Cers: Canal du Midi, local history and wine route

The Canal du Midi crosses the area of Cers for approximately one kilometre and has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996. Cers also offers specific points of interest for a range of interests: paths by the canal, historic details in the village and a wine route with a section that mentions Cers.

Canal du Midi: boating and paths

In Cers, the Canal du Midi is used for recreational boating; its banks are suitable for walks and cycle rides. This offers two types of leisure activity side by side: time on the water and exercise along the banks. When planning your outings, you can decide whether you prefer recreational activities on the water or paths by the canal. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the canal also has a cultural and historical dimension that can be combined with opportunities for walking and cycling.

There is a cycle path along the Canal du Midi in Cers. Cers also has a mountain biking circuit called “Autour de Cers”. These two details provide different points of reference for planning your cycling: the cycle path is specifically linked to the canal, while the other route is described as a mountain biking circuit. You can use this to decide whether you are looking for a cycling option along the Canal du Midi or are interested in the circuit.

Local history at the church and Fontaine Vieille

The first recorded mention of the Church of Saint-Geniès de Cers dates from 1107. A pre-Romanesque stone decorated with acanthus leaves is set into its façade. Acanthus leaves are a botanical ornament; here, this specific façade motif connects with the historical classification of the stone. The mention dating from 1107 and the architectural detail offer two different points of reference for exploring the history of the church.

Fontaine Vieille also recalls earlier public use. It was created in 1639 as a public fountain with a livestock trough and washhouse. Fontaine Vieille and its livestock trough were restored and moved to the courtyard of the town hall in 2004. Its history connects its original use as a fountain, trough and washhouse with its later location in the town hall courtyard.

Wine route and Domaine Delonca

The Route des vins – Les vins de Riquet is a 32.9-kilometre circular route, rated very easy and listed as taking four hours. One section is titled “De Cers à Villeneuve-lès-Béziers”. The distance, difficulty rating and duration offer different points of reference for planning: the kilometres describe the length, the rating indicates the difficulty, and the four hours give the stated time frame. As practical route details can change, check the current description before setting out.

Domaine Delonca offers tastings of red, white and rosé wines at its wine shop in Cers. The wines are available in bottles and bag-in-box. Check the current opening arrangements before your visit. According to the tourism information, Domaine Delonca has been rooted in Cers’s local identity since 1884; Olivier represents the fifth generation of winegrowers.

For planning your outings, these are two distinct wine-related options: the route is a four-hour circular tour with stated distance and difficulty details; at the domaine, the focus is on wine tasting in the wine shop. You can decide based on your interests whether to plan a circular tour or discover the wines through a tasting.

Discover more destinations: Rosis, Courniou, Le Pouget, Cazilhac, Saint-Drézéry, Vailhan, Ferrières-Les-Verreries, Campagne.

For the wider travel overview: Hérault.