Chateau de Colombieres sur Orb - The Locality, and things to do.
The area is rich in
the history of the Cathars and there are numerous hilltop fortresses
to 
climb to. For the less energetic, there are medieval towns to explore,
including Carcassonne, Aigues-Mortes, Pézenas, Minerve, and La Couvertoirade,
an old Templar walled city. The ancient Abbey of Fontfroide is well worth
a visit. Not only are the buildings beautifully restored, the surrounding
gardens are being recreated, bringing to life the world of the 12th century
monk.
>
If
you don't want to stray far from the chateau, other nearby activities
for both children and adults include cycling, riding; fishing in either
river or lake; tennis; golf (there are number of courses); canoeing, kayaking
and swimming in the rivers. And of course, lazing in the sun with a book
by the swimming pool!
The region
is famed for both its climate and its wines.The Languedoc enjoys some
300 days of sunshine a year, and insummer it is usually dry and invariably
hot. Almost every village has its own wine co-operative and many have
local producers (vignerons) whose wine can be excellent. Most of the vineyards
welcome visitors and will offer a free glass or two for tasting. The area
also produces honey - there is a bee museum at Soumartre and olive oil,
and you can buy local fruit and vegetables at roadside stalls.
From June to September, Pézenas hosts the Mirondela des
Arts, a festival of arts and crafts, which includes street theatre, exhibitions
and music. Most villages have their own festivities, fêtes locales, during
the summer and almost all have weekly markets.
The Region
around Colombières sur Orb
Colombières sur Orb is on the
western side of the Hérault, which is one of the five départements of
Languedoc-Roussillon and stretches from the Mediterranean to the Cévennes
and the Montagne Noire. The principal city is Montpellier, home of the
oldest university in Europe. Other towns of architectural and cultural
interest include Béziers, Pézenas, Agde, the spa town of Lamalou-les-Bains
and the busy port of Sète.
Miles of silver sand stretch beyond view along the coast. Cap d¹Agde is one of the bigger holiday and yachting centres, with its own marina and sailing school. You can hire motor boats from here, and boat trips are available. It also has naturist beaches. Smaller seaside resorts with water sports include Vias, Marseillan, Valras and Serignan.
The countryside of
the Languedoc is extraordinarily beautiful and richly varied. Away
from the beach resorts, the Canal du Midi
drifts quietly beneath its canopy of plane trees. Inland, the coastal
plain gives way to gently undulating hills where the landscape is a patchwork
of vineyards and narrow tree-lined roads. Many villages are medieval circulades,
their narrow streets built in concentric circles around a hill top. For
centuries, the character of the land and the lives of its inhabitants
have been shaped by the quietly serious 
business of making wine.
Colombieres sur Orb lies in the foothills of the Cévennes mountain range, the setting of Robert Louis Stevenson's, Travels with a Donkey. Now a vast National Park, the wooded hills and mountain streams provide a valuable habitat for a wide variety of fauna and flora. This is a paradise for anyone who enjoys walking in a beautiful, unspoilt landscape. In spring, wild flowers are everywhere and in summer, the scent of rosemary and thyme is on the wind.
For further information on the the Languedoc region visit the Languedoc holiday guide or for family activities in the Pezenas area visit here.