Beziers is great for a summer biking holiday
Beziers in the South of France has a great combination of beaches, history and outdoor activities perfect for a week away
Famous for its wine and bullfighting, Beziers lies at the heart of the Languedoc and still remains off the map for most tourists visiting the South of France. If you are annoyed by the summer crowds in Nice and Montpellier, Beziers can offer a good alternative. Whilst smaller than the two other cities, Beziers has some great sandy beaches located aound 10km from the centre that never seem to get overcrowded. Another great feature to the city is the Canal du Midi which leads from the centre of town straight to the smaller coastal villages. This route is perfect for cycling and offers some great scenery and welcome shade from the sun from the tall trees that lign the canal.
The 10km bike ride to the beach from Beziers is well worth it
If you are on a budget though and have not managed to bring your own bikes, you might have difficulty finding some. The strange thing about Beziers is even though thousands of bikers pass by Beziers down the Canal du Midi towards the beach, there are only three possible places to rent bikes. Two of these places charge extortionate prices for daily rental, with no possibility of a weekly rental. I think it was something ridiculous like 12 Euros per day, per bike. Which for two people staying a week really adds up too much. the third option provides luxury hotel deals with bike rental included within the cost.
However, this option is also expensive as you pay around 15 Euros more on average per person, per night compared to the other less luxurious hotels around. A good option could be to check out local online forums in advance to try and borrow a bike from a local for a week. When I was there, I was lucky enough to meet someone who understood our problem. Thanks to my charm and French skills, I managed to work out a deal where we paid a fraction of the cost that rental places charged and got a couple of decent bikes for the week.
We stayed in a great little hotel in the centre of town opposite the main square called Hotel Angleterre. It’s run by quite a character from Marseille and his extended family. They were very friendly and provided some great tips for things to do in Beziers and provided space to store our bikes. It was a bit of struggle getting them up and down the stairs, but safer to keep them indoors. Our room was basic but comfortable and provided a great little balcony just big enough to fit a table and a couple of chairs. We made good use of these for breakfast and dinner (pizza) when we stayed in.
Top tips for a trip to Beziers:
- Stay in Hotel Angleterre if you are on a budget
- Try and plan in advance sorting some bikes out
- Make the most of the Canal du Midi and the great beaches around Valras
- Check out Ryan Air for cheap flights
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