All experiences - Page 2

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, ...

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 ...

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 ...

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...

This weekend, we're escaping together for a romantic getaway in Sète. Charm and pleasure are on the agenda. Canals, bridges, sunny facades, fishing boats, iodized air... A stroll along the quays becomes an enchanting moment of reunion. Take the time to stroll through the typical districts of Sète. What could be better than a meal for two to complete this ideal day. For this, trust the chefs of Sète to bring fine and refined dishes to your table.Are you dreaming of an unforgettable stay...? Find here the accommodation which corresponds to you : hotel, rent of furnished, sight side sea, sight side lagoon of Thau... 

Explore La Pointe Courte district with huts, fishing nets, boats, lobster pots and stray cats... A village inside the city and a world away. It’s an unusual area with colourful facades, alleys and fishing nets drying on the docks. The residents of La Pointe Courte have their own identity.  Read the street names and you’ll understand: traverses des jouteurs (jouster poles), des rameurs (rowers), des pêcheurs (fishermen), Rue la Pétanque just to name a few. Explore and see! Sea bream is caught in October. Hundreds of fishermen on both sides of the canal eagerly await the inevitable passage of the fish from the lagoon to the sea. The quiet district turns into a frenzy each year. On the other side of the Royal canal, opposite La Pointe Courte, stands the marine biology...

Lifestyle in Sète is imbued with tasteful elegance. Join us for a unique and perennially fashionable getaway.  Be chic and dare to indulge yourself. A showcase of poetry and beauty, Sète is an elegant backdrop for its fascinating history. The canals winding through the heart of the city tell the incredible tale of the Canal du Midi and the glorious history of the wine trade. Hop aboard a Venetian taxi on the Royal canal and discover why Sète is known as the "the little Venice of Languedoc". The sweet scent of Italy floats through the air as you pass under the bridges.   Paul Valéry, Georges Brassens, Hervé Di Rosa, Agnes Varda… the city inspires artists. Sète has been a model and a subject for songs, paintings and films. Art abounds.  Visit workshops ope...

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....    

The adventure begins at the entrance to the port of Sète You have always dreamed of watching the horizon, watching for the arrival of ferocious privateers, defending an islet against wind and tide. The view is spectacular, but it requires climbing the 126 steps to the top of the Sète lighthouse. Its luminous flashes indicate to sailors the entrance to the harbour.  Don't miss this unique visit. And for good reason, this monument is the only one to offer public access in the French Mediterranean.  Good plan for the family:  Access is free for children up to 11 years old. There is no doubt that this activity is recommended for families and has been awarded the "Family Plus" label!  Some figures and a little history 2297 stones, 310 m3 of ashlar, 126 steps, ...

Thau lagoon is a stunning example of biodiversity. An ecological gem, the lagoon is 20 km long and 5 km wide. It is separated from the Mediterranean by a long stretch of sand, known as the Lido. The salty water has made it the ideal breeding place for oysters and shellfish since antiquity. The only one of its kind in France and listed a Natura 2000 site, the lagoon is a reservoir of biodiversity with nearly 400 plant species and 100 animal species including clams, sea snails, sea urchins, sea bream, mullets, seabass and the famous seahorse that attracts divers from around the world. ​ Shellfish farms occupy over 1,300 hectares of the water in Thau lagoon. Shellfish are Thau lagoon’s main resource. Oysters and mussels are grown by 800 farms on 2,800 shellfish rafts. Take ...

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...

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...

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...

Oh no, it's raining! Don't panic, whether you are with adults or with your family, we suggest 10 activities to do on the rare days when it rains in the Thau Archipelago.      1 - Let's go to the movies?  Comfortably installed in your seat, with a packet of popcorn in your hand, enjoy the latest films in one of the two cinemas in Sète, the Comoedia and the Palace, at the Taurus in Mèze or the CinéMistral in Frontignan. Block-busters, art house films, screenings for young audiences, you're bound to find something to suit you! In autumn and spring, screenings are also organised every Sunday afternoon at the Piano-Tiroir cultural centre in Balaruc-les-Bains.    2 - Take advantage of the opportunity to learn something new!  In Sète, culture is king and can also ...

Water is everywhere in Sète. It is the biggest fishing port in the Mediterranean, thanks to the fish auction, the flotilla of tuna boats and trawlers and small net-casting activity in the sea and lagoon. The fishing port in the Royal canal, sheltered from the old port, is a special attraction that has always seduced sea lovers visiting Sète. The fabulous spectacle of trawlers returning to port every afternoon can be admired from the breakwater or the promenade overlooking the old dock. In the heart of the old port, the Sète fish auction provides produce throughout France including Paris, Lyon, Toulouse, Marseille, as well as Italy and Spain. The 17 trawlers and small fishermen catch ten tonnes of fish every day. The fish auction sells 90 species including monkfish, red m...

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!

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!

No matter which destination you have chosen for your holiday in the Thau archipelago, we invite you to take advantage of these few days to get away from it all and discover the 14 communes that make up our destination.  You can also find more information in our magazine.   Balaruc-le-Vieux Set on a hillock, the village dominates the creek of the corner with a view on the lagoon. A medieval village wrapped in its ramparts, which magnifies the past. We love to get lost in its narrow streets. Discover Balaruc-le-Vieux   Balaruc-les-Bains The first spa in France, Louis Bonaparte already came here for a cure in the 19th century! People come here to enjoy the benefits of its thermal waters, but also to stroll through the flowery alleys of the Mediterranean Ant...

The theatre of the sea is an amphitheatre that is one with the rock and offers a face-to-face with the open sea, bathed by the light of the moon and its reflections on the water. Irresistible. At the foot of Mount Saint Clair, the Théâtre de la Mer dominates the Mediterranean. Every summer, this ancient 18th century fortification welcomes the great artistic events of the city of Sète. The acoustics are exceptional. It is the ideal setting for hosting the festivals organised during the summer season. Originally Fort Saint-Pierre, the Theatre of the Sea was originally part, with the semaphore, of a defensive complex designed to protect the population and the port of Sète from land and sea attacks. Built on seven platforms arranged in an amphitheatre facing the sea, and equi...

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 "macaronade"! Players and Sète eat this dish for occasions or on Sundays with the family, but especially before the Languedoc jousting tournaments. Tomato sauce, sausage, ...