The best MTB trails around Boujan-Sur-Libron

This superb strip of compact earth, by the water, makes for very fast and rolling gravel terrain for trail running, and is very pleasant for walking. Stop by the water to observe the little birds hiding in the shore bushes.

⚓ Écluse de Villeneuve – Lock on the Canal du Midi The lock at Villeneuve-lès-Béziers is one of the many historical points along the Canal du Midi and a nice stopover on a bike tour along the canal. 🚲🌿 Here you can observe well how the boats overcome the difference in altitude in the canal. Close the lock gate, change the water level, and the houseboats and leisure boats continue on the Canal du Midi. 🚤 It is precisely these old locks that, for me, are part of the special charm of the canal. You cycle relaxed along the water and repeatedly encounter structures that, to this day, ensure that the Canal du Midi, which was already built in the 17th century, is still navigable. A nice place to briefly get off your bike and watch the lock operations. 👌🏼 Greetings Marcus ✌🏼

The Canal du Midi, formerly Canal Royal, is a 17th-century technical feat designed by Pierre-Paul Riquet to connect the Atlantic to the Mediterranean. Today, it is above all a place for relaxation and discovery, where heritage, nature, and conviviality blend together.

The Canal du Midi, formerly Canal Royal, is a 17th-century technical feat conceived by Pierre-Paul Riquet to connect the Atlantic to the Mediterranean. Today, it is above all a place for relaxation and discovery, where heritage, nature, and conviviality blend.

The lock made of wood during the construction of the Canal du Midi was subsequently renovated to have a metal structure like all the other locks on the Canal Royal des Deux Mers.

Attached to the diocese of Agde, the Benedictine abbey of Saint-Thibéry is said to have been founded around 770 with the arrival of Attilio, a disciple and advisor of Benoît d’Aniane. First abbot of the monastery, Attilio settled with a few monks near the tombs of the three Christian martyrs Tibère, Modeste, and Florence, executed during the reign of the Roman emperor Diocletian on November 10, 304 [...]. During the Middle Ages, the abbey was the seat of several councils, such as those of 907 and 1050, bringing together bishops and abbots from the province of Narbonne. All-powerful among the abbeys of Languedoc, Saint-Thibéry declined with the Hundred Years' War.

A few kilometers from Nézignan-l’Évêque, in the municipality of Saint-Thibéry, Château Sainte-Cécile dates back to the 18th century. Originally a "country house" intended for holidays, the estate gradually developed around viticulture, but also silkworm farming and alcohol distillation. This former bastide was profoundly transformed over time, notably by the addition of an Italianate decor: Florentine facade, Corinthian columns, loggia, terrace adorned with Venetian lions, and balustered staircases. This transformation earned it the nickname "Venetian folly". In 1933, the castle was acquired by the father of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, the Marquis Jacques de Saint-Exupéry. The writer stayed there regularly in the following years. Today, the castle hosts guest rooms and receptions, while preserving the main architectural elements that have shaped its identity.

This 18th-century residence hosted a vineyard, a silkworm farm, and an alcohol distillery before becoming a bed and breakfast and reception venue today. You can admire its beautiful Florentine facade from the outside, the building having been built inspired by Italian Renaissance castles.