Between ancient cities and ports steeped in history, the Hérault is full of treasures to explore. From the title of older town in France held by Béziers in the Gallo-Roman vestiges of Ambrussum, including the engulfed riches of the Museum of the Ephebe, the Venice of Languedoc in Sète or the Panoramas of the Oppidum of Ensérune, this guide offers six escapades to dive into the exceptional heritage of the department, on earth as well.
With the Midi Libre guide, embark on a trip through Hérault and its unsuspected treasures. From the Greek vestiges of Béziers, the oldest town in France, with striking panoramas of the Ensérune oppidum, the engulfed riches from Cap d’Agde to the picturesque alleys of Sète, this course takes you between sea and garrigue, meeting a heritage that can be read as much in stone as in waves.
The oldest town in France
Contrary to popular belief, it is not Marseille that holds the title of the oldest town in France. Indeed, archaeological excavations organized between 1985 and 1986 under the Place de la Madeleine revealed that Béziers is the oldest of the two. Its foundation by the Greeks dates back to-625 BC, 25 years before that of Marseille.
It is thanks to the repeated excavations and surveys that archaeologists were able to attest with certainty of the existence of a city, not in Marseille for the time being, but “Dorienne” (which is one of the four large Greek ethnic groups of the time) called “Béziers I” until then, and more recently known by its true name: Rhode, a city certainly created by the inhabitants of the Greek island. The name of Béziers will appear in the 7th century BC, according to the work of Elian Gomez (Archeology Service of Béziers) and Daniela Ugolini (archaeologist and member of the CNRS) entitled on the paths of Greek Béziers. Despite its seniority, Béziers is a resolutely modern city.
L’town of Nizan
Ensérune oppidum stands as a silent witness to ancient history. This exceptional archaeological site offers visitors a dive into the daily life of its inhabitants there are more than two millennia, revealing the mysteries of a flourishing civilization. The panoramic view from oppidum offers a captivating look at the surrounding plains, the dry pond of Montady, the Canal du Midi and the Mountains of Caroux in the distance.
The strategic position of the site adds a spectacular dimension to the visit. The well -preserved vestiges of oppidum include ramparts, dwellings, cobbled streets where each stone tells a story, revealing the lifestyles and rituals of civilization that prospered here.
Archaeological excavations have revealed valuable information on urban organization, homes, craft workshops and flourishing trade that characterized this ancient society. The water supply system of the oppidum, with its wells and pipes, is remarkable.
The archaeological museum of oppidum allows a discovery of the completely remarkable site with models, projections and collections of perfectly staged objects.
Sub -navy riches
Built in 1984, the Museum of Ephebe is dedicated to underwater and underwater archeology. Located in a green setting at the entrance to Cap d’Agde, it presents the riches of the Agathois heritage.
Exceptional collections are the fruit of 50 years of discoveries in the Hérault river, in sea and in the pond, testifying to the economic activity of Agde over the centuries. Agathé, a Greek city, 2,600 years old, revealed real engulfed treasures: cargo dishes, weapons of the royal navy, maritime transport of amphorae and raw materials, trade of works of art …
Among these treasures, the famous statue of Alexandre d’Angue, known as the Ephebe, is the only Hellenistic bronze found in French waters. Etruscans, Greeks, Romans, Celts, Visigoths, Saracens, Vikings, Spanish: all have left their mark in the history of Agathé.
Ancient vestiges
This ancient Gallo-Roman city, located near Via Domitia, testifies to a rich ancient past. After Lattara and Loupian, the Ambrussum site also retains remarkable vestiges of ancient civilizations, visible in the middle of nature as in the archaeological museum.
The museum presents a room dedicated in Roman and Gallic times of Ambrussum, as well as a hall of temporary exhibitions. Until June 20, an exhibition pays tribute to the first excavators of the site, from 1835 to 1937.
With free access, visitors can discover, in the middle of the garrigue, an ancient road relay, a rampart classified as a historic monument, from the Gallo-Roman Domus-these urban dwellings of the time-and a paved path of 200 meters, still marked by the ruts left by the passage of the tanks.
Centerpiece of the site: Le Pont Ambroix. Built in the 1st century, it spans the vidourle and resists time admirably. Classified as a historic monument since 1840, he inspired a famous painting by Gustave Courbet, produced in 1857 and exhibited at the Fabre Museum in Montpellier. Throughout the route, 15 explanatory panels facilitate an autonomous visit, and guided tours are also offered by the museum by reservation.
Visit Montpellier in podcast
In 2020, the Montpellier Méditerrané Métropole Tourist Office launched its podcast, the guides tell you … In fifty episodes, the speakers guides invite you to discover the territory through a sound stroll combining history, monuments and landscapes of Montpellier and its metropolis.
From the town hall to the white tree, passing through the small palavas train, the Fabre museum or the tram, each episode of two to three minutes returns in a fun way to the symbols of the city.
The podcast also highlights the striking figures of Montpellier. For example, the first episode is dedicated to Saint-Roch, whose name is given to several emblematic places of the city (church, station, parking, clinic, etc.). This episode allows you to discover the exceptional destiny of this Montpellier symbol.
The three seasons of the podcast are available on Spotify, Deezer, Apple Podcasts, Tunein, as well as free on the website of the Tourist Office.
Be careful however, listening to these episodes does not replace an official guided tour led by a professional. They simply allow you to deepen your knowledge of the stories, anecdotes, epics and great characters who shaped Montpellier.
Discover the Venice of Languedoc
It is nicknamed the Venice of Languedoc: the city of Sète borders the pond of Thau. It was founded in 1666 by Louis XIV to offer a maritime opening to the Canal du Midi. Even today, the port of Sète is the largest in the French Mediterranean. We know her for her culinary specialties and the successful series turned there. But Sète, it is above all an exceptional heritage. To admire it, you can start by gaining height. From the summit of Mont Saint-Clair, accessible on foot or by car, we discover the most beautiful view of the Thau archipelago. Its 180 meters above sea level offer a spectacular panorama of the sea and the city, grid by its canals and built between sea and pond. In the distance, we also recognize the shellfish parks, the Sète region being strongly marked by oyster farming.
For a dive into the history of the city, go to Pointe-Courte. This district, still inhabited, testifies to the past of Thau’s lagoon fishermen. Small huts, fishing nets, old boats: the decor is alive, colorful, and loaded with authenticity. Among the essentials, the Haut district, perched on the hillside, reveals its alleys lined with linen strings, in an air from Naples or Montmartre. Dominating the port, we finally find the Saint-Louis lighthouse, at the end of the promenade of the Môle of the same name, an emblematic place of the maritime city, rich in history.