Sète

Sète, the French Mediterranean has its own Venice

Canals, theatres, museums, beaches, parks and a lot of French elegance can be found at the country’s second largest port in the Mediterranean. The port is at Sète, in the region of Occitania. It is situated on the Mediterranean Sea and the Gulf of Thaux. It’s also next to the Lagoon of Thaux which is connected to the Canal du Midi, a 240 km canal stretching to Toulouse.

Attractions in Sète
• See the Old Port at Canal Royal with its many restaurants and cafes.
• The Musée International des Arts Modestes is a museum completely out of the ordinary as it hosts controversary pieces of art. This museum’s goal is to put art in a new base, break stereotypes and bring in a new aspect.
• At the Paul Valéry Museum (Musée Paul Valéry) you can see paintings and exhibitions from the 17th century until today.
• The Museum of the Sea (Musée de la Mer) offers a magnificent sea view. Among the things you can see at this museum are objects from the history and culture of the port.
• The Dinosaurs Park Museum (Parc Musée Dinosaures Mèze) is an open-air museum. See life-size dinosaurs and find out useful information about their evolution and extinction.

Activities in Sète
• Have a swim at the Plage Baleine. It’s an organized, sandy beach, close to the port. If you are looking for idyllic beaches, you should visit Marseille.
• Visit the private farm Ferme Zoo Bouzigues. In a kid-friendly environment, feed the goats, see the peacocks and the cows.
• Travel 100 km away from the port to visit the Narbonnaise en Méditerranée Natural Regional Park. Enjoy hiking at the forest, explore the beaches, the lakes, the wineries, and observe the wild birds and animals that live in the park.
• Have a walk at the Les Anciens Salins de Frontignan, a place that flamingos visit very often. It’s 12 km from the port.

Access to Sète: You can reach the port by car, plane, train, ferry or bus. Montpellier’s airport is 42 km away and Marseille’s airport is 180 km away.
Montpellier is 38 km away. The journey Sète – Montpellier by car takes 1 hour and by train 17 minutes.
Marseille is 200 km away. The journey Sète – Marseille by car or train takes 2,5 hours and by train 17 minutes.
Toulouse is 230 km away. The journey Sète – Toulouse by car takes 2,5 hours and by train 2 hours.

Only in Sète: See the Water Jousting Warriors (The Joutes de Sète), an event that takes place every August in Royal Canal. It’s a celebration that started as soon as the port was built, in 1666, to honour the patron saint of the city, Saint Louis. The contest is between two teams who are both in their own boats. Each team has a jouster who fights with a wooden shield and lance, while standing on a wooden platform on the boat. The winner is the one who won’t fall in the water. It’s the city’s biggest event and hundreds of people come in every year to see this unique experience.