Herault

General info

Herault: an introduction

Herault is the central department of the Languedoc-Roussillon region of southern France, with an extensive coastal region that extends from Beziers to Montpellier.

Inland from the coast the countryside extends north and west from the Mediterranean coast and includes many scenic treasures, more so the further north and west you travel.

While most visitors to Herault are based along the coast we do strongly recommend you allow at least a day two to get away from the beach and explore the scenery!

The Herault Coast including Beziers and Montpelier

Broadly speaking the coast in Herault consists of resorts in the east (such as our personal favourite in the region at La Grande-Motte and Palavas-les-Flots) and in the west of the region (including the naturist resort of Cap d'Agde), with the Etang de Thau and the town of Sete in between them.

Most of the beach resorts are relatively recent developments and less expensive than those on the Riviera further west on the Mediterranean, and typically have all the beach facilities you expect but lack interesting historical sights.

An unexpected highlight on the coast - or rather on a strip of land in the sea - is the cathedral at Maguelone.

The lively town of Montpellier is near the coast to the north-east of the department and has a vibrant city centre, and is among our favourite summer time towns in France. Other places to visit when you are not on the beach include the cathedral town of Agde or the historic port area of Sete, and the the villages and towns around the Etang de Thau, such as Marseillan, Loupian and Meze.

See coastal resorts in Herault for highlights

Western Herault including Pezenas and Beziers

The most important town in the south-west is Beziers, an interesting town to explore, and Pezenas is also a very pleasant town to visit.

Further west both Olargues and Minerve are classed as 'most beautiful villages in France' while Roquebrun is also very pleasant and has a popular river beach.

We also suggest you visit the villages of Aigne, Beaufort and Montouliers in the south-west near Minerve and Vieussan is among our favourites near Olargues.

This part of the department forms part of the Haut-Languedoc Regional Natural Park, whic contains many of the scenic highlights to be found in Herault. One particularly scenic site is the Cirque de Navacelles, a large gorge carved in the limestone which is listed as one of about 30 'Grand Sites of France'.

See Western Herault for highlights

Northern Herault

The northern part of the department is usually visited for its natural scenic highlights such as the Cirque de Moureze and the Lac du Salagou (close together in the centre of the department).

You will also find picturesque villages such as Saint-Guilhem-le-Desert, officially classifed as one of the most beautiful villages in France, and the town of Lodeve is also among those to visit.

Note: the scenic Gorges de l'Herault at St Guilhem-le-Desert are also classified as a 'Grand Site of France'

There are lots of other pretty villages in the countryside of northern Herault such as Pegairolles de l'Escalette in a lovely setting backed by cliffs, Laroque, Brissac and the small hilltop village of Pegairolles de Bueges - but you are sure to come across others equally picturesque as you travel around that we haven't discovered yet!

Also inland in this part of the Herault there are a couple of cave systems worth visiting: the Grotte de la Clamouse (near Saint-Guilhem-le-Desert) and the Grotte des Demoiselles (in the very north-easternmost part of the department).

See Northern Herault for highlights