Occitanie, Languedoc-Roussillon and Béziers: lands of history with a very rich architectural heritage
The Languedoc Roussillon Tourist Office will be your ally in planning your vacation in Occitanie. By staying at the charming gîte of the Collegiate Church of Capestang, crossed by the Canal du Midi, you will be ideally placed to travel through the centuries while discovering the heritage treasures of Languedoc. History and architecture enthusiasts will certainly find centers of interest that will satisfy their thirst for knowledge. You will then be unbeatable when it comes to answering the question of what to visit in Hérault and Aude?
Take a leap into prehistory from Capestang
Less than an hour's drive away, located near the Thau lagoon, the Mèze Prehistoric Park offers a fascinating immersion into the world of dinosaurs and prehistory. In the heart of nature, on a shaded path, young and old alike can discover life-size reproductions of dinosaurs that populated the region, as well as authentic paleontological remains. This fun and educational site will delight young and old alike: a must-see for science and natural history enthusiasts!
Capestang and the Canal du Midi at the gateway to Antiquity
Just a few kilometers from Capestang, you can visit the oppidum and archaeological museum of Ensérune, classified as a National Monument and a member of the Exceptional Sites network in Languedoc. This Gallic village, among the most important in the Mediterranean South, and its museum present an exceptional collection of objects discovered during excavations. This site has been marked by multiple influences (Iberian, Celtic, Greek, Italic). Continuing the immersion in Antiquity, you can visit the Narbo Via in Narbonne, an exceptional museum of 2,600 m2 dedicated to the origins of this rich trading port from the Gallo-Roman era. The existing sites of the Horreum in the center of Narbonne and Amphoralis in Sallèles-d’Aude are associated with it to welcome you to a major center of ancient history in the South of France.
Some illustrations of prehistoric and ancient sites easily accessible from Capestang
The Jurassic Park of Mèze
Oppidum and Museum of Ensérune
The Narbo Via Museum facing Antiquity
From Capestang, take a trip back to the Middle Ages
From the Ensérune hill, it is possible to appreciate the human ingenuity that has been expressed in the region since the Middle Ages. You will thus take the full measure of a hydro-agricultural masterpiece conceived at that time: a former marsh of brackish water, responsible for many epidemics until the 13th century, drained to make arable land. Composed of concentric ditches allowing the water to drain and evacuate from the periphery towards the center of this surface, it looks similar from a distance to a sun. The flows are then directed towards a stream located 1,300 m away. But this period of history is especially known for its tragic obscurantism. The history of Catharism for example will undoubtedly fascinate you. The city of Minerva, perched on a canyon, bears witness to the violent repression of this religious movement under the influence of the Inquisition, notably through the Albigensian Crusade (1209-1229). Continuing towards Carcassonne and its medieval city, listed by UNESCO, you will immerse yourself in the era of the knights.
Some illustrations of medieval sites easily accessible from Capestang
The city of Minerva
A brief overview of Catharism
The dried-up pond of Ensérune
But also more recent historical centers of interest
If you prefer the Baroque era, Pézenas, the town of Molière, will charm you with its historic center and 17th-century mansions.
Closer to home, the house where Charles Trenet was born in Narbonne on May 18, 1913, is the place where an exceptional artistic vocation and a unique talent were awakened. This old building was the source of all inspiration for the artist. Thanks to an original scenography, the archived and interactive documents will allow you to share the incredible joy of the "Singing Fool"!
In the footsteps of Molière
Charles Trenet's house
The diversity of the Capestang region: a real remedy against boredom
These are just a few examples of what awaits you on your historical journey. You will also enjoy the Roman amphitheater of Béziers, the castles of Lastours, Puilaurens and Gruissan, as well as other villages such as Lagrasse, Olargues and Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert.