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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Béziers arenas were built in 1897 at the initiative of Mr Fayot, former director of the Nîmes arenas, with the financial support of the Biterrois MM. Gleizes and altar. This project was born after the fire of the old wooden arenas in 1896, in a context of regional wine-growing prosperity. The inauguration took place on 11 July 1897 with a bullfight, but work continued until 1901 under the direction of architect Carlier, combining bricks, stones and cement.

In 1898, the patron Castelbon de Beauxhostes organized lyrical shows, including the creation of Déjanire de Camille Saint-Saëns, transforming the arenas into a major cultural place. Between 1897 and 1911, the site hosts 67 bullfightings with renowned matadors (Lagartijillo, Guerrita), 19 operas (Fauré, Bizet, Spontini), as well as political events such as a meeting of Jean Jaurès in 1905. The arenas become a symbol of Béziers' dual Tauromachic and artistic vocation.

After financial difficulties (bankruptcy of the company Gleizes-Saute-Fayot in 1898), the city and private shareholders allowed the completion of the works in 1901. Despite threats of destruction in 1912, the arenas were rescued in 1919 by the Société Immobilière des Arènes, which reinvigorated them in 1921. Their architecture, inspired by Spanish models, and their capacity of 13,096 places make them the largest in France. Classified Historic Monument in 2015, they remain a central place for the Béziers Feria and major concerts.

The monument also illustrates the local social history: in 1907, they housed a regiment of Dragons during the revolt of the winemakers of the Midi. Their eclectic programming (theatre, wrestling, tennis, Holiday on Ice) reflects their popular anchoring. Castelbon de Beauxhostes, aficionado and man of the left, sees it as a popular educational tool, comparing Béziers to a "French Bayreuth" for its lyrical influence, or to a "French Seville" for its Tauromachi tradition.

The materials used (stone, brick, reinforced cement) mark a transition to reinforced concrete, typical of emerging modern architecture. The arenas thus bear witness to the age of the golden cockerrois, where viticulture, culture and tauromachi mix. Their preservation today perpetuates this unique heritage, at the crossroads of arts, social history and southern traditions.

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