Built in 1897, the Béziers arena are now a real place of celebration, with a wide range of events (concerts, shows…) and traditions (peñas and bandas, bullfights, flamenco…)!
There have been several arenas in the town. But those built by Messrs Gleizes, Sautel and Castelbon de Beauxhostes (who made it a major venue for the lyric arts from 1892 to 1911), inaugurated in 1897 and seating over 13,000, gave Béziers its reputation. First of all, it became known as the ‘French Seville’, where some of the greatest matadors have fought: Luis Miguel Dominguin, El Cordobès, Nimeno II, Espartaco, Richard Milian, Sébastien Castella…
Then the “French Bayreuth”, because the greatest musicians of the early 20th century performed their operas there: Gabriel Fauré, Camille Saint-Saëns, Déodat de Séverac, Bizet, Gluck… There was even a Folies Bergère show there in 1904. And more recently, Téléphone, Dire Straits, The Police, UB 40, The Cure, les Rita Mitsouko, Johnny Hallyday (…) have thrilled audiences.
