Paintings, sculptures and traces of the past…
Musée du Biterrois
Housed in a former 17th barracks, the Museum of Béziers is located in the heart of one of the oldest districts in the city: Saint-Jacques, named after the church that stands next to the barracks.
The museum has permanent collections of archaeology and ethnology.
Further information: +33 (0) 4 67 36 71 01
musee@ville-beziers.fr
Address: Caserne St Jacques, Rampe du 96ème, 34500 Béziers
Musée Des Beaux Arts
(Fine arts musuem)
The collections are housed in two private mansions, the Hôtel Fabrégat and the Hôtel Fayet, which were bequeathed to the city. Created in 1859, the Béziers Museum of Fine Arts is home to paintings that the city has either inherited or purchased.
The Hôtel Fabrégat, which was fully renovated around 1900 to meet the needs of the museum, exhibits pictures from the 15th century to the present day, including works by Holbein, Delacroix, Chirico, Soutine and Utrillo. It is also home to a collection of 18th and 19th century drawings by Suzanne Valadon, Edgar Degas, Rodin, Raoul Dufy and Othon Friesz amongst others.
Temporary exhibitions: see the Events page
Further information: +33 (0) 4 67 28 38 78
musee@ville-beziers.fr
Address: Place de la Révolution, 34500 Béziers
Hôtel Fayet
A private mansion, built and extended between the 16th and 19th centuries around an internal garden, the house has retained its original layout, with its smart, comfortable apartments.
The city uses the building to exhibit works by the Béziers sculptor Jean-Antoine Injalbert (1845-1933) as well as a collection of late 19th century paintings.
Further information: see above
musee@ville-beziers.fr
Address: 9, rue du Capus, 34500 Béziers
Museum d'histoire naturelle
(Natural history musuem)
Located in the Saint-Jacques barracks, like the Museum of Béziers, the Natural History Museum is home to ornithological, botanic and mineral collections as well as fossils and insects. It also has a wide-ranging exotic collection with freshwater and seawater aquaria, home to a range of regional aquatic species.
Further information: open on request, tel. +33 (0)4 67 36 71 01
musee@ville-beziers.fr
Address: Caserne St Jacques, Rampe du 96è, 34500 Béziers
Espace taurin
(Bullfighting museum)
Its history: established in a recently renovated building in the heart of the town, the Espace Taurin is dedicated to all devotees of bullfighting. This sport represents one of the major aspects of the identity of Béziers.
Its collections: the Espace Taurin recounts and explains the history of bullfighting in Béziers and the creation of the arena. It exhibits a collection of objects related to bullfighting: the heads of famous and courageous toros; the “costumes of light” bequeathed by some of the greatest toreros; photographs (most of them signed) of some of the “legends” of the arena of Béziers and Castillane (El Cordobès, Nimeno II, Luis Miguel Dominguin, etc.); exhibitions of paintings and sculptures on the theme of bullfighting; documents explaining the rituals of bullfighting, old posters for the feria, etc.
Information: +33 (0)4 67 36 71 01
Address: 1, avenue du Président Wilson, 34500 Béziers
Château de Raissac
Built on the ruins of a Gallo-Roman villa, where vines were being grown even then, the chateau has continued to respect its ancient traditions, with wine storehouses and a cellar in a 17th century building standing alongside the chateau, whilst being extended and changing to meet the different needs of each new age.
In the former stables, Christine Viennet has created a museum of earthenware and table arts, with some pieces dating back to the 19th century and others showing how earthenware has developed since Bernard Palissy. Christine's husband Jean Viennet, one of a long line of wine-growers, patrons and artists, exhibits his own paintings on the estate.
Further information: +33 (0)4 67 49 17 60
Address: Route de Murviel, 34500 Béziers
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