All experiences

All the experiences to live for an unforgettable stay! Explore the lagoon by kite-surfing, admire it from a restaurant in front of a shellfish tray, before leaving it for a walk or a concert by the sea... Tempting, isn't it? Explore our site to discover all the experiences to be lived in the Thau Archipelago!

Our hike starts near the Saint Félix de Montceau abbey, in Gigean, in the Gardiole massif. The sun is shining, the whole family is motivated, I feel we are going to have a good time! A historical treasure We can't resist discovering the abbey before starting our walk. The visit begins with the gardens, where the scent of the Mediterranean plants that surround us floats. Surrounded by the remains of the huge gothic building, we are left wondering what life was like for the people who once lived here.Balcony with a view   The stony hiking trail leads us to discover the Gardiole massif and its very special vegetation. Once we reach the highest point of the circuit, the view is sumptuous: all around us, greenery, the abbey in the background, and in the distance, the Thau lagoo...

Tribute to the missing sailors and fishermen. Discovering Sète's traditions Sunday morning. I enjoy a coffee on the terrace, in a small bar near the market of Les Halles, when I am challenged by excitement and music. Curious, I let myself be guided by the noise and came face to face with a procession led by a marching band. Is it one of those parades that precede the jousting tournaments, as I was told by friends who came to Sète last summer on holiday? To be sure, I decide to call someone when my eyes meet those of a lady of a certain age with a benevolent look. She tells me that today is St. Peter's Day, the patron saint of fishermen. The next stop of this great celebration takes place in the church of Saint Louis which, according to him, is worth a visit. I let myse...

Would you like to travel back in time? This is the new experience that we suggest you live during your stay in the Thau Archipelago and more precisely in Mèze, at the Dinosaur Museum-Park. Located in the heart of an exceptional palaeontological site, this largest museum-park in Europe dedicated to dinosaurs and prehistory will delight young and old alike with its skeletons, fossils and life-size dinosaurs... So don't wait any longer to take this leap into the history of Man and dinosaurs!   A little history  It all began in March 1996 when a large number of dinosaur eggs were discovered on the site, proving that the region was occupied for nearly 10 million years by different species of dinosaurs.   In 1997, Alain Cabot decided to invest in the site and turn it in...

It is exactly in the port of Marseillan that the mythical James Bond cocktail was born, or more precisely the Noilly Prat house! A real institution in this village on the banks of the Thau lagoon, it offers visitors the chance to try their hand at making their own vermouth-based cocktail, but also to take a trip back in time thanks to its themed guided tours.   Discover To get a first glimpse of the Noilly Prat house, you should choose the guided tour entitled "Discover". Accompanied by the cellar master, let yourself be guided to discover the ancestral know-how of the house, unchanged since 1813, through :  the enclosure, an immense open-air cellar ;  the chamber of secrets where the perfumes of plants and spices from all over the world are concentrated;  a...

In the Thau Archipelago, there are two ways to eat with your feet in the water: one, facing the lagoon, around a shellfish tasting, the other, facing the sea, in a straw hut. I've been told about both of these local experiences, and I wonder which I'll prefer... Act 1: Shellfish tasting in front of the lagoon Here I am! Here I am at last between Bouzigues and Loupian, the view is breathtaking: the glittering blue of the water and the oyster beds as far as the eye can see... I can even see Sète and its famous Mont Saint-Clair in the distance. Producers offering to taste mussels and oysters from the lagoon, that's not what is missing here! I choose a producer with a singing accent, whose place of production has been tastefully fitted out for tasting. I am warmly welcom...

Move to the rhythm of musical festivals in the Thau Archipelago! From French music to rap, jazz and world music, let yourself be carried away by the highlights of a resolutely dynamic and cultural destination! In the Thau Archipelago, summer begins at the same time as "K-Live", the festival of urban cultures that takes over the Théâtre de la Mer but also the city. A multidisciplinary festival, it combines urban arts, visual arts and concerts of contemporary music. See you in early June! The festivities continue with "Quand je pense à Fernande", at the end of June, the festival for lovers of French song. As for electronic music, don't miss the "Worldwide Festival" at the beginning of July. During the day, enjoy free access sets on the beach, and in the evening, head f...

Today, we are heading for Villeveyrac! We are going to discover the "cathedral of the vineyards"... After taking a winding country road, we arrive in Villeveyrac and see the imposing building erected in the middle of the vegetation and the vines. The closer we get, the smaller I feel in the face of such grandeur. I can't wait to discover what's behind these old stones. Entering the abbey, we quickly find ourselves in the nave. It takes my breath away. Its size, its gothic architecture and the height of its vault create an atmosphere that commands respect. And we are not at the end of our surprises: all along the aisles of the nave there are wine casks, large barrels of several hundred hectolitres. We then understand that the history of the abbey is closely linked to that of th...

