Hérault

Overview

Key Facts

• Type of place: department.

• Location: on the Mediterranean coast, roughly halfway between Perpignan and Marseille.

• Department code: 34.

• Bordering departments: Aude, Aveyron, Gard, Tarn.

• Prefecture: Montpellier.

• Sub-prefectures: Béziers, Lodève.

• Number of communes: 343.

• Population: 1,144,892 inhabitants (2017).

• Area: 6,224 km².

• Highest point:

• Lowest point: sea level.

• Coastline: 87 km.

• Highlights (out of ★★★★): Nature ★★★; Culture ★★/★★★; Relaxation-holidays ★★★★

• Website: http://www.herault-tourisme.com

History of Hérault

Geography and Environment

Culture and Economy

What to See in Hérault

• What to See in Occitanie and Hérault

Linked to Montpellier and its coastline, which hosts some of the best-known seaside resorts in this part of the Mediterranean (Agde, La Grande-Motte, Palavas...), Hérault is undeniably a summer relaxation-holiday destination. That said, its appeal isn’t limited to the coast—its hinterland, toward the Massif Central, offers plenty of pleasant spots to explore. Among them are charming villages (Minerve, Olargues, Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert...), as well as the Haut-Languedoc Regional Nature Park and natural cirques (Mourèze, Navacelles), gorges (including those of the Hérault River), and caves (Clamouse, Demoiselles...).

What to Do in Hérault

Climate and Weather

Most of the department enjoys a Mediterranean climate (hot and windy, especially along the coast). However, the mountainous areas in the northwest experience an oceanic influence, while those in the north have a temperate continental climate. That said, like the rest of the Mediterranean South, sunshine is abundant, and rainfall is rare—except during "Cévenol episodes", when it can be extremely heavy.

Sea Temperatures Throughout the Year

Transport

Getting There

Getting Around

Accommodation

Food

Additional Resources