Rue Caterine

The regional centre is Montpellier, once home to Nostradamus and Rabelais, and now renowned as France's ville surdouée or `supergifted city'. Montpellier Airport to Brissac is an hour's drive.

Brissac and its region are drenched in history. Languedoc was central to the 12th-century troubadour culture. Brissac has direct local links with the Holy Grail legend ... the Templars ... and the Cathar War, which overthrew the civilization that produced troubadours and the Courts of Love. Brissac Castle (not open to the public) was the home of the family which founded Montpellier in the 10th century

Canoeing: Placid water along the 'Gorges of the Hérault' is the closest.

Climbing: Local hills, and the Cévenne mountains are both challenging and within easy reach.

Horse riding: A choice of centres locally.

Show Caves: Several can be found in the area; the best known 'Grotte des Demoiselles' is just a few miles away across the river Hérault.

French as a foreign language: Le Franc Parler offers courses at all levels throught the year. This small school is situated in the picturesque village of St Jean de Buèges, which is just a few minutes journey by car. Lessons in small groups are held each morning and you can relax in the afternoon! Private tuition is also available.

Fishing: In many of the cool, quiet rivers to be found locally.

Eating Out:Whether in cities such as Montpllier or in the local restaurants a range of styles an prices can be found in the area. Brissac village has a nice noveaux cuisine restaurant which doesn't require a drive and plenty of street side restaurants in local towns and villages.

Markets: every town and village has it own market. For the real foodies you could go to one in a different place every day.

Vineyards: Hérault, previously famed for cooperative plonk, has been improving steadily for the last 20 years. Plenty of vineyards to visit and test out, and maybe pick up a bottle or two to take home... Local vineyards fall within the Languedoc - Rousillon AOC. The closest one being part of the Terasses de Larzac.

Cycling: The area offers both great road and mountain biking. The Tour de France passes within cycling distance from Brissac in mid July

Brissac village is split into two parts. Brissac-le-Haut and Brissac-la-Bas.

Brissac-le-Haut, as given in its name, is a hill village. With a population of approximately 50, it is a quiet residental area. The bread van comes up every few days and the fish van once a week, but otherwise there are no shops or facilities here. Its a peaceful, sleepy village with the only sounds being the wildlife like the crickets in the garrigue and birds in the air. Time is marked by the chimes of the belltower on the half hour, so no need to wear a watch during your stay.

Brissac-la-Bas is the lower village built on the valley floor. This is the larger village with a population of approximately 350. There is a Boulangerie (where you can get your daily bread, and extras like postcards and milk), a Butchers shop (with limited groceries), a post office, and a restaurant.

The green roofed church is at the centre of the village, next to the parking (for those who don't want to walk for their morning croissants) and the village green and tree shaded 'Sources': natural springs, which cool the area in the summer heat.

The nearest airport is Montpellier Méditerranée (airport code MPL) which is served by direct flights from:

Paris Orly airport (almost hourly service operated by Air Inter); Paris Charles De Gaulle airport (twice daily service operated by Air Inter); London Gatwick (operated by British Airways); London Stansted and London Luton (operated by Ryanair) and other major European cities.

Other possibilities are to fly to Nîmes (Ryanair or via Paris) an hour and a quarter's drive, or to fly to Carcassone (2 hours), Toulouse (3 hours), Marseilles (3 hours). All are approximate driving times to Brissac.

Travel direct from London to Avignon on Eurostar with no changes and a journey time of six hours and fifteen minutes (according to the Eurostar). It takes approximately two hours to drive to Brissac from Avignon.

Alternatively for even less driving time; travel on Eurostar and change to French TGV (high-speed train). London to Montpellier takes about eight hours with one change near Paris. It is less than an hours drive from Montpellier station to Brissac.

Visitors traveling by air or rail are recommended to make their car-hire arrangements in advance

We are affiliated with Auto Europe, who appear to give good value deals with a price which includes two drivers, unlimited mileage and basic insurance. If you use them via our site they give commision which all goes into the chateau restoration fund.