Bedarieux In The Languedoc
Set amidst mountains, rolling green hills and spectacular countryside, Bedarieux became the capital town of the Hauts Cantons during the Roman occupation and is now the principal town in the Upper Orb Valley in the Department of the Herault.
It is a lively place to visit with a commercial centre, over three hundred shops and sporting and cultural facilities.
It stands on the confluence of the Vebre mountain stream and River Orb and was an important centre for the wool industry during the Middle Ages. Bauxite and coal reserves were mined here and because it occupied such a prime central location the markets here gained importance and the town developed.
The towering Mont d´Orb with its 518 metre Tantajo Peak and Roc Rouge combine with the “causses” limestone hills which are covered in “garrique” vegetation and centuries old evergreen oak forests to surround Bedarieux. The area is covered with drystone walls creating terraces for farming, and you will come across numerous capitelles which are stone shelters and cottages called mazets. The causses are well worth exploring as they form a pastel coloured landscape which is fragrant with the scents of thyme, lavender and rosemary.
Bedarieux
The climate here is excellent, and the beautiful environment and clean mountain air make this an ideal place to relax and unwind. There are numerous sports and leisure facilities with the Rene Char Sports Ground offering three full size soccer pitches, four tennis courts, an outdoor swimming pool, martial arts centre and a gymnasium. There are cross country trials with exercise stops which stretch three kilometres on the road to Pezenes les Mines as well as a bowling alley and skate park.
Cultural attractions include La Maison des Arts which has exhibitions and paintings by local contemporary artists, the pre-Romanesque St Raphael’s Church and the eighteenth century Perspective dyke which was originally built to protect Bedarieux from flooding by the River Orb, but is now a shady promenade bordered with plane trees. The list goes on … this really is a beautiful area to visit and spend some time exploring.