All experiences
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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!
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 ...
In search of meaning...
Because you aspire to one thing only: freedom, the freedom to contemplate, the freedom to breathe as you please, to engage in activities rich in beautiful encounters.
In Sète, wherever you are, the sweetness of life is in the pleasure of all these moments. Draw from its light, its smells, its flavours and the gossip of its inhabitants the creative energy that generates authenticity.
Between the sea, the lagoon and the garrigues, this town set on the water will only reveal itself if you agree to lose yourself in the time it takes to walk along the paths of Mount Saint-Clair or the Pointe courte, the time it takes to have an impromptu picnic after a two-wheeled ride around the lagoon or to contemplate the sunset from one of the many viewpoints off...
Take time to foray into Sète’s maritime heritage.
Enjoy the fresh air of the sea.
You feel its presence as soon as you set foot in Sète. Start at the Royal canal. Surprise! Tuna boats and trawlers are moored right in the heart of the city, facing restaurants and 19th-century buildings! The image sums up the city perfectly. And one of the trawlers even welcomes visitors: the Louis Nocca. Your children will love the aquarium, the captain's cabin and visiting the engine room.
Watch the action as you wander along Quai de la Consigne, with fishing boats going back and forth, colourful boats, the bustling fish auction and fishermen repairing their nets.
Stroll along St Louis breakwater: Bring your trainers and climb the 126 steps up Saint Louis lighthouse. The view ove...
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...
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 ...
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...
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!
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...
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...
Today, I'm learning to make the famous Sète tielle
to bring back the flavours of my vacation with me.
I have often heard about the tielle, this octopus pie and tomato sauce. I like to travel, but above all, I like to taste the culinary specialties! There's no better way to discover a culture, is there?
I go to the Halles de Sète to drink my coffee before starting the cooking workshop. The chef, very friendly, explains the origin of the tielle, its ingredients and how we will cook the octopus.
We start by making the dough, which was often the baker's dough at the time. A little flour, olive oil, yeast and salt, we knead well and here is our dough ready, we will let it rest until we prepare the rest.
The thawed octopuses, ready to boil, in a saucepan. Now we remove ...
Discover the deepest lagoon in the Occitany region, where oysters and mussels have been farmed since ancient times!
Star products from the lagoon
The oysters and mussels cultivated on our territory owe their fame to the "peasants of the sea", who have maintained and developed ancestral trades and techniques. Take advantage of your stay to meet these producers who will open their doors to you and share all their production secrets with you!
Find out more about shellfish farm visits.The pleasure of welcoming you
Our restaurateurs and producers will be happy to make you discover fresh and tasty shellfish. They will undoubtedly be able to recommend the wine that will perfectly match your seafood platter! Let yourself be tempted and sit on the terrace facing the lagoon: a...