Diary Dates 2009

Some forthcoming dates for your diary

2 April - CONCERT - ARTHUR H, à 20h30. Salle ZINGA ZANGA
16 April - FÊTE DE ST APHRODISE (à confirmer)
18 April - CONCOURS NATIONAL DE CHANT LYRIQUE
18 April - TAEKWONDO - Championnat de France, 8 h - 19 h, entrée : 10 € au
Parc des Expositions, av. Viguier.Présidente : Christine CLUZON, contact : 06 98 30 65 75
● 19 April - LES « THES DANSANTS DE ZINGA ZANGA »Traverse de Colombiers,
pour les séniors, à 15h. 2 Navettes de bus gratuites à partir de 14h30.
Contact : 04 67 36 73 32

12 May - CONCERT - MAXIME LE FORESTIER, à 20h30. Salle ZINGA ZANGA
16 May - LA NUIT DES MUSEES, entrée libre dans les musées de 20h à 24h.
21/23 May - CARITATS, LES FÊTES MEDIEVALES DE BEZIERS.
30/31 May - COURSE PEDESTRE - LA BALADE DE RIQUET

13/14 June - LES ECLUSES EN FÊTE à Fonseranes, toute la journée.
Contact : 04 67 76 84 00
25 June - FLORENCE FORESTI. Salle Zinga Zanga, tarif : 43 €. Locations : Fnac -
Carrefour - Géant - 0892 683 622 ( 0,34 euros / min ) - www.fnac.com - Virgin - Auchan -Cultura - Cora - E.Leclerc - 0892 390 100 ( 0,34 euros / min ) - www.ticketnet.fr

8 July - CONCERT - JOHNNY HALLYDAY, à 19h. Stade de la Méditerranée.
July/August - VISITES THEATRALISEES EN NOCTURNE.
Contact : 04 67 76 84 00

13/16 August (TBC) - 41ème FERIA DE BEZIERS
22 August - FÊTE DE LA LIBERATION

12 Sept - LES ASSOCIATIONS FONT LES ALLEES. Contact : 04 67 49 89 00
19/20 sEPT - JOURNEES EUROPEENNES DU PATRIMOINE, de 10h à 18h.

15 Nov - LES «THES DANSANTS DE ZINGA ZANGA», Traverse de Colombiers, pour
les séniors, à 15h. 2 Navettes de bus gratuites à partir de 14h30.
Contact : 04 67 36 73 32
20/22 Nov - AUTOMNALIS - Habitat / Immobilier / Terroir au Parc des Expositions,
av. du Viguier. Contact : 04 67 809 959

Marseillan Plage

Summer is officially here, well, if the clocks going forward are anything to go by.

Sundays are a day for a drive out of Beziers and to explore the open countryside and see what the local villages and towns have to offer. Sunday is also the busiest day for the Marseillan Plage Flea Market situated a few streets away from the plage on the main road from Sete to Beziers - you CANNOT miss it.

Every week, the market seems to grow and grow with more and more people selling their goods. Its an ideal place to come and spend a few hours browsing the stalls and trying to get the seller to come down a few euros - don't be afraid to haggle, some will ignore you (obviously) but once they see sight of a euro note they usually will give you a good price, providing you haven't haggled too much! It's not a place to visit when the sun is out and its hot - if so, take heed with water and rest in the cafe. It's also a great place to touch place with a few ex pats as well as the locals. Don't forget to cross the road to the other flea market which is usually cheaper, calmer and still many a bargain to be had. The market runs all year, even in the cold harsh winds of January. People who have visited us at Maison De L'Orb have always commented on the vast collection of lamps, lights and fixtures - many (if not all) were purchased at this flea market for a few euros each. Food is also offered here though mainly fast food (cheap..not that pleasant) but there are a few good cafes located nearby. Parking is also free but note during the high season it can be chaotic!

Enjoy the rest of the weeekend.
Mark.

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Top Beziers

Our very own Top five must sees for all of those planning on coming to Beziers this season. We welcome feedback or if you have any other recommendations!

