This proud southern City is best known today as the birthplace of Pierre-Paul Riquet, the designer and builder of the Canal du Midi, and the famous Feria d‘Été held during August each year. However, it has a long history dating back well before the Romans founded a colony for veterans here called Baeterrae around 35 BC. Evidence for this are the remains of the old amphitheatre which, unlike its counterpart in Arles, is part of the local housing stock!

Béziers continued to grow until disaster struck during the Middle Ages. Most of the population followed the Cathar heresy and were massacred in 1209 by Crusaders sent by the Pope to wipe out the all the adherents. The massive Romanesque castle-like Cathedral of St-Nazaire was rebuilt in the Gothic style following this episode to remind the population who was in charge and the town remained a shadow of its former self until the 19th century when the revival of the local vineyards brought back some prosperity.