Summer

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...

In Sète, there are the beaches of Paul Valéry, Georges Brassens... but there's also a life after the beach A life of hut, on Mont Saint-Clair. A cultural life, with the Chapelle du Quartier Haut, the MIAM or the Espace Brassens. A lively culture also, from the Pointe-Courte fishermen's quarter to the Halles centrales, where you can taste tielles and shellfish, without forgetting the daily ball of the trawlers returning to the port. A nocturnal culture too, with the fairy tale of the canals at night or the Théâtre de la Mer and its magical scene. More than a view, a vision....  

What better way to (re)discover the Thau Archipelago, its towns and monuments through a treasure hunt during your family holiday? This is the experience you can have in Sète, Villeveyrac, Frontignan-Plage or Balaruc-les-Bains. Don't wait any longer!   Barberoussette: the treasure hunt for young and old (Sète) According to legend, the famous pirate Barberoussette was active in the maritime city at the end of the 16th century and hid his treasure there. Even today, many adventurers have tried to find it... Without success! Fortunately for you, the pirate left several pieces of the map that allow you to find his riches in Sète. But before you can hope to find them all, you will have to solve several riddles related to the monuments and history of Sète. Go to the tour...

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...

I wanted to do a different kind of water activity, something out of the ordinary. Why not a "paddle muscat" outing in Frontignan? I'll jump at the chance and call the Tiki Center. I'm told that there's room for July 19th and that I have to pay for my paddle reservation at the tourist office shop. That's perfect. At 7pm, I meet a group of 12 people on the parking lot of the Frontignan-Plage windsurfers' roundabout. After a quick lesson on dry land and an awareness of the fragility of the seabed, we can sail. So we set off for an hour and a half of paddle on the Ingril pond. We sail calmly towards the canal from the Rhône to Sète, but I still find it difficult to stand upright all the time... It's not easy to balance on these boards! On the other hand on my knees, it's muc...

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...

For a prestigious and luxurious stay, the Archipelago of Thau is the place to go for your next holiday. Here, you can expect a thousand and one top-of-the-range experiences in beautiful accommodation, restaurants....  The Miramar villa Facing the Mediterranean, with its back to the Thau basin, this is the setting that awaits you at the Villa Miramar! Located in Frontignan, this exceptional guest house, with its 5 "épis" rating from the Gîtes de France, offers four rooms and an unusual cabin, all of which open onto the sea, as well as numerous services and facilities that will make your prestigious stay unforgettable. You can, for example, take advantage of the 17-metre long heated infinity pool to take a dip before enjoying your cocktail on the immersed terrace, o...

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...

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...

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 ...

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 ...

Visit our Archipelago and its cultural sites in a different way, emblematic of our history. Do you like history and stroll around Sète? Let's go to the Sea Museum! History of the construction of the port, ship models, Languedoc jousting... This museum will reveal all the secrets of the city of Sète, its traditions and its exceptional maritime heritage. Extend your visit to Sète by visiting the Espace Georges Brassens and discover the internationally renowned Sète artist, his life and work thanks to image and sound. Whether you are a music lover or just curious, this place will not leave you in the dark! Why not then head for Frontignan to see its church (Saint Paul), built at the beginning of the 12th century? This surprising construction is made up of limestone from...

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!

Share great moments and take advantage of the good weather to discover authentic and unmissable events in Sète.    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.   IMAGES SINGULIÈRES (Ascension) Images Singulières is the event that makes Sète exist in the very select world of photography. Devoted to its documentary bent, this festival celebrates, for 15 days, the diversity of views and gives us a glimpse of what words are not always enough to express. Vernissages, exhibitions, concerts, workshops, artists in residence...   K-LIV...

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!

Nearly 3000 tons of Mediterranean mussels are produced each year in the Thau lagoon. And here, cooking them is an art. Ready for a tasting? Discovery and delicacies While on a trip to Mèze, I wander around the city centre and discover the covered halls. The atmosphere is friendly, the merchants call each other from one stand to another, and offer passers-by to taste their products. After picking bits of melons and a few olives, I stop in front of a shellfish farmer's stall. He asked me to taste the mussel track. I, who only knew about marine mussels, am not being asked to do anything! These mussels, cooked, are marinated in olive oil and lemon and perfectly seasoned. A delight! Amused by my enthusiasm, the producer explains to me that nearly 3000 tons of Mediterranean ...

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 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...

After a nice walk on the Canal du Midi, a short break in Marseillan where I decided to visit the Noilly Prat House. I want to know more about this vermouth, made here for more than 200 years, and why not, taste this famous drink! A recipe with a well-kept secret The guided tour begins with the discovery of a cellar, where huge oak tuns are placed on each side, giving this area a very special atmosphere. I learned that Noilly Prat is a vermouth, produced from white wine and a secretly kept mixture of aromatic plants such as chamomile and coriander. There are also bitter orange peels and nutmeg. Our guide makes us smell a glass of the mixture... hurry the tasting!An ancestral know-how We continue our journey outdoors, where barrels are stored as far as the eye can see, in an ...

Who would have thought it? Red gold in the Thau Archipelago! As well as being renowned for its oysters, wine and Muscat, the area boasts not one, but two saffron farms! So there's no excuse to make your dream come true and enjoy a fragrant excursion to Villeveyrac.  The saffron shop Overlooking the Thau Basin, we invite you to discover this first saffron farm of 6000 m² nicknamed "La boutique du safran" or "My home farmer" and its owner Jorge Fernandez. Passionate about plants and flowers for their aromas and effects, Jorge will be happy to take you on a fragrant journey to discover this red-orange spice, but also the aromatic plants and elderberries that he grows organically. He will also share with you the traditional techniques inspired by permaculture and elect...

Would you like to discover one of the most beautiful Cistercian abbeys in France in an original way and at the same time live a unique experience? Head to the charming village of Villeveyrac to visit Valmagne Abbey.   A little history Founded in 1139, this historic monument is one of the best preserved examples of Cistercian art, with its 29-metre-high central nave, its 9 chapels, its Romanesque cloister, its fountain and its medieval garden... But its particularity lies in its cellar and in its 35 hectares which are among the oldest vineyards of Languedoc. We won't tell you any more and we'll let you discover the secrets of this pure Cistercian jewel through its treasure hunt.   The lost treasure of the colours of Valmagne A bag full of surprising objects and...