Beziers

Thursday 10th August

Another cycling day, but in the opposite direction to yesterday - this time to Beziers.  An equally lovely ride, with one of the deepest canal locks to gongoozle, a couple of hire-boat drivers making a mess of driving into the lock(!) and a magnificent aqueduct over the River Orb.
 
 

View of the Cathedral from the Canal du Midi

We chained up the bikes at the foot of the town and climbed the narrow streets, first to find a boulangerie for a baguette, then to find the park 'The Plateau des Poetes'.  All that exercise gave us a good excuse to sit and enjoy our picnic, people-watch (one chap had stripped off his T shirt and the local policewoman blew her whistle at him till he put it back on!) and listen to the fountain on the lake.

We found the old Roman amphitheatre - not a lot to see, but it was interesting how the buildings all around it are curved to enclose it. 

After more uphill climbs along ancient streets,
 
we came to the Cathedral Saint Nazaire, with great views over the surrounding countryside.

 
 
 




Along the canal on our way back to Villeneuve.