Capestang

Capestang is a small (population 3500) and attractive town in the Department of the Herault situated next to the beaches and Regional Park of High Languedoc at the crossroads of Beziers-Narbonne and Beziers-Carcassonne.   It is a lively and friendly place to stay with the Canal du Midi running along the top of the village where you will find numerous colourful barges, bars and restaurants.  It is a popular tourist resort which has retained its character and charm and has a warm climate which makes it a great place to relax and unwind.

It is easily accessible with several international airports within easy driving distance: Carcassonne (55 minutes), Perpignan (70 minutes), Montpellier (60 minutes), Nimes (90 minutes) and Toulouse and Girona (140 minutes).  There are rail links at Beziers and Narbonne with TGV high speed connections to Paris.  If you are travelling from Spain,  Barcelona Airport is three and half hours away. 

The village centres around a large pond and greens where old men play petanque.  It is overlooked by a beautiful twelfth century castle and massive fourteenth century Gothic Saint Etienne Collegiate Church and bell tower on the hillside.   The main industry here is viniculture and there is a market selling a wide range of local produce (including olives, cheese and oysters) and wines every Wednesday and Sunday morning in the square where local women squeeze tomatoes to make fresh juice at their vegetable stands.  The small square is lined with bars and cafes, a boucherie and boulangerie.

Le Pin Sucre is about a three minute drive away, Minervois is thirty minutes to the north with its famous Cathar village and river gorges.  The beaches are forty minutes away and stretch for miles from Cap d’Agde to Gruissan Plage.  There is plenty to keep everyone occupied here with a wide variety of water sports, golf courses nearby, climbs and walks in the beautiful hills and mountains and wine caves where you can taste and purchase local wines at very good prices.  You will also find many local winemakers selling bottles from what appear to be roadside lemonade stands.