We discovered Sète a few years ago during a romantic weekend. Today, we are introducing our daughter to this little piece of paradise. Today the sun is shining brightly. The ideal weather for a family day in Sète. First stop: the Museum of the sea, to help our daughter discover the history of the city, deeply linked to its maritime heritage.Then we take a walk on the docks. The façades are colourful, the water smells like iodized water, you'd think you were somewhere else, thousands of kilometres away from home.  We admire the trawlers, the boats with the charm of yesteryear, and we observe fish swimming in the canal. Impossible to resist all the restaurants with their lively terraces from which laughter escapes from all sides. The opportunity to taste a delicious cuttlefis...

We've always dreamed about it, so this year we're going for it! Departure for an initiation to scuba diving on the plateau des Aresquiers. On this sunny Wednesday in July, we have an appointment in the early afternoon at the diving center located on the east bank of the port of Frontignan. We are greeted by Pierre and Stéphanie, who will be our instructors for this first scuba dive at a depth of 6 meters. Although very enthusiastic about the idea of discovering the underwater world of the Mediterranean Sea, I must admit that I am a little stressed. But the team of instructors quickly puts me at ease and I listen carefully to the safety instructions. We start by putting on the diving suits provided by the club: neoprene suit, stabilizer vest, mask, fins, tanks and diving...

Summer vacation with friends is clearly the best time of the year. No schedules, no strings attached, just cool sharing time. When I booked the summer holidays for our group of friends, I already had a few criteria in mind, set during our last evenings: a trip that didn't make us waste too much time, a festival with a good program, the beach to recover from our evenings. And I had the perfect plan: the Thau archipelago. After a few hours on the train, we disembark in Sète and put down our stuff. Just enough time to change our clothes, and here we go for an afternoon on the beach, which will finally turn into an aperitif in a straw hut.  After a short stop in our rental for a small shower, direction the city center and its lively terraces to eat a bite to eat. We find ours...

 The Thau Archipelago, a circuit of space and time All eras are found and intertwined on the Thau Archipelago: the Middle Ages and Baroque art, with the Abbey of Valmagne in Villeveyrac or the Abbey of aint-Felix de Montceau in Gigean, the circulating gardens of Balaruc-le-Vieux, the Gallo-Roman centuries, with the Villa des Prés Bas of Loupian and its mosaics of the 2nd century, the Grand Siècle, with the Canal du Midi, or the 17th century, with the Saint-Louis lighthouse, which stands at the end of the mole...  

A donkey ride to the Saint-Félix de Montceau abbey? It is possible with the association Beau Nez d'Âne in Gigean. Whether you want to offer a unique souvenir to your child(ren) or have a donkey as a hiking companion, Mireille and Christian will be happy to share their passion with you and recommend the best routes. Are you ready? Saddle up!   On the back of a donkey  As soon as you arrive at the Beau Nez d'Âne association in Gigean, you will be greeted by Eliot, the donkey of the group. César and Rosalie will also be eager to come and see you to get their share of scratches.   But beware, because the whole troupe will soon be asking for their due: Nanette, Fanny, Zébulon, Mély and her mother Lolita, Carolin, sweet Manon, mischievous Malicia, Paprika and Margo...

Whether you are looking for the perfect gift or the wine that will go perfectly with your food at Christmas, you will make a great discovery this winter in the Thau Archipelago thanks to the wine tasting at Valmagne Abbey, preceded by a visit to the historic monument. And if you're still hesitating, let us convince you with our article dedicated to this unmissable stage of our destination!   A little history Founded in 1139, Valmagne Abbey can boast many assets: "one of the most beautiful Cistercian abbeys in France"; "one of the best preserved examples of Cistercian art"; "one of the oldest vineyards in the Languedoc"; "the cathedral of wines"... But what makes its richness above all is its history, the traces of which can be found in its 29m high central nave, in it...

If you are looking for an idea to occupy your winter or summer evenings or to entertain your children, this article is for you! Indeed, the Thau Archipelago is full of theatres and concert halls where young and old alike can be entertained. Theatre, concerts, dance, one-man shows, musical tales, puppets... There's something for everyone and in every season. So, curtain up!  The Molière Theatre, Scène Nationale (Sète) Located along the Avenue Victor Hugo, the Molière Theatre is a well-known venue for the people of Sète. Here you can enjoy theatre, but not only! With nearly forty shows on offer throughout the year, you will be spoilt for choice: music, dance, opera... There are even shows for children. For the record, we owe this Italian-style theatre to the archit...

