All experiences
In Sète, we live with the elements, and in particular with water,
that lifts you up and takes you away
Enclaved between the Mediterranean and the Thau Lagoon, the singular island lives to the rhythm of the water. On the water, in ULM, hobie cat or sea kayak; underwater, diving to discover Lagunethe coves of Sète; above the water, in ULM, parachute or kite surfing.
But Sète is not only the song of the waves, it is also the many festivals that punctuate the summer season, such as the Worldwide Festival, or the evenings spent strolling in beach bars....
In the destination Sète Archipel de Thau,
25 km of fine sandy beaches are available to you.
Here are my tips for choosing the right page for you!
I want an accessible and family beach
You who never travel without your clan, you've come to the right place. Believe me, there is no shortage of family beaches in the Thau archipelago! To enjoy accessible beaches and offering a full range of useful services (surveillance, showers, toilets, PMR access), direction Sète, Marseillan Plage or Frontignan Plage. You can also opt for the beaches of Mèze, Bouzigues, or Balaruc-les-Bains which are ideal for toddlers, who can wade in shallow water and without electricity.
I like to think outside the box
If you are looking for a more "natural" place, the beach of Les Aresquiers, ...
Two days to discover the Thau Archipelago?
Challenge taken up!
Need a change of scenery for a weekend? To the Thau Archipelago!
The charm of its preserved nature, the flavours of its gastronomy and the art of living of its inhabitants will give you a second wind... and the desire to return there!
With 25 kilometres of fine sandy beaches, you are bound to find the ideal beach for you in the Thau Archipelago!
ACCESSIBLE
THE BEACH FOR ALL
All the seaside towns in the Thau Archipelago have beaches with walkways and Tiralos® (wheelchairs available at the lifeguard posts) adapted for bathing for people with motor disabilities, but only the beach at Balaruc-les-Bains has the Audioplage® system, which allows people with visual impairments to swim freely, independently and in optimum safety conditions. Balaruc-les-Bains is also one of the few French towns to have been awarded the national Destination for All label, recognising the spa's commitment to overall accessibility for people with disabilities.
FAMILY
NEVER WITHOUT MY CLANS
There is no shortage of family be...
Between tasty local specialities and abundant cultural creation, Sète abounds in both cultural and gourmet treasures. Its historic centre, its port, the famous Cadre Royal, its beaches, the Mont Saint-Clair or the Pointe Courte district, there are so many things to discover... That's why we've put together a top 20 list of Sète's must-sees. With a little bonus! So, don't wait any longer to explore this "singular island" with its undeniable charm.
The city centre
Between canals, quays and small squares, you will immediately be charmed by the city that is now known as the "Venice of Languedoc".
Founded in 1666 by Louis XIV to give a maritime opening to the Canal du Midi, Sète reveals its history during a stroll through the historic centre, particularly along the Cadr...
Do you dream of escaping for a weekend?
Sète is the destination you need.
It plays the "artistic" card and knows how to preserve its popular soul. Leave for a weekend with a little extra soul.
Beware, Sète will catch you in its nets!
All the flavors are in the halls of Sète
A treat for the eyes and the taste buds! Every morning, local products are in the spotlight: tuna, red mullet, sea bass, monkfish and of course seafood and shellfish from the Thau lagoon.
To find out more
Expert advice:
In Sète, you can enjoy many local specialties: macaroni, stuffed mussels and squid, cuttlefish rouille, and the famous tielle sétoise... Don't miss this little pie filled with octopus, a true institution of Sète gastronomy.Artistic stroll
Visit the Open Sky Museum, thanks to i...
See you in 2024 to vibrate to the same rhythm in the Thau Archipelago! On the programme of this top (non-exhaustive) list of festivals: music, art, good local produce, a little reading and poetry...
K-Live (early June)
Each year, by leaving their mark on the walls of the city, they enrich the Musée à Ciel Ouvert (MACO) in Sète, which offers an artistic and picturesque stroll all year round, dotted with mural works. But the highlight of the K-Live Festival remains the beginning of June, when urban arts, visual arts and contemporary music concerts converge in the streets of the city centre and in the famous Théâtre de la mer.
When I think of Fernande (end of June)
When you think of Fernande, you actually think of the most gently impertinent festival in Sète. A real n...
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...
Rich in history, the little Venice of Languedoc can also boast a generous culinary heritage. And what could be better than to experience this during a cooking workshop during your holidays? If you are tempted by the experience, go to the heart of the Halles de Sète to meet Joe the Cooker and his chef, Magali Mag.
For adults
With friends or family, beginners or experts, the chef Magali invites you to discover the secrets of Sète's recipes during one of the three thematic workshops she offers: Discovery, Authentic, Ronda Viticole.
You will have the choice between: making a dish and a dessert; cooking a starter, a dish and a dessert; unless you prefer to accompany your dishes with a wine tasting. And if the dilemma is too great, it is even possible to do a course (180...
