Discover - Nézignan-l’Evêque

Once a Roman villa, then owned by the Counts of Béziers, Nézignan-l'Evêque was taken over by the bishops of Agde in the 12th c. The best known who lived here were François, then Louis, brothers of Nicolas Fouquet, Louis XIV's financial superintendent. A circle of houses surrounds the hillock of the old castle demolished in 1749. The church is dedicated to St Mary Magdalene and its typanum is listed. Stroll round the little streets (medieval houses) and "caminières", paved paths beside the vegetable gardens.

http://teisseyre.lu.free.fr

Sights:

■ Church of St Mary Magdalene and permanent exhibition of religious art and ancient history. Every Saturday and Sunday afternoon in summer from 4 to 7 pm.
■ Scenic observatory on water tower in village centre.
■ Ramparts.
■ "Caminières": paved paths with high walls leading to vegetable gardens, once called "Ferrajal", with wells and waterwheels.

Activities:

■ Tour of fig arboretum with experimental orchard (over 80 fig species) and the Mediterranean garden (over 150 species of shrubs and trees).
■ Discover 2 trails on the procession crosses. Information at the Town Hall of Nézignan. Tel.: 04 67 90 45 38.