Cazouls-lès-Béziers

Cazouls-lès-Béziers
Town hall
Coat of arms
Cazouls-lès-Béziers
Location within Languedoc-Roussillon region Cazouls-lès-Béziers
Coordinates:
Country	France
Region	Languedoc-Roussillon-Midi-Pyrénées
Department	Hérault
Arrondissement	Béziers
Canton	Béziers-3
Intercommunality	Domitienne
Government
• Mayor (2008–2014)	Philippe Vidal
Area1	38.46 km2 (14.85 sq mi)
Population (2008)2	4,181
• Density	110/km2 (280/sq mi)
INSEE/Postal code	34069 / 34370
Elevation	16–204 m (52–669 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. 2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Cazouls-lès-Béziers is a commune in the Hérault department in southern France.

Map

Geography

The town of Cazouls lès Béziers is situated 15 kilometres north of the city of Béziers and is midway between the Mediterranean coast and the Languedoc Natural Park.

Population

Historical population
Year	Pop.	±%
1962	3,123	—
1968	3,171	+1.5%
1975	3,050	−3.8%
1982	3,071	+0.7%
1990	3,251	+5.9%
1999	3,321	+2.2%
2008	4,181	+25.9%

Economy

This is a rapidly growing town with new housing developments (lotissements), industrial zones and supermarkets. The town has good schools for students to the age of 16 years and a new Maison de Retraite. The local industry is substantially based on wine with many fine independent vintners and a large cooperative. The community is very active with many clubs and associations for sports and the arts, well supported by the Mairie. However, these activities are focussed on the local community and offer little for the tourist.

Sights

Old town

Centred on the town square with the town hall, a fine church, an ancient clock tower and 2 bars, the buildings are mostly stone-built medieval houses that reflect their agrarian history. A walk through the old town will reveal narrow streets and interesting alleys interspersed with grand Maisons de Maître although occasionally marred by unsympathetic renovations. A substantial proportion of the older houses are now holiday homes and the village centre is far livelier in summer than in winter. Whilst interesting, the old town lacks the attractions enjoyed by the nearby circulades (Murviel, Thezan etc.) and the picturesque Roquebrun. Little has been done to make the town attractive to tourists and it retains its “working town” atmosphere.

Other sights

There is a well-stocked and informative Tourist Office and the Museum of Vignerons (Le Musee des Emiles) at Domaine Castan is well worth a visit. Other places of interest include the Roman Baths at Montmajou and the Chapelle de Notre Dame D’Ayde. Of greater importance to the tourist is the location of the town with ease of access to places such as Béziers, Narbonne and Carcassone, the beaches and fishing villages of the Mediterranean coast and the rivers, gorges and mountains of the Park Natural.

See also

• Communes of the Hérault department

References

• INSEE

Gallery

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  Church of Cazouls-lès-Béziers

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  City hall

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  Clock tower

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  Street in Cazouls-lès-Béziers

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  Street in Cazouls-lès-Béziers

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  Abbey of Notre Dame D'Ayde

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  A view of Cazouls

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  The fountain and tower

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  A parade with the band

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  The church and the tower

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  A market in the town square