What are the main areas in Béziers ?

Jean-Louis Dreuille : Béziers is surrounded by a wine-producing plain, the Faugères and Saint-Chinian hills, as well as forests and lakes. This historical town boasts a rich architectural heritage and some beautiful 18th-century mansions, from the cathedral to the Allées Paul-Riquet. Spacious apartments in smart buildings can be found ranging from 1,400 to 1,600 €/m2. This largely preserved historical centre appeals to investors, attracted by the quality of the properties and the fiscal advantages they offer. The first outlying belt comprises working-class districts with shops, especially avenues Foch and La Font-Neuve, where apartments or town houses range from 1,000 to 1,500 €/m2 depending on condition. In addition to these main roads, other more sought-after areas, such as Les Arènes or La Sainte-Famille display prices over 1,500 €/m2. To the North, the residential areas La Galinière and La Chevalière are blooming with their large plots. A 170-m2 villa on 2,000 m2 of wooded land with a pool costs 650,000 €. To the East, Les Fleurs, Le Progrès and La Crouzette are quiet areas pleasant to live in. There, plots of land range from 600 to 800 m2, and lovely houses can be bought for 300,000 €. The L’Hours urban development zone, to the south near the station, is a major project due for 2010. Once renovated, this former, industrial zone should convey a contemporary, dynamic and flattering image at the gates to Béziers. The town has ex-tensive administrative, medical, cultural and leisure facilities that are greatly appreciated by newcomers. The construction of the A75 motorway and the opening of other international airlines will further boost this success in years to come. Two flights a day put Paris only 1 hour 10 minutes away by plane and 4 hours by TGV.
Régis Lagrange : The centre of Béziers comprises bourgeois buildings and manors, often divided into several apartments, and some flats for renovation in which both the town council and private individuals are taking an interest. A property can fetch up to 2,500 €/m2 depending on the state of renovation. Demand for small units has yielded to demand for new. The southern areas, including Les Arènes, have managed to keep their identity and charm. Apartment blocks are conducive to population growth. Areas built with villas meeting the expectations of newcomers are springing up.
Michel Estève : Renovations are thriving in the centre where prices vary greatly depending on the condition of the property. A 70-m2 town house over four levels (two bedrooms) on rue Voltaire fetches 135,000 €. Not far from there, Les Arènes district features smart houses. “L’Alhambra”, a building completed in July 2007 with very select fittings, fetches 3,150 €/m2. Villas in Les Fleurs, La Crouzette and Le Progrès date from the ‘70s through to the years 2000 and offer different standards of quality, a step away from shopping areas. 110 m2 of living space (four bedrooms) on 392 m2 of land with a pool and pool-house fetch 290,000 €.