THE REGION

Information about the area

Situated in the heart of the Parc Natural Regional du Haut Languedoc, Olargues is classed as one of the most beautiful villages in France and is of strong architectural and historical interest. The Parc is an area of outstanding beauty and is one of the most striking and least developed parts of Mediterranean France. Fabulous scenery, vineyards, mountain lakes, forests, rivers and gorges surround this quiet and unspoilt village. Village services include a post office and small shops for most needs, visiting “camionnettes” (fresh fish & seafood, country charcuterie and farm products) and a choice of bars and restaurants to serve a population of 550.

Walking, rambling, rock climbing, biking, kayaking, fishing, golfing, horse riding etc are all available locally. But none of these activities are de rigueur; Olargues and the Haut Languedoc make for an equally good time if you just want to relax. Fancy a picnic by an isolated waterfall with a cool, clear pool for safe swimming? We can point you in the right direction. A book, a baguette and a bottle of local wine for a dozy afternoon by the riverbank? Omar Kayam would understand.

Olargues and the surrounding villages aren't entirely without activity, though. There are also boules, local markets and spring and summer fetes, including a well-attended Organic Products Fair in August, for those looking for a taste of authentic French village life.

Dates for Olargues fetes in 2012 are :

Flower & Garden Fete 13th May

Music Festival 2nd to 8th August

Medieval Fete 16th September

New Wine & Chestnut Fete 3rd & 4th November

And of course there's the vendange in the autumn; the wine harvest always finishes with a great deal of good cheer, infinite bonhomie, and just the odd taste of last year's vintage as well.

Or maybe you want to use Olargues as a touring base. The beaches are an hour's drive; lakes for swimming and water sports are nearer and less crowded. The spectacular cité of Carcassonne, the largest medieval walled city in Europe (and used for the exteriors of Camelot), is about an hour and half by car. So are the stunning Cathare castles, last strongholds of the Albigensians - Peyrepeteuse in particular is awe-inspiring. Albi itself, well worth a visit if only for the Toulouse-Lautrec connections, is about the same distance. For a change of language, the Spanish border is two hours away; for a change of direction, a couple of hours would see you beyond Montpellier and in the heart of the Camargue.

TRAVEL

BY CAR About 14 hours from the Channel ports. Autoroutes A9 to Béziers or A75 to Clermont l'Hérault. Olargues is on the D908 between Bedarieux to the East and St Pons to the West.

AIRPORTS driving distances: Beziers (1 hour), Montpellier & Carcassonne (1hr30), Perpignan (1hr45), Nimes (2hrs), Toulouse (2hrs30). All have car hire agencies.
See all air routes to France from the UK and Ireland here: http://www.frenchentree.com/france-flight-map/#

TRAINS: Eurostar (Paris/Lille), TGV to Montpellier/Beziers. Motorail to Narbonne.

BUS: Local bus service to Montpellier.

ACCESS: Autoroute A9 exit Béziers-Est take the D909 direction Bedarieux then the D908 to Herepian and continue until Olargues.
OR Exit Béziers-Ouest take the D14 direction Saint Chinian/Olargues
OR Autoroute A75 exit Clermont l’Hérault take the D908 direction Bedarieux and continue as above.


Olargues is located in the Vallée d’Orb at the heart of the Parc Naturel de Haut Languedoc. The Gorges d’Héric, a ten-minute drive away, resembles a huge sabre slash penetrating 5 kilometres into the southern slopes of the Monts de l’Espinouse and is one of the most outstanding beauty spots in this mountain range.

The area offers spectacular walks, hiking and swimming in the crystal clear waters of the gorge’s deep rock pools and local lakes and rivers. The walls of the Gorge provide the finest rock faces in the region and are therefore popular with rock climbers (there is a rock climbing school). There are several a mountain adventure centres offering climbing, canyoning and mountain biking.

Mountain and all terrain bikes including child seats and transporters are also available for hire in Olargues. The river Orb provides some of the best canoeing and kayaking in France for beginners and enthusiasts alike. Golf, fishing, horse riding, tennis and much more can also be found locally.

Golf course at Lamalou les Bains.

 The mountain lakes and plateau with clear views to Spain are less than a 30-minute drive. Head off to the miles of Mediterranean beaches, less than an hour away and visit some of the many coastal fishing towns. Return via the vineyard plain with its many fascinating domains all offering the opportunity to sample wines from the 300 vineyards of the region. And then back in our valley with its special charm you can relax in beautiful surroundings.

Here in this rich unspoilt region with fine wines and superb cuisine you will be spoilt for choice at any time of year in one of the South’s best kept secrets.

Places of Interest

Roquebrun: This pretty village is known as “Little Nice” and the “Garden of the Mediterranean” because of its botanical gardens. It lies on the same latitude as Nice itself and enjoys a temperate microclimate. A large beach and river swimming can be enjoyed here.

St Chinian: This market town has a great variety of restaurants and stores. A market is held every Sunday in the pretty shaded square. It is lined by the handsome Mairie, which looks out on to formal gardens. The local AOC wine is famous throughout the region and you will find many caves to visit for wine tasting.

Béziers: The nearest large town to Olargues, Béziers has a main avenue surrounded with cafés and restaurants. It is famous for its bullfighting and summer festival and has many large stores and hypermarkets as well as an interesting weekly market.
Valras Plage: The nearest coastal town resort is approximately an hour away. It is a fishing port; hence it’s fine cuisine. Miles of sandy beaches can also be explored here.

Montpellier: The capital of the Hérault. Montpellier has a vast shopping area surrounded by its historical district on one side and dynamic modern architecture and vibrant nightlife on the other.

Pézenas: Famous for its many bric-a-brac and antique shops. Its ancient architecture takes us back to the time of Molière who passed much of his life here. Many fascinating summer boutiques full of regional specialties and hand crafts.

Carcassonne: With it’s 2,500 years of history, now a perfectly restored medieval fortified city, the largest in Europe and second most visited attraction in France. Numerous restaurants can be found here along with visits to the cathedral, chateau and museum.

AVERAGE DAILY TEMPERATURE (CELSIUS) °C

Please click on this link for the exact location of Les Quatr' Farceurs:

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Bed+%26+Breakfast%2C+34390+Olargues%2C+France

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