All experiences

By Valerie - May 2019 For a change from the beach, I suggested to my children an unusual visit offered by the Tourist Office: the old salt pans. I registered us on their website, paid online directly via the ticket office and received my tickets on my smartphone. On the day of the walk, we are provided with a cap, water bottle and camera. The guide waits for us on the car park of the Salle de l'Aire, with the other registered participants, to take us to the starting point. There, information and explanations are given on an information board. We start the walk and Laurent already stops, putting his binocular on the ground: there is a group of pink flamingos with their young, which are grey, so we observe them and take pictures, it is great! We start walking again, the next ...

Along the lido of Frontignan, there are several beaches where you can enjoy a deckchair or a comfortable mattress to relax facing the Mediterranean Sea. This afternoon, I have a surprise for my fiancée. Head for the Sandaya Tam Tam Beach to relax on the beach! A beach on the lido of Frontignan Next to Les Tamaris campsite, the private Sandaya Tam Tam Beach offers a large terrace of 500 m2 with deckchairs, mattresses, hammocks and even four-poster beds! What could be more romantic for a romantic afternoon in the Mediterranean sun? We arrived on the beach at around 3pm after lunch in one of the restaurants in the heart of Frontignan. The holiday started very well with a delicious meal with Mediterranean flavours.  Now it's time to relax on the beach. We finally choose ...

"- Hi everyone, ready for this little mountain bike trip off the beaten track? - Hi Paulo, what's up? We're ready for this ride, what have you planned for us? - Well listen, today I'm not proposing the Gardiole, but rather a "quiet ride with beautiful landscapes". If you like, we'll start by taking the Chemin des Pielles over there, on that stony road, and go along the rails to enter the old salt marshes of Frontignan. - Perfect, I can't wait to get off the asphalt! On the programme for this ride: very little downhill, flat, no steep climbs, but breathtaking landscapes and above all, paths between the ponds, the Aresquiers wood and the Mediterranean. Without a sound, we arrive in the heart of the salt flats. We walk through wild spaces, little frequented. We watch t...

Between vine cultivation and natural areas as far as the eye can see, Frontignan is full of treasures to discover during your stay: the municipal museum of Frontignan; the old salt marshes... To help you with your programme, we've put together a list of the must-sees with a little bonus! Frontignan There is the Lido of Paris and, in a slightly more natural genre, but just as surprising, the lido of Frontignan, this sublime strip of land which separates the sea from the ponds, which you will love to cycle around. We warn you right away: underwater adventurers will not be able to resist a little diving, and then rest on its 7 km of beaches. In Frontignan, you can also explore the splendid muscatel vineyards and fill your lungs with the fresh air and the delicate scent of Aleppo ...

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...

An "Emmuscade", don't look up the definition in the dictionary, this word doesn't exist. But it smells of grapes, it makes us hear the cicadas and take out the sunglasses to admire the view without being dazzled!So I was intrigued by this word, I searched for it on Google and came across the link to the Office de Tourisme website. What I understand: cinema in the vineyards, muscatel wine tasting and conviviality. My curiosity is "exacerbated and pushes me" to participate. I invite Christel, Fanny and Amélie, my three best friends. We arrive at the heart of a wine estate. At the entrance, we are given a tasting ticket for a glass of muscatel wine and another for a tray of mussels cooked on a wood fire.The garlands are hung, the tables and benches installed for conviviality. T...

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...

Mireval and Vic-la-Gardiole are full of treasures to discover during your stay: the Aresquiers wood; the Aresquiers beach; the Belle Dame estate... To help you with your programme, we've put together a list of must-sees with a little bonus!

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...

A trip to the edge of the desert, or more precisely to the Gardiole massif and the edge of the Thau lagoon... This is the experience you can enjoy during your holidays in the Archipelago with the Dromasud farm in Frontignan!  On the back of a dromedary  Accompanied by your child or alone on your saddle, your eyes lost on the sea, the Aresquiers wood, the salt marshes, the ponds and the famous Muscat vineyards, you are about to experience an unusual moment on the back of a camel in the company of Cécile.  During 1 hour (ride) or 2h30 (course), you will walk through the Gardiole massif and will be rocked by Cécile's passion for dromedaries as well as her love for the region that she has been walking since 2010, when she created the Dromasud association with Coralie....

