Local Info
Supermarkets & Shops: there is a medium-sized supermarket in our village, G20, with 3 newsagents, 2 Pharmacies, 2 hairdressers and a beautician, a bakery, an artisan bakery / patisserie, a boucherie/charcuterie & village markets for fresh produce. The hypermarket (HyperU), Lidl & Aldi (Euro supermarkets) are around 4KM away. Beziers offers great shopping for clothes, gifts and memorabilia and Montpellier even more so (a 40 minute drive away). Click here to view today's weather.
Restaurants, Bars & Cafés: there are many very reasonably priced restaurants, wine bistros and local bars, in the village itself and in the neighbouring villages / Beziers. With wine caves and wine shops offering tastings (many caves do tastings f.o.c.) you can sample the local wines and produce of the area very easily. The village's largest winery, Domaine de Deux Ruisseaux, recently had it's red 'Cuvée Patricia' wine placed in the top 100 UK vin de pays. For a listing of many other local wineries who also been placed in the top 100 for whites, rosés and reds click here. Colombiers is a canal-facing village nearby with an excellent selection of lunch-time eateries and Villeneuve-Les-Beziers another nearby village with a reasonably priced canal-facing pizzeria (open May - Sep).
There are plenty of gastro-restaurants to choose from, a couple no more than 4km away. Ma Ferme for steaks; Le Flamant Rouge for jazz and wines; and L'Harmonie for haute nouvelle cuisine. La Raffinerie is another fine restaurant open during the summer season in Beziers facing the Canal du Midi, just a 10 min car / taxi ride away, as is La Chamberte; L'Abassade in the heart of Beziers offering various degustation menus and proud holder of a Michelin star; L'Octopus is another award winner in Beziers; and in Pezenas (a 20 minute car journey away) is the acclaimed Les Palmiers (open only during high season and when not raining as is open to the elements). One rung above Les Palmiers in Pezenas is L'Entre Pots. For a memorable lunch head for Maury to Pacal Borrel's (1 Michelin star) La Maison du Terroir. 20 mins from Beziers, at Magalas, is O-Bontemps, to rave reviews. Advance booking for these is recommended. For something less 'gastrofied' head for the funkier but excellent Le Café in Marseillan and the restaurant next door for the best value seafood I have tasted, all the more appetising as it faces the Marina and the Noilly Prat show room on the other side (makers of this vermouth aperitif). Finally, for the best oysters in France with second-to -none seaviews visit Bouzigues.For the most comprehensive and unbiased listing & reviews of restaurants in the Languedoc that I have seen (in English), visit Languedoc Dining.
Activities & Things to Do: local activities include cycling, diving, fishing, golf, horse riding, bird-watching, mountain biking, hiking, white water rafting, kayaking, canyoning, paragliding, sailing, surfing, swimming, tennis, walking, water / jet skiing, wind/kite-surfing, wine tasting (both for enjoyment or for more indepth courses). For those craving a busy nightlife, Cap d'Agde with its Night Clubs is a short drive away, yet far enough away not to disturb! Guest Welcome Pack: places & walks, activities, wine tasting in this region; apartment, emergencies and insurance information.
The area is steeped in history and much of the coastline is nature reserve thus protected. The Languedoc Regional Natural Park, offering many walks, canyoning, white water rafting, sailing, lakes and other activities is about half an hour's drive away. Unlike the Cote d'Azur, this region is not over-priced nor is it difficult to escape the tourists if you are seeking tranquility.
