Villeneuve-lès-Béziers

Villeneuve-lès-Béziers makes an excellent spot for a holiday. The Canal du Midi - a UNESCO World Heritage site - runs right through the village, it's only 5 minutes from the town of Béziers, just 15 minutes from the sandy, Mediterranean beaches and an easy drive up into the Haut Languedoc National Park. 

 

Many of the villages in the area carry the 'lès-Béziers' suffix. This comes from the Latin 'latus' and simply means that they are close to the town of Béziers. The village of Villeneuve was built on lands given by Charlemagne and the new village became known as 'Ville Neuve'. It was burnt down during the Albigensian Crusade against the Cathars and was known for several hundred years as 'Vilanova la Crémada', or 'The Burnt Down New Town '.   

 

Villeneuve has a 'well-heeled' look to it and it is certainly a bustling community. The population numbers a lot of 'secondary residents' alongside its townsfolk and in summer, the population is swelled by visitors from all over Europe.

 

A bike-ride or a stroll beneath the plane trees alongside the Canal du Midi is an extremely pleasant way to spend an afternoon, as is a stop at one of the many 'Domaines' in the area to taste the local wines. For nightlife, go into Béziers or down to the seaside villages, such as Portiragnes or even Cap d'Agde to sample the many bars and clubs available.