After our first night on the barge we start day 2 with a tour of the town of Pézenas. Our guide, Christophe, took us to the city of Molière which is an exquisite cultural capital. Exploring the historic centre of this old fair town where Molière stayed and the site of his Illustre Théâtre is an enchanting experience, like stepping back in time. Its historic centre retains a distinct charm with its late 16th century residences and maze of cobbled side streets which provide a backdrop for the Maison Consulaire, the old, local seat of power, and today the Maison des métiers d’art et d’Ateliers d’Art de France.(Art and Crafts Centre) The Estates of Languedoc meetings were held here until the mid 17th century. From here we traveled to see the 9 locks of Fonserannes. These locks are a flight of staircase locks on the Canal du Midi near Béziers. They consist of eight oval-shaped lock chambers, characteristic of the Canal du Midi, and nine gates, which allow boats to be raised a height of 21.5 metres over a distance of 300 metres. We made a final stop at the Oppidium which is located on a steep hillside, at the crossroads of many important land and sea routes.
Down below, the Roman Via Domitia used to connect Rome with Spain. Today,
the oppidum dominates the plains of Béziers and its famous vineyards. The view here is truly amazing, owing chiefly to the Etang de Montady, a drained wetland situated on the plain and just a few hundred metres from the oppidum. It is a real curiosity in itself, with fields that have radiated out from a central point like the rays of the sun since the ditches were first dug to drain the land in the 13th century. And the Oppidum d'Ensérune offers the very best view. Running under the hillside, the Canal du Midi takes the 170 metre long Malpas Tunnel, bored in 1679 and the first tunnel in the world to have been dug specifically for a canal.
Comments