Herault
Visit Herault, France
A department of many contrasts, Herault has the modern coastal resort of La Grande-Motte to compare with the traditional fishing towns of the Etang de Thau, and the bustling town of Montpellier to contrast with the attractive villages to the interior of the department
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
Coastal
Coast and resorts in Herault
Cap d'Agde
The coast south of Agde, called Cap d'Agde, is very popular and an important naturist centre
See Cap d'Agde
Etang de Thau
Much of the coastal part of the department is taken up by the Etang de Thau and its villages
See Etang de Thau
La Grande-Motte
The popular seaside resort of La Grande-Motte is at the eastern end of the Herault department, an impressive resort architect designed in the 1970's and pretty much unchanged since.
See La Grande-Motte
Montpellier
Montpellier has a reputation for being one of the most lively and vibrant cities along the southern coast of France. As well as its beautiful historic centre the neo-classical Antigone district is well worth visiting, as is the new shopping and leisure centre at Odysseum with a planetarium, aquarium and ice-rink
See Montpellier
Palavas-les-Flots
Palavas les Flots is one of the most visited seaside resorts in the region
Sete
The port town at Sete is one of the longest occupied regions of Herault with several interesting highlights
See Sete
France This way comment: we suggest that you also visit the cistercian Abbey Valmagne, at Villeveyrac, which is a lovely abbey with a very impressive cloisters.
North
Highlights to the north of Herault
Avene
The small town of Avene is best known for its mineral watersn as used in the popular Avène range of beauty products
See Avene
Cirque de Moureze
The Cirque de Moureze is a very impressive scenic highlight meriting a visit
Clermont-l'Herault
Clermont l'Herault sits surrounded by vines and olive trees, and is capital of the department
Lac-du-Salagou
The colourful Lac du Salagou is surrounded by countryside whose soil is an unusual burgundy-red colour
See Lac-du-Salagou
Les Matelles
The scenic village of Les Matelles is a short distance north-west of Montpellier
See Les Matelles
Lunas and area
Lunas is a good introduction to the scenery of the pretty 'mountains and springs' area of the Herault.
See Lunas and area
Saint-Guilhem-le-Desert
The village of Saint-Guilhem-le-Desert is classified among the most beautiful villages in France
Saint-Martin-de-Londres
Saint-Martin-de-Londres ia a picturesque village in the Herault hinterland
Villeneuvette
The village of villeneuvette originally developed around a 17th century cloth making industry
See Villeneuvette
France This way comment: usually visited for its natural scenic highlights, also inland in the Herault near here there are a couple of cave systems that are 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).
West
Highlights to the west of Herault
Minerve
Minerve is one of the three villages in Herault classified among the most beautiful in France
See Minerve
Olargues
The pretty village of olargues is well worth the detour towards the north-west of the department
See Olargues
Roquebrun
Roquebrun is a very pretty village, most visited for the attractive Roquebrun gardens
See Roquebrun
Saint-Chinian
In the countryside north of Beziers, Saint Chinian is a traditional Languedoc market town
See Saint-Chinian
Herault markets
Market towns & days in Herault
all markets in morning unless otherwise stated
Agde: Tuesday & Wednesday (high season only)
Agde: Thursday & Sunday & Saturday
Aniane: Thursday
Balaruc-les-Bains: Tuesday & Friday
Bedarieux: Monday all day
Bessan: Tuesday & Sunday
Capestang: Sunday
Castelnau-le-Lez: Thursday & Saturday & Friday
Gigean: Tuesday
Gignac: Saturday
La Grande-Motte: Sunday
La Grande-Motte: Thursday (high season only)
Lamalou-les-Bains: Tuesday & Thursday & Saturday
Lattes: Wednesday & Sunday
Lunel: Thursday & Sunday
Marseillan: Monday & Wednesday & Friday & Saturday (high season only)
Marseillan: Tuesday
Marsillargues: Tuesday
Mauguio: Tuesday all day & Thursday all day & Sunday all day
Olonzac: Tuesday
Palavas-les-Flots: Sunday (high season only)
Palavas-les-Flots: Wednesday & Monday & Friday
Paulhan: Thursday
Pezenas: Saturday all day
Portiragnes: Every day except Thursday & Saturday (high season only)
Saint-Chinian: Thursday & Sunday
Saint-Gely-du-Fesc: Thursday & Saturday
Saint-Pons-de-Thomieres: Wednesday & Sunday
Serignan: Wednesday & Monday & Friday
Sete: Wednesday & Monday & Friday
Highlights
Selected tourist destinations in the Herault
The following sites have received official "tourist classifications"...
Zoo or wildlife park
Parc zoologique de Lunaret
4* Towns in Bloom
Fraisse-sur-Agout
Sites of Natural Beauty
Cirque du Moureze
Etang de Thau
Etangs du Bagnas
Grotte de la Clamouse
Grotte des Demoiselles
Secteur Sauvegardé (protected historical town centre)
Listed 'Remarkable Gardens'
Jardin des carrières de Saint-Adrien
Parc et jardin du château de Margon
Parc et jardins du château de Flaugergues
Regional Natural Parcs
Haut-Languedoc
towns classified as Recommended Detours
National Monuments
Enserune
Villages classified as "most beautiful villages"
UNESCO world heritage sites
Saint Jean de Fos pont du diable (monuments on French pilgrim routes)
St Guilhem le Desert ancienne abbaye (monuments on French pilgrim routes)
Grand Sites of France
Cirque de Navacelles
Saint-Guilhem-le-Desert / Gorges de l'Herault
Valle du Salagou
Aquarium
Mare Nostrum
More information
- The coastal resorts in Herault (including Agde and Montpellier)
- Explore the North
- Explore the West (with Pezenas and Beziers)
- List of weekly market days in the department
- Sites with tourism awards and classifications
- Map of the region
- The Montpellier airport is found within Herault.
- See an index of all Herault communes