Béziers Mediterranean Publicises Geocaching Treasure-Trails

Béziers, France, September 12, 2010 --(PR.com)-- The Béziers Mediterranean Tourist Office has published details on its websites of a series of treasure-trails that allow visitors to discover the region's highlights through 'Geocaching' - the hi-tech treasure hunting game played with a GPS.

The initiative was launched in August 2010, with 16 treasure 'caches' distributed throughout the region. Each cache is reached by following a route through some of the most beautiful and historic parts of the region, solving riddles along the way.

Several caches are hidden in the town of Béziers, three of which are located at along the Canal du Midi: the historic tree-lined canal that links the Mediterranean with the Atlantic.

Caches are also hidden at Cers and Villeneuve-les-Béziers, villages found along the Canal, and at other typical regional villages including Corneilhan and Espondeilhan.

Along the Mediterranean coast, caches can be found at Vendres, which is set on a seaside lagoon, Valras-Plage, a typical family holiday resort, and Sérignan, a seaside village favoured by artists.

More information about the Béziers Mediterranean Geocaching trails can be found on the Tourist Office blog: http://beziers-mediterranee.over-blog.com
For press information, contact:
Dawn Smith, The Final Word
info@final-word.com

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Information For Editors

What is Geocaching?
Geocaching is a treasure hunting game that you play with a log book and a GPS (on your mobile phone or a hand-held GPS unit).

On the Béziers Mediterranean treasure trails, the log book describes the stages involved in reaching a goal, a place where treasure is "cached": at each stage there's a riddle to solve. Once you solve it, the GPS coordinates for the next stage are given. And so on, up to the final place where the treasure is hidden. The person who discovers the treasure takes it with them, but leaves something else in its place for the next player - a symbolic object such as a key ring, a usb key fob, or Playmobil toy.

How to play
Players must be registered on the geocaching.com site to view the log books:
http://www.geocaching.com/membership/comparison.aspx

Where are the Béziers Mediterranean treasure trails?
Here's a full list of the treasure trails and caches in the Béziers Mediterranean region, as at August 2010:
Downtown Béziers
From the cathedral, a 2km walk to discover old Béziers.
See the log book:
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=d9e8d149-bc86-4b7e-bc4f-e346d3d8c3a3

Béziers: The old bridge
Exploring this ancient monument, from which there is a fine view of the cathedral.
See the log book:
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=168a8826-7f2f-4ff6-84a7-1470aa5ae83b

Béziers: The Canal du Midi 1
A walk along the Canal
See the log book:
http:/www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=2411f801-8873-41ea-aaa9-d7277de69ea1&log=y&decrypt=

Béziers: The Canal du Midi 2
An excursion along the Canal that can be done on foot or mountain bike
See the log book:
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=c6bea0a3-022b-49db-b2b1-ceaba1a8b3ec

Béziers: The 9 locks of Fonseranes
The locks allow boats to ascend or descend 25 metres in a distance of 315 metres.
See the log book:
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=b091c6d0-fbd1-42da-b5e8-65d16c452230

Béziers: Medieval garden
Near the ruins of the St-Jean-des-Anneaux chapel is a surprising medieval garden.
See the log book:
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=ffad9a71-67fd-43c5-b9ac-839bfd798675

Cers: The bridge of Caylus de Mathias
Another stroll along the banks of the Canal du Midi
See the log book:
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=25eb5b80-f2d2-40ed-9ffd-a6205f7b142d

Corneilhan: The ramparts of Saint-Léonce
Exploring the ramparts of a typical Languedoc village
See the log book:
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=adf7dee6-0fd7-4078-a2be-eb92c3602167

Espondeilhan
Just outside the village, protected by tall trees, exploring the church of Notre-Dame-des-Pins
See the log book:
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=f06f129c-fec4-4ea8-9b4a-366a3e938874

Lieuran les Béziers
A typical village of the Béziers region, known for its church.
See the log book:
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=71c6a714-d176-4581-95f7-f5d08175de8c

Sérignan
A village favoured by artists
See the log book:
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=71c6a714-d176-4581-95f7-f5d08175de8c

Servian: The abbey
An abbey built in a mixture of several architectural styles
See the log book:
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=e83e1091-a41b-428d-aaae-697da6764fab

Vendres
Exploring the étang de Vendres (Vendres lagoon), where pink flamingos can be seen at certain times of the year.
See the log book:
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=f3c24a55-a4e0-4d71-8166-00c5e93901d6

Valras-Plage: The "Orpellières"
A seaside walk
See the log book:
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=536a9a5f-d4c8-443d-94d4-37ef77eacec7

Villeneuve-les-Béziers: Lock 60: Ariège
A famous lock on the Canal du Midi
See the log book:
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=a50ee9a1-fc2d-4030-b426-324532e64474&log=y&decrypt=

View all the caches on a map:
http://www.geocaching.com/map/default.aspx?lat=43.30144608809765&lng=3.175048828125&zm=12&mt=m