Do you have the soul of an adventurer? Or are you simply curious to discover another facet of nature? I'll take you for a walk in the old salt pans of Frontignan... By night! After registering at the Tourist Office (you can also register online), I meet in front of the Salle de l'Aire to join the group and especially Laurent, our guide from EID Méditerranée. We then take the cars to reach the starting point of the walk. It is about 8.30 pm, the night has not fallen yet which allows Laurent to explain us the course of the visit and especially to show us the various species of birds, but also of plants which live here.  We are amazed, on the left as on the right, many birds gravitate in the salt marshes. On one side a heron takes flight, on the other a flamingo nursery with...

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 ...

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...

Would you like to be closer to Mother Nature during your stay in Frontignan, to get away from the big tourist flows or simply to observe the typical fauna and flora of the Thau Archipelago? Then head for the old salt pans of Frontignan! A little history Shaped until 1968 by the salt industry, this succession of fresh and salt wetlands still shows traces of these three centuries of exploitation: canals, old salt tables... Today it has become a favourite place for fauna and flora, and it is also here that you can enjoy an unrestricted view of a hundred or so species of birds, in particular pink flamingos, white stilts, ducks, terns, etc., which have come to winter, to breed or simply to make a migratory stopover.  It is thanks to this rich fauna and flora that this 230-hectare ...

Discover the many facets of Frontignan, Mireval and Vic-la-Gardiole through our selection of photos...

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...

See you in 2024 to vibrate to the same rhythm in the Thau Archipelago! On the programme of this top (non-exhaustive) list of festivals: music, art, good local produce, a little reading and poetry... K-Live (early June) Each year, by leaving their mark on the walls of the city, they enrich the Musée à Ciel Ouvert (MACO) in Sète, which offers an artistic and picturesque stroll all year round, dotted with mural works. But the highlight of the K-Live Festival remains the beginning of June, when urban arts, visual arts and contemporary music concerts converge in the streets of the city centre and in the famous Théâtre de la mer. When I think of Fernande (end of June) When you think of Fernande, you actually think of the most gently impertinent festival in Sète. A real n...

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...

At the gates of Montpellier, in the middle of the Aleppo pines, lulled by the song of the cicadas, here you are galloping with your hair blowing in the wind on a real Camargue horse... Has this introduction given you ideas for your next holiday in the Thau Archipelago? Head for the riding centre along the Aresquiers road in Vic-la-Gardiole to enjoy this unique experience in the Aresquiers woods. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced rider, come and explore the ponds of Vic-la-Gardiole, Ingril and even the old salt marshes of Frontignan on horseback or on a pony for the little ones. But first, a bit of history about the place you are about to discover!   The Aresquiers wood Lost between the lagoons of Vic-la-Gardiole and Ingril, on the edge of the sea and the salt ...

The school holidays have started and the children already don't know what to do. To get an idea of what to do with the family, I contacted the Tourist Office of Frontignan. Good news, a new treasure hunt has just been inaugurated on the port: the Kraken's secret chest! The name sounds good and I feel that it will amuse young and old. It's the big day, see you at 10am at the Tourist Office of Frontignan-Plage. The children are eager to discover this new game and of course, to solve the riddles! The tourist advisor, Marion, gives us a booklet of riddles with a map and a mysterious bag full of objects to help us in our adventure, then explains the story: "The Kraken's chest would have been found off Frontignan. You have to decipher the writings following the clues and find the ...

By Marie - July 2019   During our summer holidays in Frontignan, we go for an initiation to scuba diving on the plateau of Aresquiers. The "Baptême duo" formula proposed by the diving centre is an excellent opportunity to get into the water! Meeting at the club Plongée Passion on the port of Frontignan On this Wednesday in July, we meet in the early afternoon at the diving centre located on the east bank of the port of Frontignan. We are welcomed by Pierre and Stéphanie who will be our instructors for this first scuba dive at a depth of 6 meters. Although I was very enthusiastic about the idea of discovering the underwater world of the Mediterranean Sea, I must admit that I was a bit stressed. But the team of instructors quickly put me at ease and I listen carefully...

Do you like escape games? Then try the investigation game! Are you ready for an adventure? No need to go far, the historic heart of Frontignan awaits you! I leave the Tourist Office, Marion and Julie have given me a mysterious case. Here we go, the game can start! There are objects inside, a booklet with explanations and a leaflet with photos of potential culprits! My children are intrigued, my husband too. I thought to myself: "As I'm from Frontignan, it's not going to be fun, I know my town! In fact, it was just the opposite! We had to think, to use logic, we found ourselves in front of facades or monuments saying to ourselves, "I hadn't paid attention to that before". We had to solve riddles, decipher codes and all this not like in an escape game, locked in a room or two,...