This summer, it's decided, I'm opting for an eco-responsible holiday! I rent a bike in Sète, and I'm going on a mop, discovering the diversity of the landscapes of the Thau Archipelago.
Heading for the Gardiole
The Gardiole massif is a beautiful playground for thrill-seekers. If, like me, you are a seasoned sportsman, don't hesitate to go there, preferably in the early morning to avoid the heat. Take advantage of your outing in the garrigue to admire the exceptional view that the massif offers you over the lagoon and the Thau archipelago, a great reward after the effort!
Today, I'm off to the Bagnas reserve with my little family for a break in the middle of nature!
Among the guided tours offered by the Reserve House, we have opted for bird watching at sunset.
We are warmly welcomed by a passionate and exciting guide, who is very educational with children. It's not a bad start! He provides us with binoculars and long sights, allowing us to see wonderful birds (egrets, herons, and flamingos) in great detail, all in a peaceful and green setting!This excursion was also an opportunity to discover more surprising animals, such as turtles, but also many plant species. To our great surprise, our teenagers had a great time, and took advantage of it to take beautiful pictures that will allow us to remember this precious moment when we are four back ...
Looking for an idea for your Sunday walks despite the winter? The Archipelago of Thau is the place to go to get some fresh air and enjoy the mild temperatures of southern France. That's why we've put together a short list of places to go for a walk, so all you have to do is make your choice: a guided tour of the Bagnas reserve, an iodine bowl along the Lido, birdwatching at the old salt pans of Frontignan...
The Bagnas reserve: To be discovered freely or with a guide
Situated on 561 hectares between Marseillan and Cap d'Agde, the Bagnas reserve has become over the years a paradise for birds and nature lovers alike. Now protected, it can be discovered through the anecdotes of one of the guides of the Maison de la Nature or freely for a little more adventure.
You can, for...
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 ...
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...
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...
Kayak through our territory!
Discover the fauna and flora, come and taste the oysters from the Thau lagoon or simply rent a kayak and go on an adventure in complete autonomy. From Marseillan to Frontignan via Sète, Mèze and Balaruc-Les-Bains, sail towards an exceptional nautical adventure.
Go on an expedition, between sea and pond!
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...
Between the sky and the water, protected treasures
By Julia Laffaille
A veritable patchwork of landscapes, the Thau Archipelago, nestled between the Mediterranean and the wide open spaces of the garrigue, is a small preserved paradise. This territory has always been a promise of travel and of a still wild nature just a stone's throw from the beautiful Occitan villages. So, I went back to explore these sunny landscapes to discover all these protected natural treasures.
By the sea, a stone's throw from the blue waves
Here, the inhabitants live alongside this idyllic setting on a daily basis and water is certainly a character in its own right. Lagoons, ponds or even salt pans are all environments that have shaped the landscapes in which Man has been able to develop ...
From the foothills of the Gardiole to the shores of the Thau lagoon, here more than anywhere else the vineyards reflect their past. Sun-drenched clay-limestone soils, a combination of wind and a favourable micro-climate, this was all it took for the Etruscans, Greeks and Romans to invest in this terroir and plant vines here. Two millennia later, one of the oldest vineyards in France continues its wine odyssey.
A long maturation
Sète was still an uninhabited mountain when, in 1666, Louis XIV ordered the construction of a port to facilitate the export of wine throughout Europe. The area produced mainly white wine. Until then, vines had been confined to the plateaux, but they were soon planted on the plains and ended up producing high yields of poor quality wine: a red wave ...
Take a leap into the history of Sète... Immerse yourself in the intimacy of the poet Georges Brassens and the writer Paul Valéry... Or take a journey through modest and contemporary art... These are just some of the experiences you can have in Sète. Let us tell you a little more about the five museums you'll be visiting.
The Georges Brassens space
In addition to its jousts and its Mont Saint-Clair, Sète also attracts attention thanks to the famous singer-songwriter Georges Brassens. And what better way to discover the works of this great singer than in the museum dedicated to him.
So whether you are a music lover or simply curious, go along Boulevard Camille Blanc, at number 67, to experience a multi-sensory journey. Equipped with headphones, set off on a journey th...
The first thermal spa in the Mediterranean, O'balia offers a multitude of treatments that take advantage of the benefits of thermal water.
Unleash your senses and treat yourself to a well-deserved break in this place entirely dedicated to relaxation and well-being.
The pool area
In a setting of greenery and natural Mediterranean woods, the pool area of the O'balia wellness centre offers water in all its forms. Sensory pools, hydromassage benches, swan necks and bubbling sofas will offer you an unforgettable moment of relaxation. Unless you opt for the onsen, a Japanese-inspired bubbling bath, nestled in a green setting and bathed by a waterfall. An intimate place conducive to contemplation... Finally, bask in the hammam, where you can relax while enjoying the gentle h...