Herault, on France’s Mediterranean coast, is a renowned centre of wine and olive production. With pretty seaside towns, dramatic river gorges and a rich architectural and cultural heritage, the area has a lot to offer residents and visitors alike. It has a geography that ranges from maritime forest and heathland close to the sea, through to the foothills of the Massif Central mountain range.
The beautiful inland Lac du Salagou is the perfect spot for swimming or water sports, while the calm shallow waters of Etang de Thau near Sète, are used to farm the oysters that you may find on your lunchtime platter of fruits de mer at one of the coast’s many seafood restaurants. Herault enjoys an average of 300 days of sunshine a year, but while the south enjoys a warm Mediterranean climate, the north experiences more seasonal changes. All this means you’re never far from a change of scene or a change of weather should you want one.
Herault’s capital, Montpellier is historic and cultural, home to one of the oldest universities in the world, founded in 1220, when the city was ruled by Spain before being sold to the French in the 14th century. Its imposing citadel was built in the 1620s for King Louis XIII. Known as the city of 100 fountains, Montpellier also has several museums. On a more modern note, it’s one of France’s wine-growing cities, meaning your tipple doesn’t have to travel far to reach your glass.
Property hotspot
Daniel Lake, estate agent with Leggett Immobilier, the multi-award-winning estate agents in France, calls this beautiful part of France his home. He moved here from the UK with his husband Kevin to Pézenas, just a few miles from the coast. With its creamy stone buildings and historic squares, the town centre’s architecture spans the late Middle Ages right up to grand 17th and 18th century mansions. He tells us what he loves about this part of France, the local property market, and why it’s such a great place to live.
What inspired you to move to Pézenas?
“I spent many years holidaying in, and then living near, Montpellier and fell in love with the parasol pines, azure Mediterranean Sea and the breath-taking countryside. We loved the idea of being able to access our favourite towns in the region, such as La Grande-Motte, Sète, Agde, Montpellier, Pézenas and Beziers. It’s also easy to fly into Gatwick from Montpellier airport, with flights all year round.
This is also the perfect place to base our businesses. As estate agents with international agency Leggett Immobilier, we always communicate to our sellers the importance of how they present their homes to potential buyers. We also run Dapper Maison which helps clients who want to present their home at its best.”
What made you fall in love with the place?
“Our house is fully renovated with many original features and low maintenance gardens. We also have a pool, which is a must in this part of France. Pézenas is a 20-minute drive from the coast and less than a 10-minute drive away from our home, offering a large range of shops, restaurants, cafés and bars.
The nearby villages of Caux, Neffiès and Roujan are thriving, with great bars and restaurants. We really wanted to live somewhere lively, rather than a sleepy villages with nothing going on. We chose the town not only for its stunning appearance and year-round activities, but also because of its proximity to everything this region has to offer.
We have beautiful beaches less than 30 minutes away from our home. We also have access to fantastic wines from a vast number of estates and we’re less than hour from the Spanish border, it’s an ideal location.”
What are some of the best things to do in the area?
“There’s so much to do. The Mediterranean coast, windsurfing or taking a lazy lunch. Excellent shopping in Montpellier and Beziers. Great mountain walks and mountain bike routes nearby and Lac Salagou is seriously good for water sports. Then there are the year-round festivals. Local vineyards and the many co-operatives offer visits and tastings of their excellent wines.
Sète is a definite must-see with the canal passing through the middle of the town where you can sit and watch the boats. It’s the perfect place for a seafood lunch, shopping, or hiking up to one of the viewpoints to see the coastline in all its glory. The large waterfront is lined with examples of wonderful, typically French architecture and the marina is filled with hundreds of brightly decorated fishing boats. The town has as superb market. Shops, restaurants and bars line the bustling streets, and my top tip is to visit the spectacular viewpoint at the hill of Mont Saint-Clair or one of the many golden sandy beaches which wrap around the town.
Mèze is home to some of the best oyster beds in France. Along the coastline you’ll find plenty of huts and restaurants serving oysters and wine, many have views of Mont Saint-Clair. La Grande Motte has wide boulevards and a unique architecture – think cruise liners! Originally designed in the 1960s, this seaside town has been totally regenerated and rebranded as LGM. It has a very chic marina with luxurious yachts, excellent restaurants and funky cocktails lounges.
To the west of Sète is the town of Agde. Founded as a Greek colony in about 500 BC, the beach of La Tamarissière is memorable, with sand dunes, clusters of pine trees and an azure blue bay. It doesn’t get overcrowded, a great place to swim and relax and, like most places here, parking is free.”
Which are some of the most popular spots for property seekers?
“Pézenas with its large Saturday market every Saturday is very popular with expats. Tourists and locals alike gather for the very best produce, to listen to live music and absorb the vibrant atmosphere. Neffiès is also popular – the village has around 1,000 inhabitants and a high expat population. Many villages in this area are surrounded by unspoilt countryside, great for walking and ideal for those with dogs. The villages of Roujan and Gabian have reasonable property prices and are on the list of places to consider that are up-and-coming.”
What are foreign buyers looking for?
“Expats love the charm and character of the regional architecture. Outside space is a must, a garden or, if they are using it as a pied à terre, a balcony. Those seeking property outside of Pézenas look for lively vibrant villages, and it’s the dream to want to be able to walk to a boulangerie and get a baguette – there’s just something iconic about carrying a baguette in paper around with you! This is why the region is so perfect – so many villages have been restored and are thriving, largely due to the influx of international buyers.”
What can home buyers get for their money?
“Properties range from small lock up and leave apartments in the centre of Pézenas, to luxury hidden escapes. Bargain properties can still be found in the region, but you have to be quick and sometimes pay the full asking price. As an example, a charming two-bedroom village house with a large, accessible terrace, completely renovated with some of the best countryside views in the village of Neffiès was on our books at €115,000 (2024).”
So why should we consider buying here?
“The Hérault region of France is still a bit of a secret gem for expats wanting to live in almost year-round sunshine and great for those who want to live near beautiful Mediterranean beaches. The area has effortless style and beautiful provincial landscapes – but without the Côte d’Azure price tags.”
See Daniel’s portfolio of properties: frenchestateagents.com
