Summer

Today I discover the atmosphere of the famous Monday of Saint Louis, the great celebration of the city of Sète. It's Monday! The last day of the feast of St. Louis, which began on Thursday. A full weekend for me. Between the various parades where all the districts are represented, the famous square ball tournament, the tribute to the railway workers and the concert at the Théâtre de la Mer. We end this party with the "heavy" category jousting tournament!We meet in the morning with our friends in the town hall square, or as the Sète people also call it "Place du Poufre "*. We're waiting for the famous macaroonade! Players and Sète eat this dish for occasions or on Sundays with the family, but especially before the Languedoc jousting tournaments. Tomato sauce, sausage, me...

Do you dream of calm and nature? Escape? So cheer up, flee the city, towards the Thau Archipelago!  In this sumptuous setting, time stretches indefinitely, the time is at hand.... Spending a day in Thau means relaxing in a green and blue garden, between the sea, lagoons and the scrubland. On foot, by bike or even in a bathing suit, it is time for idleness, simple pleasures, romantic picnics at sunset... In a word as in a hundred, it is high time to let yourself live and take the time...

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!

In the Thau Archipelago, the mildness of autumn and winter invites you to go for nature walks and bird watching. The ideal place? Marseillan, in the heart of the Bagnas nature reserve.  The Bagnas nature reserve    Nestled between Marseillan and Cap d'Agde, the Bagnas nature reserve covers no less than 561 hectares and offers you a wide choice of walks. The promise of beautiful "nature" escapades, during which you can, among other things, escape along the Canal du Midi, to the Mont Saint-Loup (Agatha volcano), to the Onglous lighthouse, to the Domaine de Maraval (a wine-growing estate) or to the observation area on the main road.  During your walk, you will only have to look up to see the 250 species of birds that fly over the reserve. Unless you prefer to take one o...

Ideal place for a break in nature, Frontignan will offer you a new breath! We have booked for our weekend a guest room in the Frontignan beach area. Welcomed in this pretty apartment by the sea, we enjoy an evening of picnicking on the sand. An awakening to the sound of the waves, we saw that sports classes on the beach are offered. So we will take advantage of a Yoga session to start the day off right.  Then to a beach restaurant, it's the opportunity to eat fresh fish! From there we rent bicycles, we have been told about the Muscat Festival, and we intend to discover this "muscat petit grains" grape variety wine that makes the city's reputation. Head for the city centre to discover this famous muscat and the other wines of the region. We take our tasting tickets and o...

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...

Discover the many facets of the Thau Archipelago through our selection of photos...

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...

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...

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...

Gastronomy, crafts, exceptional places... Discover the charm of the Thau Archipelago! Sète and its canals, its atmosphere, its gastronomy, but also its small shops and workshops will not leave you indifferent! For a successful trip for two, you will have only the embarrassment of choice: going out on board an old rig, refined dinners, soothing treatments... Something to inspire you for your next stay!

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...

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 ...

A stroll to the Sète covered market, one of the little pleasures that I offer myself in all simplicity during my stay in the Thau archipelago. All the flavours of the South The covered market of Sète is a paradise for epicureans. The stalls are full of local produce and mouth-watering specialities: sun-drenched fruit and vegetables, wines and cheeses of character, shellfish, fish and crustaceans, not forgetting the famous tielles, or the zézettes of Sète. When you're curious and greedy like me, you don't know what to think! After enjoying a cup of coffee and a few sweets, I begin my journey of the senses. I taste a delicious tapenade that will be ideal for an aperitif with friends, take advantage of the advice of a fishmonger to learn which wine will go best with the s...

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 ...

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...

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...

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...

 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...  

Discover different art forms in a resolutely cultural destination Let yourself be surprised by the artistic worlds of the different museums of Sète. In this city that has always inspired artists, enjoy permanent and temporary exhibitions, to be discovered all year round. The prestigious Paul Valéry Museum and its renowned exhibitions: world-renowned artists are on display. In addition to the permanent collection of Fine Arts, there is the Paul Valéry collection and a collection of popular arts and traditions. Located on the Sète quays facing the old port, the Centre Régional d'Art Contemporain Occitanie is a laboratory for artistic creation. It offers a programme of temporary exhibitions accompanied by the production of works. Many meetings are organized to promote t...

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 ...

The Mediterranean Sea and the Thau lagoon are beautiful playgrounds for lovers of water sports and leisure activities, whatever their level. What are you waiting for to jump into the water? The Thau archipelago along the water. Local words: to discover the lagoon and the secrets of shellfish production for which the Thau basin is famous, there is nothing better than a boat trip! From the ports of Mèze and Bouzigues, former oyster farmers take you on a trip along the river, with explanations! Don't miss: the tasting walks and "sunset" outings in Mansathau, a delight for your taste buds and eyes! The Thau lagoon: an ideal spot for kite-surfing Kite-surfing combines the pleasure of a sliding sport, the technicality of a sailing sport and the adrenaline of an extreme sport...