Imaging a square with a side length of about 400 m. Inside there are streets and alleyways lined with houses, some places … all in a checkerboard pattern. In Southern France this type of city is called bastide. The square resp. the bastide is bordered by a high wall with impressive defense towers and 10 gates. A village in this area was mentioned for the first time about 100 B. C. It expanded into a…
Almost 900 years ago almost in the midst between Béziers and Montpellier the abbey Sainte-Marie de Valmagne was founded and thrived for the next centuries. Of course after 1789 the abbey was desecrated and became a state property. Nevertheless the abbey was preserved and sonn became a famous vineyard. It is a historic landmark attracting lots of tourists as well as oenophiles. A tour of the abbey always will lead to the wine shop ……
On a sunny day about midweek we made a trip to Sète. It’s about 30 min by train from Béziers. The sky was blue, the sun was brilliant: it was hot – we stumbled direct into the farmer’s market which sprawled along the streets and alleyways … and the market hall. My better half & I were enthralled by the abundance of fruits & vegetables, the cheeses, the fish & seafood, the meat … and…