Guidebook for Vias
Food Scene
Traditional French cuisine served by Vincent. You should book in the season, when you can also eat outside. The building was the medieval Summer residence of the Bishop of Agde.
Le Vieux Logis
25 Rue de la RépubliqueTraditional French cuisine served by Vincent. You should book in the season, when you can also eat outside. The building was the medieval Summer residence of the Bishop of Agde.
It's a Summer only, all outside restaurant specialising in seafood but also doing other dishes. It's entirely family run. Very close to the Church. They also do prepared meals for you to take home and will do Paellas, for example, to order. Their regular work is collecting and selling fresh oysters and other seafood.
Les delices de Thau
2 Pl. du 11 NovembreIt's a Summer only, all outside restaurant specialising in seafood but also doing other dishes. It's entirely family run. Very close to the Church. They also do prepared meals for you to take home and will do Paellas, for example, to order. Their regular work is collecting and selling fresh oysters and other seafood.
Gillian and Pascal own the restaurant. You can eat indoors or out. It is right in the middle of the village. Straightforward but excellent French food. They have a plat du jour which changes most days. Out of the season they are closed on Mondays and Sunday evenings. Reservation advised.
L'Amandine
3 Pl. du 14 JuilletGillian and Pascal own the restaurant. You can eat indoors or out. It is right in the middle of the village. Straightforward but excellent French food. They have a plat du jour which changes most days. Out of the season they are closed on Mondays and Sunday evenings. Reservation advised.
This is the best bread, croissant and cake shop in the village. I don't know the details but he's won prizes for his cakes or chocolate creations.
La Palette aux Gourmandises
6 Rue Général LeclercThis is the best bread, croissant and cake shop in the village. I don't know the details but he's won prizes for his cakes or chocolate creations.
This is our delicatessen. They do pintade (guinea fowl) chicken and quail, sausisson, cheeses, eggs, wine, honey and lots of other things.
Au Soleil Gourmand
3 Rue LamartineThis is our delicatessen. They do pintade (guinea fowl) chicken and quail, sausisson, cheeses, eggs, wine, honey and lots of other things.
The setting is marvelous, the food and drink too. There is a bar that does cocktails and regular drinks, an ice cream and snack section as well as the regular restaurant which is open towards the beach and sea. The focus is on sea food but they do a lot of popular alternatives. There is music, sometimes live in the evenings. You can get there by bike (or a longish walk) along the Canal du Midi taking a left towards the sea at an almost hidden path.
They have recliners in the sun too if you want them.
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Plage les Voiles
The setting is marvelous, the food and drink too. There is a bar that does cocktails and regular drinks, an ice cream and snack section as well as the regular restaurant which is open towards the beach and sea. The focus is on sea food but they do a lot of popular alternatives. There is music, sometimes live in the evenings. You can get there by bike (or a longish walk) along the Canal du Midi taking a left towards the sea at an almost hidden path.
They have recliners in the sun too if you want them.
Drinks & Nightlife
Run by Gilbert and his daughter Helene. A no-nonsense cafe bar. Coffee is 1.30 euro. It's right next to L'Amandine.
Also across the road is Stephanie's serving coffee, beer, ice cream and pannini , Shenanigans Irish Pub and Cafe de la Paix
L'azur Bleu
1 Place du 14 JuilletRun by Gilbert and his daughter Helene. A no-nonsense cafe bar. Coffee is 1.30 euro. It's right next to L'Amandine.
Also across the road is Stephanie's serving coffee, beer, ice cream and pannini , Shenanigans Irish Pub and Cafe de la Paix
Live music some nights. Smallish. They also do something a bit better than bar snacks. They are also open in the day time, but not too early.
Melrose Café
6 Pl. Jean JaurèsLive music some nights. Smallish. They also do something a bit better than bar snacks. They are also open in the day time, but not too early.
This is the nearest vineyard to the sea. It is run by an (ex?) actor who has created a small internal theatre and an external theatre. From time to time during the Summer Olivier puts on shows, often music.
His wine is pretty good too, of course.
De Maurepas Olivier
Avenue de la MéditerranéeThis is the nearest vineyard to the sea. It is run by an (ex?) actor who has created a small internal theatre and an external theatre. From time to time during the Summer Olivier puts on shows, often music.
His wine is pretty good too, of course.
Sightseeing
It connects the Atlantic with the Mediterranean. Narrow boats travel up and down used for holidays. It's a great place to walk as far as you want. It is in between Vias town and Vias beach. Wild life, mostly birds, to see.
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Canal Du Midi
70 All. Paul RiquetIt connects the Atlantic with the Mediterranean. Narrow boats travel up and down used for holidays. It's a great place to walk as far as you want. It is in between Vias town and Vias beach. Wild life, mostly birds, to see.
Agde is a pre-Roman town, founded by the Phoecians. It has a small section of its ramparts left, a cathedral and a good market on Thursdays. Most of the streets and buildings are made of volcanic basalt, a rough black stone. The centre is a bit depressed at the moment but it still has charm and a large number of cafes, bars and restaurants (which are along the river front).
