Castries – Château, Aqueduct and Paths through the Garrigue

Castries is home to a historic focal point in the form of the Château de Castries complex: its buildings, park and gardens have been classified as a historic monument since 14 May 2004.

When comparing holiday apartments in Castries, you can compare travel dates, room categories and cancellation policies on the respective listing pages. These three details can be reviewed separately and then weighted according to your own travel plan. You can also note which days are intended for cultural activities and which for walks before making a choice.

Culture

At the Château de Castries, the “Château de Lumières” visitor route presents light installations in the rooms and salons. The Aqueduc de Castries was built in the 17th century by Pierre-Paul Riquet. At 6.8 km long, the aqueduct connects the Fontgrand spring with the château; along its route, it passes through the garrigue and the town. A hiking trail allows visitors to discover the Aqueduc de Castries.

For planning visits, these cultural formats can be distinguished: interiors and salons with light installations, a waterworks structure with a linear route, and a path for discovering the aqueduct. This distinction helps you consider the day's time slots and amount of walking separately.

History

The Templar commandery of St-Michel de Bannières dates from the 11th century. The surviving remains of the Commanderie Templière de St-Michel de Bannières bear witness to significant activity that continued there until 1307; that was the year the Order of the Temple was dissolved. Fondespierre is an old estate dating from the Gallo-Roman period.

The historical themes can be distinguished as architectural history, the history of a religious institution and the history of an estate. Those who wish to consider different historical layers side by side can incorporate these types of sites separately into their daily itinerary.

Paths and landscape

Fondespierre is a starting point for numerous walks in the surrounding garrigue. The PR de l'Aqueduc hiking trail begins in Fondespierre, is 11 km long, takes 3 to 4 hours and is considered easy. The Cadoule interpretation trail begins at the Pont de Bannières. On the grounds of Fondespierre, mountain biking is one of the leisure activities on offer.

The various trail formats can be compared for your own daily itinerary according to length, duration and type of activity. Culture and physical activity stand alongside each other as separate selection criteria. Starting points, length and duration can be considered separately when planning. Those combining several interests can weigh up a hike, walks, an interpretation trail and mountain biking as different types of activity.

The locations provide different points of reference. Historical sites and different forms of physical activity can therefore be distinguished from one another by their formats and considered separately in your own daily itinerary.

Other places:Agonès, Vacquières, Thézan-Lès-Béziers, Saint-Félix-De-Lodez, Prades-Le-Lez, Siran, Sussargues, Vendémian

For the higher-level travel overview: Hérault.