Hiking and mountain bike routes
For those who like to walk in the open air, in complete peace and quiet, the Béziers Méditerranée Community Tourist Office has developed 5 hiking trails. There are thus nearly 90 km of marked out loops which are at your disposal to discover the territory, its landscapes and the biodiversity of its fauna and flora. Put on your hiking shoes, think of your water bottle, your sunglasses and sun cream, and stroll along the paths to discover the vineyards, the coastline, the Canal du Midi or the hidden splendors of the city of Béziers.
Of very easy to medium difficulty, all these circuits are available in printed brochures, available in the tourist information offices of Béziers Méditerranée or on the Visorando website.
As far as mountain bike itineraries are concerned, the territory has 192 km of mountain bike circuits divided into 11 loops to ride with family or friends through the vineyards, on the towpaths, along the banks of the ponds and to discover the villages. A map of the mountain bike itineraries "Tous en rando avec l'Agglo !" is available at the tourist information offices of Béziers Méditerranée: on this map, QR codes can be scanned and allow you to obtain the GPS route of the corresponding circuit. Very practical! You can also consult the itineraries or download them on the website www.cirkwi.com. Note that the routes are all labeled Fédération Française de Cyclisme.
Finally, you should know that Béziers Méditerranée is located at the crossroads of three nationally recognized and European cycling routes. The EuroVélo n°8, the famous Mediterranean cycle route, linking Athens to Cadiz over 5,388 km, passes along the banks of the Canal du Midi. The Canal des deux mers à vélo, also known as Véloroute 80, stretches from the Thau basin to the Gironde estuary, a total of 632 km, some of which are on the towpaths of the Canal du Midi. And finally, the Véloroute 84, linking Béziers to Montferrand in the Aude department: this itinerary is partly developed in particular with the green way of the Hauts Cantons "Passa Païs".
Traditional sports
In this corner of Occitania, life is particularly marked by the practice of several traditional activities. Some will say that it is folklore, we will leave you alone to judge the question. However, these activities require endurance, reflexes and agility. Among the most emblematic activities, there is the Languedoc jousting. Well known in Sète, the jousts of Béziers and Vias are the most western of these practices. Thus, on the Canal du Midi, one can see two teams, the blue and the red, confront each other. The rules could not be simpler: two boats (8 meters long), and their strong rowers (10 in number), serve as "mounts" for the lancers. Anchored as solidly as possible on the "tintaine", a platform located high up in front of the boat, the players are equipped with a wooden spear and a bulwark, a sturdy shield on which the opponent's spear can strike. To the lively sound of oboes and drums, the joust begins. The public holds its breath. The oarsmen activate their movements, the spears are lowered and strike the opponent who, however brave, is unbalanced and ends up in the water. These traditional tournaments are always very popular with the public.
The other tradition to mention is that of the bouvine, traditions and sports practices around the bull. If the Camargue race makes its appearance in the arenas of Béziers, it is really the féria and its bullfights that set the hearts of the people of Béziers on fire. This popular festival, which takes place over several days around August 15, attracts thousands of people in the streets of Béziers. The colorful stalls, the music with Catalan airs and the flamenco ambience the city, without forgetting the bodegas where everyone comes to quench various thirsts and talk about the bullfighting show of the day. The arenas of Béziers then take on Sevillian accents and welcome the bullfights. The passion for bullfighting is an integral part of Béziers. Inaugurated in July 1897, the bullring, called "la plaza de toros", has seen the greatest "toreros y matadores" pass through, including recently Sébastien Castella, the Béziers star of the discipline who retired from the profession in 2020 after 20 years of "toreo.
Land of ovaly, but not only
"Aquí, Aquí, es Besiers!", meaning "Here, here, it's Béziers! The message could not be clearer, you are in Béziers and the masters of the game are facing you! A succinct summary, of course, but one that has been verified in the field. Defining themselves as rugged people, the Biterrois have this natural inclination for rugby, and the passionate fervor that goes with it. The Association Sportive Biterroise, ASB, entered the history of the sport in 1961 with the title of French Rugby XV Champion and is the third most successful club in French rugby. Symbol of a battle well fought, the Brennus shield will be brandished 11 times by the ASB, going down the Paul Riquet alleys as a ritual of consecration. This is the "Grand Béziers" of the 70's and 80's whose exceptional players have become legends, not forgetting the coach Raoul Barrière who, without respite, prepared his long-toothed players! The legend of "Grand Béziers" has provided French rugby with some fifty international players. Today, ASBH plays in the ProD2. As for Avenir Sportif Béziers, it is the pride of soccer fans. Promoted to Ligue 2 in 2018, the club now plays in the Nationale 2. Finally, how can we not talk about the Béziers Angels? The athletes of the women's volleyball club were crowned French champions in 2018. High level competitions for these different teams whose fans' enthusiasm is heartwarming.