Cathédrale St-Nazaire. The main sight in Béziers and not a bad one at that. This grandiose Romanesque cathedral dates from the thirteenth century and occupies one of the best sites in town: from the concourse in front of the cathedral there are terrific views out over the surrounding vineyards and towards the foothills of the Massif Central to the north. We are located just below this cathedral and it can look very imposing. During daytime, its a lovely place to visit, if only for the views of surrounding countryside and villages. During the summer, the cathedral is lit in the evening and is a tranquil setting to visit after dinner. The cathedral is free to visit although there are opening times.

Sumnmer of Music - During the summer months, many festivals take place including the medieval festival and the annual music fete where music is played outside every cafe and bar. Recommended also are the free concerts in Place De Madelaine - last summer saw Jazz, classical and soul and a fabulous place to enjoy wine and listen to music in a beautiful setting. There are a few recommended cafes and restaurants here as well.

Feria. Based on Spain’s corrida, this festival takes in the middle of August (usually around the 15th) and lasts for four days. A holiday atmosphere invades the town as young men full of bravado take on the bulls and the town gets down to some serious partying with street festivals and music throughout the four day long event. It should also be said that this four day party is also a four day drinking festival, however day five sees a massive clean up operation and by the end of day five you would hardly recognise the place.

Canal du Midi. West of Béziers, the canal, which connects Sète on the Mediterranean with Toulouse (and ultimately the Atlantic via the Garonne river), runs through a series of lovely old villages. Start your trip west at the seven locks of Ecluses de Fonséranes reached along the N113 from Béziers. An excellent place to visit, take a walk, walk the dogs (or let the dogs walk you as we have found out). There is also a little seasonal cafe for drinks and little eats.

Shops. Beziers has the usual stores but check out the old town alleyways for hidden boutiques and not just for women. There are no shortage of hairdressers but we do recommend Alan of Soho for those who don't speak good french as he speaks excellent English.

We will shortly be releasing information about all the festivals and fetes that Beziers will be hosting this summer. From May to October, the streets of Beziers come alive in the evenings and weekends with the music festival, flower markets, feria, medieval festival etc.

Sunshine

Is it nearly the weekend again? Let me change that, is it nearly April? No sooner does one put away the tinsel, the sun comes out and everything starts to become alive. More and more tables start appearing outside cafe bars, more laughter, more happy smiling faces and best of all, for us as owners of a B & B, more interest and bookings. Despite the global recession, people are still wanting and needing a break and its is great to note that recently in the UK, Beziers has been featured in many national newspapers and magazines. Key features included the airport, the locality, the wine, the food and the tranquil, ambiance of the old town. One recent editorial in the London newspaper Evening Standard, gave us a fabulous write up and a five-star review after a recent visit and complimented us on the little things that sometimes get missed out. I will re-produce this feature as soon as I can (and obviously with permission!). We are now fully booked for the Easter period, thanks for all your emails and enquiries. Now, back to the garden and back to the sunshine.

Enjoy.
Mark.

What A Lovely Afternoon...

After a quick flick through Galerie Lafayette (or Galerie Grace Brothers as we like to call it) and lunch on the Avenue Paul Riquet (salad and water and a glass or three of some red stuff), I was reminded of a recent forum post of someone looking to move to Beziers but unsure due to rumours that the town was dangerous, full of dirt, smells and haunted by ladies of the night. Thankfully many replies to this post have put this person at ease...we hope.

Since moving here three years ago, we have been amazed of the change in the town and sitting having lunch outdoors mid March with the sun glaring down has made me realise that the move was the best thing we did. Our house situated by the river with views of the old bridge was the first home we saw and instantly we fell in love with it. After that, all other properties were either too small, too English (or too many ex pats living side by side) and or just too much scary including one bizarre house in Mont Blanc where in one of the bedrooms we discovered over a hundred china dolls having an intimate tea party...We looked at villages and small towns and then realised that however much we wanted to leave the grim of London the thought of leaving a city was actually difficult. We still wanted to part of a large town and not isolated in a remote village however beautiful. Looking back I think we made the right choice.

Yes there are times when sometimes we cry out for a piece of British red tape (anyone else had problems with French Telecoms providers? We are on our fourth!) and frustration with the bank (email us - we'll let you know who NOT to bank with!) but for the moment we are happy that we choose Beziers as our new base.

