La Vigne

Pézenas has a special connection to the playwright, Molière, who spent time here with his travelling theatre company. A festival celebrating his works is held every year in June. You will come across various mentions of Molière around the town, including his famous armchair which can be seen in the Vulliod Saint Germain museum.

The Etang du Bagnas is a small but lovely lake nature reserve which is good for birdwatching. There are limited routes accessible on foot or by bike through the reserve, or you can stop at the viewpoint just outside of Marseillan Ville.


 

With its 6km of fine sand, family-friendly Marseillan-Plage can be reached within half an hour. Just along the coast, Agde is a pretty town and popular seaside resort with several beaches, and also a large water park which might be a draw especially for the younger members of your party!

... can be enjoyed on the coast at Cap d'Agde (sailing, windsurfing, kitesurfing, stand-up paddling, canoeing, kayaking, jet-skiing and rubber ring tow rides) or on the lake at Marseillan (canoeing & kayaking, boat hire).

Bike hire is available in Pézenas and there is plenty of opportunity for cycling as well as walking in the surrounding countryside, which is characterised by rows of vines. Families will find easy-going routes suitable for all ages alongside the Canal du Midi.

In such a key wine-growing area, it would be almost a crime not to sample some Languedoc wines during your visit! You can even take a vineyard tour to see a little behind the scenes and meet the vintners.

Perhaps particularly to keep your older children and teenagers entertained, but anyone with a taste for adventure can head for the Gout d'Aventure activity centre about 12km east of Pézenas. They offer archery sessions, a ‘Go Ape’ style treetop obstacle course with rope bridges etc. and more adventurous sports such as canyoning, canoeing, rafting, mountain biking, via ferrata, climbing and caving.
 

Take a day trip to this attractive and interesting city which was once a seaport but now lies about 15km inland due to centuries of silt pushing the shoreline out. However, the Canal de la Robine offers a pleasant waterside setting for a stroll. After working up an appetite, the large covered marketplace, Les Halles, is a great place for soaking up the atmosphere whilst sampling some tasty morsels. In the afternoon, take in the sights which include a partially built cathedral, the medieval bishop’s palace with museum and art gallery, and the Horreum, a Roman underground warehouse.

Take a leisurely stroll around your local town, an utterly charming place with much of historic interest, and a lovely atmosphere thanks in part to its antiques and arty shops. Stop for a drink or lunch in one of the many cafés and restaurants.

Head down to Sète, where an authentic fishing village feel prevails. Unusually perched on a narrow strip of land between a large enclosed lagoon and the wide Mediterranean, with a canal between the two passing through the town, there seems to be water everywhere you look! Unsurprisingly therefore it is nicknamed the 'Venice of the Languedoc'. Drawbridges and swing bridges cross the canalways which are lined by colourful buildings, and it is fascinating to watch the comings and goings of the brightly painted boats around the fishing port and the pleasure craft in the marina. Maritime traditions have survived here, and a famous sailing festival is held in April, called Escale à Sète.

Every Saturday morning, local traders set up their stalls in Pézenas for the large weekly market, a riot of colour and activity. Browse the wares, taste some regional specialities, and buy fresh produce for your meals back at the villa.