

Have you ever had a dream on a wet and windy British spring day of a sun-drenched hill town set amongst luscious vineyards with, sentinel like, a castle or cathedral that stands guard as a languid river winds lazily off into the distance? The charming picture painted against the backdrop of an azure Mediterranean sky.
This is what welcomed me to Beziers, along with the warm spring sunshine, tempered only slightly by the gentle mistral breeze. The region formerly known as Languedoc-Rousillon is famed for wines and responsible for around a third of the French grape harvest. Immediately leaving the airport my coach meanders through acres of verdant vineyards and my taste buds begin to tingle in anticipation.
As a disabled traveller, my first thoughts are often What am I able to do? Are my limitations going to affect the enjoyment of my fellow travellers? The setting of a city like Beziers, could appear at first glance, to present a lot of challenges. But Beziers has done a wonderful job of making the city as friendly and welcoming as possible. Lifts and gently sloping paths mean some of the city’s most beautiful views are accessible to everyone.

There are few better places to start in Beziers than the Allées Paul Riquet at the centre of the city. Named after one of its most famed citizens, the Allées runs almost half the length of the city centre. A flat, well-paved boulevard leading from the tropical Plateau des Poétes in the south to the Theatre Municipal in the north. Trees provide welcome shade and the Allées is dotted with cafes that offer me a little tipple of that Languedoc-Roussillon wine.
On Saturdays, the Allées Paul Riquet is alive with the hustle and bustle of markets stalls, selling antiques and curiosities. I recommend taking a moment, closing your eyes and marinating in the drifting smells of spring flowers and coffee, allow the gentle wash of sounds to envelope you.
North-west of the Allées, Beziers is full of small winding streets and alleys. Largely these are pedestrian friendly, well-paved and flat. An intriguing way to explore these streets is to follow the walking route organised around the historical frescos that dot the city. The beautifully painted trompe d’oeil depict various parts of Beziers’ history from Jean Moulin, hero of the resistance in WW2, to the Winemakers Revolt in 1907. The route leads me through alleys and streets lined with blue-shuttered windows and I feel the history of this ancient city seep into me.

Beziers is one of the oldest cities in France founded around 575 BCE and has since been continuously inhabited. It hosted the Celts and the Romans and was part of Islamic Iberia. The city saw crusades and was a military base in some of the early modern European wars. The original dark ages Cathedral St Nazaire was built upon the ruins of a Roman temple which was burned to the ground with some of Beziers Cathar inhabitants inside. The cathedral is a tremendous edifice that guards the town, a beacon for the surrounding countryside. From here all the way down through the city and across the river Orb an accessible walkway has been completed in the last few years.
The incredible Fonseranes locks were completed in 1680 by Paul Riquet. With 9 locks and 8 basins it is a sight to witness boats travel through this engineering marvel. From an accessibility point of view, Beziers has again outdone itself. At the bottom of the locks there is a small buzzer near the toilets. Press this and the multilingual tourism office team (one of their team, Bridget, was quite simply the nicest person) will send an electric car, taking you to the top of the locks. Although I could have come down again by boat through the locks or by car I decided to stroll and absorb the warm sunshine.
If you are a bit out of steam after this or if you just fancy a more leisurely way to see the sites of the city, Le Petit Train de Beziers is a fun and relaxing way to get to all Beziers corners whilst sitting back and listening to audio of its saga-filled history.
A destination that is 2 hours from Bristol, drenched in late spring sunshine with a history as wide and varied as Beziers should be taken notice of. Beziers has all the hallmarks of a French Mediterranean town, the seafood, the wine, the sites and has also made an outstanding effort to ensure that it is accessible for everyone to enjoy.
Thanks for the tips. Looks like a great place to visit....added it to the bucket list.