All experiences - Page 2

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...

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...

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...

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...

 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...  

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 ...

In Sète, there are the beaches of Paul Valéry, Georges Brassens... but there's also a life after the beach A life of hut, on Mont Saint-Clair. A cultural life, with the Chapelle du Quartier Haut, the MIAM or the Espace Brassens. A lively culture also, from the Pointe-Courte fishermen's quarter to the Halles centrales, where you can taste tielles and shellfish, without forgetting the daily ball of the trawlers returning to the port. A nocturnal culture too, with the fairy tale of the canals at night or the Théâtre de la Mer and its magical scene. More than a view, a vision....  

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 ...

Summer is shaping up to be beautiful, hot and long... the perfect recipe for a lovely evening with friends or family. But what about spicing things up with an unusual experience at sunset? That's what we've come up with in this top list of things to do at dusk! Kayakmed  We're off to a great start with a sea kayaking excursion on the Bassin de Thau. But before you take to the water with your paddle, let your instructor tell you what's in store for you on this tour with the evocative name "Sun Sète" (6-9pm). Once you've been introduced to the water, you can finally head off in the direction of Les Thocs, a real lagoon in Languedoc. It's here that you can watch the sunset while sipping a glass of local Muscat. Find out more here. A little extra: Kayakmed has been awarded ...

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...

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 ...

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...

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...

Summer vacation with friends is clearly the best time of the year. No schedules, no strings attached, just cool sharing time. When I booked the summer holidays for our group of friends, I already had a few criteria in mind, set during our last evenings: a trip that didn't make us waste too much time, a festival with a good program, the beach to recover from our evenings. And I had the perfect plan: the Thau archipelago. After a few hours on the train, we disembark in Sète and put down our stuff. Just enough time to change our clothes, and here we go for an afternoon on the beach, which will finally turn into an aperitif in a straw hut.  After a short stop in our rental for a small shower, direction the city center and its lively terraces to eat a bite to eat. We find ours...

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...

Festive meals are the ideal occasion to sublimate the riches of our land. Advice, recipe ideas, here are our top 5 local products to have on your table at the end of the year! 1 - Oysters from the Thau basin Their iodine perfume and their characteristic nutty taste make us melt all year round, but it is in the heart of winter that they are at their best. Produced in Bouzigues, Mèze and Marseillan, Thau oysters are an essential part of our festive meals, let's face it! Raw, they go very well with a simple lemon juice, but can also be eaten with a shallot sauce or with a dash of balsamic vinegar, olive oil and a turn of the pepper mill. Gratinated, they go wonderfully well with parsley butter, but also with a white wine or leek-based sauce.   Don't hesitate to ask ...

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...

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...

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 ...

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...

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...

The halles de Sète reflect the identity of Sète. This is where you can breathe the atmosphere of the city, a concentration of local specialities, regional products and authenticity. From its esplanade to its shopping alleys, the exceptional products carry high the flavours of the south. Naturally, fish and shellfish are at the top of the pavement! The atmosphere is friendly and sunny. All generations meet up among the sun-drenched fish, shellfish, fruit and vegetables, you can only be seduced. You come here to do your shopping of course but also to taste some oysters from Bouzigues or a Sète tielle (small pie topped with spicy octopus) accompanied by a glass of white wine from the region. An unforgettable experience. Les Halles de Sète welcomes you every day of the y...

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...