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Just 10 minutes' drive up the gorges of the Orb valley are the spectacular Gorges d'Héric where you find beautiful, clear pools (below left) with their own sandy or pebbled beaches. Or drive up to the mountain hamlet of Douch (where there is an excellent restaurant) and do the hour-long walk to the viewing point on the Mont Caroux (centre) from which on a clear day you can see the whole of Languedoc, the Mediterranean and the Pyrenees. Also very near are the stunning village of Roquebrun (10 mins.), with its Jardin Mediterranée (right) full of sub-tropical plants, and Olargues (15 mins.), un des plus beaux villages de France. There is a golf course near the spa town of Lamalou-les-Bains (15 mins.). Bike hire is available in Mons La Trivalle (7 mins.) - email Velotourisme Trivallois.

Further down the Orb valley you come to Béziers (35 mins.) home to the premier corridas of the Midi (see poster below). The capital of Languedoc's winemaking region, this 19th century town of 70,000 people has broad boulevards. More modest in scale is Pézenas (45 mins.), an ancient town with a fine historic centre, broquantes (antique shops) and a wonderful Saturday market.

And don't forget the Mediterranean beaches ... only an hour away. A little further afield, along the A9 autoroute, is Montpellier (1 hr 20 mins), capital of the Hérault département and the region of Languedoc-Roussillon, a beautiful historic university town with many smart restaurants and shops.  Norman Foster's Millau Viaduct is 90 minutes away - on the way, stop for lunch in Lodeve with its excellent art gallery. And with 3 hours driving, you can be in Barcelona!

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photos on this page - thanks to Phil and Mary, who holidayed with us in 2006