IT was good enough for the Romans, the Cathars and the wine barons... so it’s got to be good enough for tourists.

Beziers is just a short drive from the beach, the cosmopolitan streets of Montpellier and the famous Canal du Midi.

And it’s just the place for a weekend break, or longer, with Ryanair flights going out from Luton or Bristol on a regular basis.

Beziers, in the Languedoc-Roussillon region of France, is steeped in enough history to keep the most inquisitive visitor occupied, but also boasts art galleries, fantastic restaurants and bars... and enough designer shops to keep your plastic well and truly bashed.

It’s also small enough to wander around on foot, sampling the food and flower markets, or popping in for the odd pastry and coffee in one of the many cafes that line the streets... but pick up a hire car if you fancy exploring the region further. Barcelona is only a couple of hours away and the lovely beach at Valras, with its terrific market, is just down the road.

We spent a couple of packed days taking in the delights of the area.

There isn’t much left of the old Roman town of Baetera (Beziers in another life), other than a vague outline of a 1st century amphitheatre. Nowadays there is a modern arena which stages concerts and shows and hosts the Feria, a festival that lasts four days in mid-August and where the main attraction is bullfighting.

Beziers was the birthplace of Pierre-Paul Riquet... and you can’t turn a corner without finding some reference to the local hero, born there in 1609. His statue stands in the centre of Allees Paul Riquet, and his main claim to fame is the Canal du Midi, a 240km long stretch of water featuring the Nine Locks of Fonserannes which negotiate a drop of some 21 metres.

The waterway links the southern coast of France to the Bay of Biscay, and was one of the great engineering feats of the 17th century. The logistics were immense and complicated, so much so that other engineers including the ancient Romans had discussed the idea but not proceeded with it. Louis XIV was keen for the project to proceed, largely because of the increasing cost and danger of transporting cargo and trade around southern Spain where pirates were rife. Riquet proved to be his man. He began work on the project in 1665 and it was completed in 1681... a year after Riquet’s death.

The canal is now packed with pleasure cruisers rather than traders from the days of yore and makes a pleasant walk and some spectacular viewing.

Beziers became a Roman colony back in 36BC and emerged as an important trading post on the chariot road between Rome and Cadiz.

During the 13th century, some 20,000 people who sought refuge in Beziers’ churches were put to death during the the crusade against the Cathars and Catholics, a part of the town’s bloody history that is well-documented in the Musee du Biterrois housed in St Jacques Barracks in the town.

Other places of interest include the Cathedrale St-Nazaire, a 13th century Romanesque cathedral with fabulous views over the surrounding vineyards and out towards the foothills of the Massif Central.

Or if art is your thing, the Musee des Beaux Arts houses paintings by Rubens and Delacroix as well well as many local works.

Still on the art theme, the museum of modern art in nearby Serignan is worth a visit for those who like off-the-wall art and exhibitions. A particular attraction is a wall chart featuring the heights of various celebrities from Toulouse Lautrec to Marilyn Monroe.

PLACES TO STAY: Hotel des Poetes, 80 Allees Paul Riquet, 34500 Béziers www.hoteldespoetes.nets A charming little hotel in a perfect setting near a main square. Helpful staff who can’t do enough for you. Clean, comfortable rooms... and a substantial French breakfast to boot. We ate at Chameau Ivre (The Drunken Camel) in the main square. It’s an absolutely cracking tapas bar, with countless different wines to choose from. A great place to while away the evening.

La Chamberte, Rue de la Source, 34420 Villeneuve-les-Béziers www.la-chamberte.com A converted old stone winehouse, famed for its food, although we didn’t eat there. Some of my colleagues found the rooms too dark (the windows are certainly tiny), but I found it absolutely charming and the decor is divine. We ate at La Raffinerie, a former sulphur refinery on the towpath by the Canal du Midi. It’s an odd interior, as you would expect, and very atmospheric. The food is superb. www.laraffinerie.com