Béziers is the birthplace of the architect Pierre-Paul Riquet, founder of the Canal du Midi. The city combines age-old architecture and the landscapes of the Orb, a major river of the Hérault department. Béziers is particularly renowned for Saint-Nazaire Cathedral, a Gothic fortress built in the 13th century. The religious monument is sought-after by architecture enthusiasts, who come to admire the ploy created by the defensive aspect of the cathedral, reminiscent of that of a fortified castle with its loopholes, towers, and turrets.