Béziers

Béziers, a town in the French department of Hérault, is pleasantly situated on a hill in the midst of a fertile country, at the junction of the Orb and the Canal du Midi, 49 miles SW. of Montpellier by rail. It contains some interesting architectural buildings, the principal being the cathedral, a noble Gothic edifice, and the ancient episcopal palace; and antiquarian remains dating from before the time of the Romans. Béziers has manufactures of silk stockings, woollens, gloves, parchment, glass, soap, leather, brandy, and much esteemed confectionery. Pop. (1871) 31,468; (1891) 42,436. In 1209 the inhabitants were indiscriminately put to the sword by Sinon de Montfort and the pope's legate for having afforded protection to the Albigensian fugitives.