Paul-Riquet Allées

The Allées Paul-Riquet, in Béziers

The Allées Paul-Riquet are the great planted promenade of Béziers, a true open-air salon in the heart of the town. The Béziers audio-guided tour stops here to evoke this emblematic artery, which pays tribute to the creator of the Canal du Midi.

The open-air salon of the town

The Allées Paul-Riquet are a bit the great open-air salon of Béziers. They form a long and elegant promenade planted with plane trees, which crosses the heart of the town, between the garden of the Plateau des Poètes on one side and the municipal theatre on the other. Lined with cafés, brasseries, shops and elegant façades, lively with markets and events, they are the central place of life and meeting of the people of Béziers. They bear the name of Pierre-Paul Riquet, the most illustrious child of Béziers: it is this engineer of genius who designed and had built in the seventeenth century the Canal du Midi, a feat linking the Atlantic to the Mediterranean, today listed as world heritage. A statue pays tribute to him in the centre of the allées. The beating heart and the pride of the town, the Allées Paul-Riquet are a must-see stop of Béziers.

What to see

Here you stroll along the great promenade planted with plane trees that crosses the heart of the town, between the Plateau des Poètes and the municipal theatre, lined with cafés, brasseries and shops, lively with markets, adorned with the statue of Pierre-Paul Riquet, the creator of the Canal du Midi born in Béziers. The Allées Paul-Riquet are the beating heart of Béziers. It is a must-see stop, to be explored on foot.

Practical information

The Allées Paul-Riquet cross the heart of Béziers, between the Plateau des Poètes and the municipal theatre, reachable on foot. It is an open-air public space, freely accessible; the cafés, shops and markets have their own hours. The promenade is particularly pleasant in fine weather.

Who was Paul Riquet, who gives his name to the allées of Béziers?

Pierre-Paul Riquet, the most illustrious child of Béziers, the engineer of genius who designed and had built in the seventeenth century the Canal du Midi, linking the Atlantic to the Mediterranean, today listed as world heritage; a statue pays tribute to him in the centre of the allées.

Where are the Allées Paul-Riquet of Béziers?

In the heart of Béziers, between the Plateau des Poètes and the municipal theatre, in France.