebrun, which boasts a riverside beach, fabulous restaurants and shops, and all manner of outdoor activities from kayaking to rock climbing. The villa is ready to move into and comes with a beautiful terrace and infinity pool, offering stunning views across the Orb valley. Béziers is 30km away.

On the market with Leggett

4. €513,600, Servian

This is a really fantastic all-rounder property in a prime location. Built in the 50s but recently renovated, this elegant five-bedroom home offers spacious accommodation, plus a two-bedroom gite with wheelchair access, a stone annex, landscaped garden, large pool, and two covered seating areas. It’s situated in a village with shops and schools, is 20 minutes from Béziers and 30 minutes from the coast.

On the market with Real Estate Languedoc

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