Domaine de Pélican

Where to start your Hérault adventures? Plump for stunning Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert (20 minutes’ drive), with its splendid UNESCO-listed abbey clinging precariously to the Hérault Gorges. Once you’re done admiring the architecture, pottering around the streets and marvelling at the craggy mountain backdrop, you can hire kayaks to navigate your way down the river. Another gorgeous and historic town is Pézenas (half an hour), packed with narrow alleys, hidden courtyards and 16th-century mansions. Try to time your visit for a Friday evening, when all the shops stay open late and bars selling local wines spread out onto the cobbles, or hit the aromatic Saturday produce market as it takes over the ancient town centre. If you’d like to learn more about the region’s Languedoc wines, make a beeline for the Terrasses du Larzac vineyards (25 minutes), where you can tour wine cellars, enjoy guided tasting sessions and – of course – snap up your favourite bottles to take back home. The area is also known for the quality of its olive oil, and you can visit traditional mills like Moulin du Mas Palat (10 minutes) to sample newly pressed oils.