There are a number of artist studios in the centre as well. The bakers La Vague Gourmande is the best.
See if you can find the French revolution water pipe built in the Jacobin year ten just away from the river.
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AGDE
Agde is a pre-Roman town, founded by the Phoecians. It has a small section of its ramparts left, a cathedral and a good market on Thursdays. Most of the streets and buildings are made of volcanic basalt, a rough black stone. The centre is a bit depressed at the moment but it still has charm and a large number of cafes, bars and restaurants (which are along the river front).
There are a number of artist studios in the centre as well. The bakers La Vague Gourmande is the best.
See if you can find the French revolution water pipe built in the Jacobin year ten just away from the river.
This is the town Moliere, the playwright, lived in for some time. It is impressive but gets very crowded in the season. Parking is a nightmare; best at the edge of town in Carrefour or Lidl.
Nostradamus was a doctor here for some years. Pezenas was the location of the regional parliament 4 or five hundred years ago.
There are too many shops, art galleries, restaurants etc to mention. Go to Cafe des Arts for a quiet drink.
Visit the door museum and just look at the doors as you walk through the town; each one is a work of art.
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Pézenas
This is the town Moliere, the playwright, lived in for some time. It is impressive but gets very crowded in the season. Parking is a nightmare; best at the edge of town in Carrefour or Lidl.
Nostradamus was a doctor here for some years. Pezenas was the location of the regional parliament 4 or five hundred years ago.
There are too many shops, art galleries, restaurants etc to mention. Go to Cafe des Arts for a quiet drink.
Visit the door museum and just look at the doors as you walk through the town; each one is a work of art.
Essentials
A regular supermarket at the other end of the village. There is also a small Spar in the centre of town which is not available on the map.
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Intermarché drive
Avenue de BéziersA regular supermarket at the other end of the village. There is also a small Spar in the centre of town which is not available on the map.
A wide selection of local wines. They can fill your own container with wines they have in vats.
Cave Calmels
16 Bd de la LibertéA wide selection of local wines. They can fill your own container with wines they have in vats.
There are a number of doctors in the village. The easiest to use is the Vias Clinic that has several doctors and nurses in the same building on the circular road round the village, close to the post office on the west side of the village, opposite Calmels wine store. In the season it is a first come first served system. Don't forget your EU health card or Carte Vitale if you have one.
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Vias
There are a number of doctors in the village. The easiest to use is the Vias Clinic that has several doctors and nurses in the same building on the circular road round the village, close to the post office on the west side of the village, opposite Calmels wine store. In the season it is a first come first served system. Don't forget your EU health card or Carte Vitale if you have one.
Getting Around
This is the nearest proper station. You can get to Paris in 4 hours.
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Gare d'Agde station
Rue de la DigueThis is the nearest proper station. You can get to Paris in 4 hours.
Avis Location Voiture - Portiragnes
D37E17This is at the airport. There is also a Hertz.
Worth popping in to get all sorts of listing and flyers for things to do that aren't in this guidebook.
Tourist Office of Vias
Avenue de la MéditerranéeWorth popping in to get all sorts of listing and flyers for things to do that aren't in this guidebook.
Arts & Culture
A quirky, raw art gallery.
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M.I.A.M. Musee International des Arts Modestes
23 Quai Maréchal de Lattre de TassignyA quirky, raw art gallery.
This is rather more than just a library. There are all sorts of talks and discussions though I haven't been there at all recently.
Maison Des Savoirs
Place du Jeu de BallonThis is rather more than just a library. There are all sorts of talks and discussions though I haven't been there at all recently.
This is now called the Ardaillon Theatre. They put on music, musicals, spectacles as well as proper theatrical plays.
Salle de Diffusion de Spectacles
41 Av. de BéziersThis is now called the Ardaillon Theatre. They put on music, musicals, spectacles as well as proper theatrical plays.
Entertainment & Activities
It's Locally owned and run. They not only have good films, they also do talks by directors, and others on non-film topics.
It is right next to a big car park.
Right opposite there is the Damasc Syrian restaurant and a couple of others. There is, so I've been told, some sort of sex club on the other side of the car park.
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Cinéma Le Travelling
Rue des TuileriesIt's Locally owned and run. They not only have good films, they also do talks by directors, and others on non-film topics.
It is right next to a big car park.
Right opposite there is the Damasc Syrian restaurant and a couple of others. There is, so I've been told, some sort of sex club on the other side of the car park.
This is where all the big clubs meet. I am a member of the amateur radio club of Beziers which, of course, meets there. They do country dancing, art, pottery, languages and everything else.
Maison de la vie associative de Béziers - MVA
2 Rue Jeanne JuganThis is where all the big clubs meet. I am a member of the amateur radio club of Beziers which, of course, meets there. They do country dancing, art, pottery, languages and everything else.