The best MTB trails around Montady

It is difficult to imagine that between Agde and Marseillan lies one of the largest protected wetland areas on the coast. The Bagnas nature reserve, the former delta of the Hérault, long exploited for salt and then for viticulture, is today a space entirely dedicated to fauna and flora. Between lagoons, salt marshes and reed beds, this changing landscape hosts hundreds of migratory bird species each year.

It is nicknamed the "Bridge of Three Eyes". Three openings designed within the logic of the Canal du Midi: navigation, water drainage, and continuity of local circulation. A work from Pierre-Paul Riquet's project, to be discovered in the landscape between Vias and Agde.

The Saint Roch footbridge, inaugurated in 2016 in Sérignan, is the first structure to cross the Orb river since the construction of the old metal bridge at the very beginning of the 20th century. It was also the only access road to the village and the beaches. But the width of the roadway and the sidewalks made circulation dangerous for cyclists and pedestrians. The footbridge, 80 m long and 3.50 m wide, is reserved for them, as well as for people with reduced mobility. Crossing the Orb via the Saint Roch footbridge, lingering to watch the currents rush downstream, enjoying the view of Sérignan and the collegiate church, the wild banks of the Orb, is another way to enter Sérignan.

The Saint Roch footbridge, inaugurated in 2016 in Sérignan, is the first structure to cross the Orb river since the construction of the old metal bridge at the very beginning of the 20th century. It was, moreover, the only access road to the village and the beaches. But the width of the roadway and the sidewalks made circulation dangerous for cyclists and pedestrians. The footbridge, 80 m long and 3.50 m wide, is on the contrary reserved for them, as well as for people with reduced mobility. Crossing the Orb via the Saint Roch footbridge, lingering to watch the currents rush downstream, enjoying the view of Sérignan and the collegiate church, the wild banks of the Orb, constitutes another way of entering Sérignan.

It is the « Pont Saint-Joseph », but for a long time everyone has called it « The Three Eyes Bridge ». It sounds more poetic. The Three Eyes Bridge is a very pleasant structure: a main arch to let boats pass, and two smaller ones, one of which lets water through, and the other the towpath. It must not have been easy in the time of bargemen (towing by horses) because it was necessary to detach, then reattach when the obstacle had been passed. Here it is obvious, but it is the case for almost all the bridges on the Canal du Midi. It must be said that most of the time, the boat continued on its momentum and was reattached on the other side. Another peculiarity of this place is that there are two spillways on either side of the bridge.

The spillways are 17th-century dressed stone structures located along the Canal du Midi, which allow the canal's water to be discharged during heavy rainfall or to be emptied for dredging work. Unlike the Canal du Midi, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site, these structures benefit from no protection measures. In order to protect them, the Agglo Hérault Méditerranée has been undertaking significant restoration work on these hydraulic structures in the municipalities of Agde, Vias, and Portiragnes for about twenty years.

An ideal footbridge for crossing the Orb by bike or on foot. Much more pleasant than the busy road bridge.

With its tree-lined squares, fountains, and narrow streets, Capestang is a lively village with a typical Mediterranean atmosphere. The village is located just twenty kilometers from the sea. Who would suspect, passing through, that its fate was long linked to the harvesting of sea salt? Indeed, the pond that gave it its name, "Lou Cap de l'estang" (meaning "the head of the pond"), brought wealth to the town around the 14th century. Largely dried up today, it is reborn with the rains and floods, creating a protected wetland landscape classified as a Natura 2000 site, where various species of birds and flamingos come to nest. Thanks to its salt marshes, its fertile land, and its geographical location at the crossroads of trade routes, Capestang experienced its golden age in the Middle Ages. From this rich historical past remain unique monuments that make Capestang such a singular city, where life is good.