All experiences
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...
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....
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...
There's nothing like the warmth of a tasty dish to cheer you up when the temperatures drop! Our local specialities, mostly based on fish and seafood, are ideal for indulging yourself while eating locally.
Cuttlefish rust
This is a speciality with a reputation that is well established! Melting pieces of cuttlefish, dipped in a simmering tomato sauce and bound with a delicious aioli... To be enjoyed with potatoes, rice or tagliatelle. A dish whose finesse and flavours will make you fall over, to be discovered in all the good restaurants of the Thau Archipelago.
Stuffed squid
Squid? What's that? They are in fact small squids whose tube (i.e. the body without the tentacles) measures between 8 and 14 centimetres.
Delicately stuffed with a mixture of sausage...
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, ...
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...
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!
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 ...
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...
Spring and fine weather make us want to have a picnic. Sète is full of places for a lunch on the grass (or the sand) in an enchanting setting! Follow our advice.
View of the sea
- The Saint Louis lighthouse, at the end of the breakwater, so as not to lose a crumb on the entrance to the port of Sète. Incredible view.
- The Saint Pierre site, at the foot of the theatre of the sea. A vast balcony suspended above the sea.
- You can overlook the sea from the Marchéchal Leclerc promenade, the starting point of the 12-kilometre-long greenway.
- The golden sandy beaches of Sète, for a break by the water, with your feet in the sand. Quite simply.In the city
In the gardens of the Simone Veil Park, in the shade of the hundred-year-old trees. The lovers of public benches i...
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...
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...
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 ...
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...
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...
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...
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 ...
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...
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!