Winter is just around the corner and we have only one wish: to escape the cold! So we dream of being in the sun, enjoying the gentle way of life typical of the south of France. What if you could make this dream come true? Head for the Thau Archipelago to spend a few days in cocooning mode in a cosy apartment hotel, for a gastronomic dinner followed by a concert, in an unusual museum or even in pools of thermal water at 34°C and under the expert hands of masseuses. We'll tell you a little more about the weekend we've planned for you right now!  The Marcel suites It is in the heart of the city of Sète, along the Léopold Suquet quay, that you will find the first stage of your stay in the Archipel de Thau: your accommodation! Located above the mythical restaurant The Rio, ...

Having an aperitif on the terrace. What else but the symbol of the Mediterranean art of living? Are you looking for a place to enjoy a good drink on a terrace in the Thau Archipelago? Look no further, we have listed them for you!    In Sète  The Sky bar of the Imperial Hotel  Get ready to take to the skies, we're taking you to a rooftop!  The panoramic terrace of the cocktail bar at the Hôtel*** Impérial offers a breathtaking view of the Mediterranean Sea, the Etang de Thau and the Mont Saint-Clair, which you can admire from the comfort of a sofa or deckchair. On the agenda: a chic and relaxed atmosphere, with your head in the stars...  The little extra: during the day, in the shade of a parasol, you can also taste delicious ice creams. The bar - patio of t...

If you would like to immerse yourself in the traditions and culture of the Thau Archipelago, we look forward to seeing you in 2024 to experience or relive the highlights of our Destination, whatever your desires: gastronomy, history, jousting... The Oursinade (mid-March) Every year in Sète, the Oursinade, a large open-air guinguette, attracts visitors who come to taste the best that the Thau Basin has to offer: sea urchins, but also oysters, mussels, tielles and other gastronomic and wine-making delights of the region. Time in the lagoon (mid-May to mid-June) This is a new event during which artists, scientists, shellfish farmers, fishermen, wine growers and inhabitants share their views on the Thau lagoon. Meetings, debates, shows and workshops will give pride of place to ...

Treat yourself to a privileged moment in an exceptional setting! There's nothing like a trip with friends to forget the little worries of everyday life and recharge your batteries! Yoga-paddle, spa, straw huts in the Thau Archipelago, we have absolutely everything you need!

At the gates of Montpellier, in the middle of the Aleppo pines, lulled by the song of the cicadas, here you are galloping with your hair blowing in the wind on a real Camargue horse... Has this introduction given you ideas for your next holiday in the Thau Archipelago? Head for the riding centre along the Aresquiers road in Vic-la-Gardiole to enjoy this unique experience in the Aresquiers woods. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced rider, come and explore the ponds of Vic-la-Gardiole, Ingril and even the old salt marshes of Frontignan on horseback or on a pony for the little ones. But first, a bit of history about the place you are about to discover!   The Aresquiers wood Lost between the lagoons of Vic-la-Gardiole and Ingril, on the edge of the sea and the salt ...

The Thau Archipelago is full of footpaths and hiking routes along which you can discover or rediscover the natural riches of the area. Between vineyards and ponds, pine forests and the sea, a whole range of smells and colours are available to you during an outing in the fresh air. Walking tours There are many walks available from the various communes. Here are three ideas for walks to recharge your batteries close to home: The Capitelles trail - Poussan Duration: 1h45 to 2h - Distance 5 km - Difficulty: Easy This pleasant walk in the Moure massif takes you on a journey back in time. Discover the "capitelles", the dry stone buildings that have served as shelters for farmers over the centuries. Perfectly renovated, they will punctuate your walk through the surroundi...

If you want to pamper yourself or have a romantic get-together during your stay in the Thau Archipelago, we have put together a top 3 list of spas where you can relax while discovering the region's treasures. On the agenda: relaxation in the renowned thermal water of Balaruc-les-Bains, an unusual massage using oyster shells, a 100% made-to-measure treatment in Marseillan...  The O'Balia thermal spa In Balaruc-les-Bains, France's first thermal spa, we take you to discover the O'Balia thermal spa. But before telling you more about the treatments that the establishment has in store for you, we are going to take you on a journey through time.  Indeed, thermalism has been a part of the history of the city of Balaruc since Antiquity, as the resort has one of the hottest and...

Walks in the salt marshes or in the heart of the garrigue, observation of insects and birds, visits to vineyards... These are all experiences that the Tourist Office offers you during a "Nature outing".  Discovery of emblematic places Whether you are a connoisseur of the wilderness that makes up the Thau Archipelago or an initiate, each "Nature outing" is a great opportunity for you to learn more about the history, fauna and flora that make up the archipelago. We invite you to meet us near the Occitan villages of Balaruc-les-Bains, Frontignan and Loupian to (re)discover the terraces of the Gardiole, the old salt marshes, the Aresquiers wood, the abbey of Saint-Félix, the gulf of Aigues-Mortes... So, open your eyes wide so as not to miss anything of the landscapes of the ...