All experiences
Explore Sète’s green lung on the western slope of Mont Saint-Clair with 27 hectares of pine forest and Mediterranean scrubland.
Stroll along the paths and enjoy a unique view of Thau lagoon, the Lido and the Mediterranean in the background. On a clear day you can also see the Pyrénées mountains and Mont Canigou. Spectacular!
New: Check out the mobile app for the Pierres Blanches forest trails.
The app is easy to use.
It’s easy and free to download and only takes a few seconds. The tour is narrated by two characters. Martin, a fine connoisseur of Sète, presents the historical aspects of the forest and its association with man. Aurélie, from the French National Forests Office (ONF), presents the botanical and natural aspects of the forest. They are your guides for t...
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!
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...
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...
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...
Having an aperitif on the terrace. What else but the symbol of the Mediterranean art of living?
Are you looking for a place to enjoy a good drink on a terrace in the Thau Archipelago? Look no further, we have listed them for you!
In Sète
The Sky bar of the Imperial Hotel
Get ready to take to the skies, we're taking you to a rooftop! The panoramic terrace of the cocktail bar at the Hôtel*** Impérial offers a breathtaking view of the Mediterranean Sea, the Etang de Thau and the Mont Saint-Clair, which you can admire from the comfort of a sofa or deckchair. On the agenda: a chic and relaxed atmosphere, with your head in the stars...
The little extra: during the day, in the shade of a parasol, you can also taste delicious ice creams. The bar - patio of t...
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...
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...
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...
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 ...
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...
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...
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 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...
Discover 5 walking routes near Sète, to recharge your batteries and get some fresh air!
1 and 2 - Around Saint Félix de Montceau Abbey in Gigean
If you like beautiful panoramas, these routes are made for you! From the Gardiole massif, you can enjoy an incredible view of Sète, the Mediterranean and the Thau lagoon and its oyster beds.
There are two routes available to you:
- Easy level: duration 2h, distance 6,5km.
- Medium level: duration 4h30, distance 14,5 km.
3 - The Thau balconies, from Frontignan
The crossing of a fragrant pine forest will lead you to a first point of view on Frontignan and its vineyard. Climb again and this time you will enjoy a panoramic view of the Thau Lagoon, the Mont Saint-Clair and the lido. Don't forget to bring walking shoes...
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 ...
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...
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...
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...