What you need to know about the Hérault department
In the Occitanie region, there are several departments including Hérault, which is department number 34 in France. Located in the southern section, this department takes its name from a river that runs through its territory.
Currently, the population of Hérault is approximately 1,175,623 inhabitants who are called Héraultais, and the area of its territory is 6,224 km2. Therefore, the population density is 190 inhabitants per km2. The prefecture, administrative center, and also the largest city of the department is Montpellier, and its sub-prefectures are Béziers and Lodève.
The Hérault department is currently divided into 3 Arrondissements, 9 Constituencies, 25 cantons, 16 intercommunalities, and 342 communes. The geography of department 34 is very diverse, mainly featuring mountains (those of the Cévennes), beaches (in the southern section), and finally, agricultural lands.
Thus, the Hérault department is likened to a kind of amphitheater overlooking the sea. The landscapes are also very diverse and include southern foothills, coastlines facing the Mediterranean, and finally, areas with Garrigue and plains for vine planting.
What are the neighboring departments of the Hérault department?
In fact, the neighboring departments of department 34 are the department of Aveyron, the Mediterranean department, the Tarn department, and the department of Aude.
What is the climate like in the Hérault department?
Actually, the Hérault department has a Mediterranean-type climate. However, as one moves into the northwest area, the climate becomes increasingly oceanic. Moreover, some parts of the northern Hérault department are strongly influenced by a temperate continental climate.
Furthermore, during the summer periods, the temperature is similar to the average in France. However, in the coastal areas, temperatures approach heatwave levels, and in winter, there is significant frost. So, in summer, temperatures range between 27 and 32 °C in the continental zone. Conversely, during other periods, the lowest temperatures can reach 19 °C in the coastal areas, while in other zones, temperatures are around 15 °C.
Therefore, the best times to visit the Hérault department are from May to September, during which one can enjoy warmth and low precipitation. On the other hand, in department 34, the average temperature is 28 °C in July compared to the coldest month, January, with a temperature of 10 °C.
What are the most important cities in the Hérault department?
The 10 cities we present to you are those with the most tourist interest, meaning that if you want to recharge, these 10 cities in Hérault are the best.
- Montpellier
- Béziers
- Sète
- Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert
- Pézenas
- Clermont-l’Hérault
- Villeneuvette
- Roquebrun
- Agde
- Marseillan
What are the most important communes in the Hérault department?
For this ranking, we have chosen the 10 largest communes in the Hérault department:
- Béziers
- Saint-Maurice-Navacelles
- Fraisse-sur-Agout
- Montpellier
- Rosis
- La Salvetat-sur-Agout
- Avène
- Aumelas
- Riols
- Marseillan
For this ranking, we chose the municipalities with the highest population densities. So, here are the 10 most populated municipalities in the Hérault department:
- Montpellier
- Sète
- Frontignan
- Lattes
- Castelnau-le-Lez
- Béziers
- Lunel
- Agde
- Mauguio
- Mèze
