Pezenas

Visit Pezenas, Languedoc-Roussillon

Pezenas is a town in the Herault department of Languedoc-Roussillon region, north of Agde and 20 kilometres north-east of Beziers in the Val d'Hérault. It is one of my favourite towns in this area and well worth the trip to visit it.

Explore Pezenas

Pezenas has a nice attractive old town, unspoiled by modern development, with narrow streets to explore as well as some grand 17th century houses. Its town centre was one of the first in France to be protected as an historic monument.

Look out for the magnificent detail as you amble through the lanes. There are example of lovely stone detail to windows and doors, lovely wrought iron balconies and stone staircases. There are numerous imposing houses from the 16th to 18th centuries including the Hotel Jacques Coeur, the Hotel Carion de Nizas and the Hotel de Lacoste among those to look out for.

There is also a well preserved Jewish ghetto in the town dating from the middle ages.

The most important religious monument in Pezenas is the 18th century Collegiale Church of saint-Jean, above all for the important treasury that it contains. Others include the roman style Church of Saint-Jean-de-Bébian, classified as a historic monument, and the other main church - the Church of Saint-Ursule - also merits a visit.

The town is also reputed for its antique and bric-a-brac shops.

The Tourist Office in Pézenas offers guided tours of the town to help you make the most of a visit. The tourist office itself was once the barbers shop and it was here apparently that Moliere dreamed up some of the characters for his plays.

If you are staying in or close to Pézenas during the evening you can wander through the old town and find a number of inviting restaurants to tempt you.

The town is especially proud of its association with Moliere, who brought his troupe to the town on several occasions, and has a monument to commemorate the fact by the reputed sculptor Jean-Antoine Anjelbert. As a consequence, each summer Pezenas plays host to the Mirondela de l'Arte, and music and street entertainment takes over the town.

Budding authors seeking inspiration can visit the Museum de Vulliod Saint-Germain where you can even see Moliere's armchair! There is also a Museum of Toys,  an Arts and Crafts Centre and an interesting Centre for Architecture and Heritage in Pezenas.

The market day is Saturday in Pezenas.

Attractions nearby

Not to be missed when you are at Pezenas is the nearby (12 km) Abbey at Valmagne, a classified historic monument and very beautiful abbey and cloister.

A tour of the surrounding villages in the Val d'Herault is also recommended - they are mostly quite small and clustered around a medieval church, with each having its own interest and characteristics. among others Caux, Castelnau-de-Guers, Pomerols, Nezignac l'Eveque and Florensac are all within easy reach of Pezenas.

See Languedoc-Roussillon and Herault (the region and department for Pezenas) for more travel ideas...

Tourist classifications for Pezenas: Village in bloom (ville fleurie) 1*; Recommended detour town (plus beau detour); 'Historical protected town centre' (secteur sauvegardé);

Photos of Pezenas

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Suggested places to visit near Pezenas, France

Distances shown are direct, driving distances will be greater.

More suggestions: Agde 17km; Cirque de Moureze 19km; Bouzigues 19km; Beziers 21km; Balaruc-le-Vieux 21km; Sete 23km; Cap d'Agde 24km; Lodeve 31km; Saint-Guilhem-le-Desert 32km; Roquebrun 32km; Saint-Chinian 39km;

Pezenas tourist information: sights and attractions nearby

Parc et jardin du château de Margon - remarkable garden (10km) : Jardin des carrières de Saint-Adrien - remarkable garden (11km) : Etang de Thau - site of natural beauty (17km) : Etangs du Bagnas - site of natural beauty (19km) : Cirque du Moureze - site of natural beauty (19km) : Valle du Salagou - grand site of france (22km) : Grotte de la Clamouse - site of natural beauty (29km) : Enserune - national monument (30km) :

See more places and a map at places near Pezenas