It's an unique town with cosy shops, designer fashion houses, a department store, quality food stores both supermarket and homemade, excellent choice of bars and eateries, friendly people - we have made so many local French friends, great neighbours, the sunshine, the locality to the beaches, the avenue, theatre, festivals, feria...I could go on...but if you are still wondering if Beziers is the right place for you email me, let us meet for cafe and a chat and see what you think!

Two more recommendations for those people in Beziers or travelling to the area which are a certain MUST. Both are located on Rue Viennet which is just by the cathedral, easy walking distance if staying with us at Maison De L'Orb and the views by the cathedral are breathtaking even at night.

No 18 is Restaraunt O Mexician is run by the flamboyant Paula and Christian - excellent hosts, two of the best, and an excellent menu though has to be said more catered to meat eaters than vegetarians. I can certainly recommend the chicken wings, ribs and chilli! Bookings via 0467 48 7003. If you are a vegetarian they can alter their dishes.

No 32 is Chez Toi Chez Moi hosted by a fresh young couple Sammy and Martine. The menu is more bistro, gastro and all meats/fish are cooked in the open fireplace which is a welcome on winter evenings when the wind is up! The food cooked by Sammy is excellent and Martine is an excellent host who also speaks excellent english. Bookings via 0467 28 0000.

When you arrive please mention Ben and Mark and Maison De L'Orb for a complimentary drink. Bon Appetit!

After several months sweating over a hot stove, its great to see the sun is finally re-appearing even after a short winter. What can be better than dinner (or lunch!) out with friends. We would like to recommend the following restaurants.

L'Ambassade
Situated facing Gare De Beziers, this eatery is simply a class act. A great wine list and friendly service. This is the place to go and celebrate. The location is great and after a fabulous a la carte lunch one can walk through the gardens up to the main avenue and shopping areas. Closed Monday & Sundays.

L'Orb
Located in the quaint village of Cessenon-sur-Orb which is about a twenty minute drive from the Maison De L'Orb. Run by Bill and Ben, every effort is put into making sure you have a fabulous dinner. Opening times vary during the year so check their website for further details - http://www.lorbrestaurant.com for details and bookings.

L'Octopus
Another favourite haunt in Beziers, very "with it", full of character and a sense of theatre - we love it. Full lunch menus offered at a reasonable 21-25 Euros. Situated in Rue Boieldieu.

I need to also recommend Bel Air Restaurant/Cafe on the Route De Pezenas in Faugeres. This great little eatery comes highly recommended with great hosts, great food and ambiance and a vast selection of excellent wine. Although you need a car to get here (approx twenty minutes from Beziers) it is well worth a journey. Do what we do, come a bit earlier, walk the dogs, have lunch, go buy some wine from the local wine cellar, walk the dogs again and drive to Pezenas for afternoon chocolat!

Enjoy! x

A beautiful view. Maison De L'Orb is situated on the right of the picture behind the trees.

A short update from Maison De L'Orb.

All bedrooms have been having a winter make over including the en suite bathrooms so I hope all returning visitors will notice a difference! It's taken a while but I am sure you will all love the new ambiance. We're now gearing up for the Easter holidays although please note we are now fully booked for this special event. Special thanks to you all who have emailed us after celebrating New Year with us -I am sure you will agree a New Year in the fabulous South of France, complete with champagne, a glass or three of Kir and a great banquet meal beats the rain of London and the stamped to get a drink at the bar. It was such a relaxing occasion and I am happy that everyone enjoyed themselves too. Some of you have already asked about Christmas 2009 (give us chance!!) but we will shortly be releasing our tariff rates for this period. We are now booking up to October and hope to take a few weeks off in November but don't let that put you off!

Just a reminder for those travelling from London Luton - from 29 March there will be three flights weekly direct to Beziers Airport and we can arrange for local pick up as the airport is located about fifteen minutes away by car - excellent for having a leisurely breakfast before your flight!

Thanks
Mark

Welcome to behind the scenes at our fabulous bed and breakfast in Beziers, south of France. For up to the minute booking availability and tariffs, please view our own website at http://www.maisondelorb.com

This blog is mainly for fun, to share with you our experiences of living in France, the parties we have and the celebrations that so far have happened. We wil also share with you recommended places of interest in the local Beziers area.

Welcome xx