All experiences
Are you on holiday in Frontignan, Mireval and Vic-la-Gardiole? Prepare yourself for unforgettable experiences!
Tasting Muscat wine in the vineyards, visiting wine cellars, going back to nature in the Aresquiers woods, sunbathing on the seafront, pilate paddle, a family bike ride, an escape game in the streets of the town centre... Get ready for a thousand and one experiences, all of them unique, in Frontignan as well as in Mireval and Vic-la-Gardiole!
My wife Martine, my two children Hugo and Chloé, and myself, decided to go on holiday this summer to Frontignan. During the holidays, the water sports centre offers activities for young and old. The only rule is to know how to swim.
We are reassured to see them go with qualified instructors. You can do Stand up Paddle, Yoga Paddle, windsurfing, sailing, diving, canoeing. Not easy to choose. We signed up our son for a week's canoeing course and our daughter for an Optimist course.
The children were delighted, they were well supervised and discovered the pleasure of group activities. They felt empowered and as a bonus, they had a great time! The team that welcomed us was professional and friendly! It is certain that children and parents will be delighted to participate! Every...
A unique paddle trip with tasting.
I wanted to do a different water activity, something out of the ordinary. I was told about something, I was told "Why don't you try the Paddle Muscat in Frontignan?
Ok, I jump at the chance. I call Jean Christophe from Tiki Center. He tells me there's room for the 19th of July and that he'll reserve a paddle for me, but that I have to pay at the Tourist Office shop. That's fine. I meet again at 7pm, 12 people on the parking of the roundabout of the windsurfers of Frontignan-Plage.After a short course on land and JC's explanation about the fragile sea bed, we can sail. We leave for an hour and a half of paddle on the Ingril pond. We sail calmly towards the canal of the Rhône à Sète, there is not too much wind, it's nice.
I still find...
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 ...
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...
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 ...
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 ...
From the foothills of the Gardiole to the shores of the Thau lagoon, here more than anywhere else the vineyards reflect their past. Sun-drenched clay-limestone soils, a combination of wind and a favourable micro-climate, this was all it took for the Etruscans, Greeks and Romans to invest in this terroir and plant vines here. Two millennia later, one of the oldest vineyards in France continues its wine odyssey.
A long maturation
Sète was still an uninhabited mountain when, in 1666, Louis XIV ordered the construction of a port to facilitate the export of wine throughout Europe. The area produced mainly white wine. Until then, vines had been confined to the plateaux, but they were soon planted on the plains and ended up producing high yields of poor quality wine: a red wave ...
By Pauline - May 2019
This morning it's Saturday, market day, and we're heading to the Halles de Frontignan.
I stroll through the alleys of the city centre, caught by the good smells of the different stalls. Sweet, salty, food or drink, you can find everything you need to prepare a good meal. I stop at a farmer's stall and decide to buy a nice rabbit for my family meal the next day.
I am not a cook and ask the shopkeeper for advice on how to cook the rabbit. A connoisseur and proud of his region, he suggests marinating my meat in the local muscatel. I take out a paper, a pencil and note down his precious advice before continuing my search for the ingredients of this famous recipe. I end my quest with the essential ingredient: the famous Muscat de Frontignan! A bottle reco...
The unmissable Muscat de Frontignan in a cocktail version!
Summer means heat and therefore aperitif on the terrace accompanied by the inevitable glass of Muscat Frontignan.
Would you like to innovate a little? To add a little freshness? Without spoiling our good summer wine? I suggest you try a cocktail recipe: the Muscat- Spritz, ideal to face the hot temperatures of the Thau Lagoon.
A little advice for a good Muscat tasting:
It is usually drunk chilled as an aperitif, as an accompaniment to a dish or starter (especially spicy meats such as duck breast or foie gras), but also as a dessert with fruit or cheese. You should know that it keeps very well for several months, even when opened, in the refrigerator.Recipe for "Muscat Spritz
Perfect for an aperitif with ...
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...
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 ...
Since our arrival in Frontignan, we have taken advantage of the holidays to wander through the garrigue and the old salt pans. Now it's time to discover the seaside activities! The nautical centre offers paddle Pilates and paddle fitness classes. So I took the opportunity to try this first activity.
What is Pilates?
The appointment is made on a Thursday morning for a one hour session with the nautical centre of Frontignan. But before telling you about this discovery, let's go back to the concept of Pilates. Founded in 1920 by Joseph Pilates in New York, the Pilates method is a discipline that aims to strengthen the deep muscles responsible for posture.
Pilates is a kind of physical training method that is inspired by yoga, dance and gentle gymnastics. The two key words in ...
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,...
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 ...
By Paul - July 2019
My holidays are starting, and starting well in fact! I take the beautiful road between Vic-la-Gardiole and Frontignan-plage, it disconnects me directly. All around me: ponds, the Mediterranean, pink flamingos... A beautiful discovery!
Direction the marina. I stop at the Tourist Office to know the good plans of the inhabitants. Where to eat? Where to have a drink? And where to find a nice place to buy and read a good book?
I am not disappointed, Johanne tells me that in July and August there is a beach library and assures me that it is quiet. I'm intrigued and why not! I put on my swimming costume and went to read by the sea.
I walk along the sailboats and other motorboats, towards the beach of the municipal nautical centre (west port beach). There's ...
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 ...
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 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...
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...
By Ludivine - July 2021
This summer, Frontignan is celebrating its Muscat wine in several events. As I am not from the region, the tourist office advised me to take part in the Musc'Halles to discover the local terroir. What is the Musc'Halles? An oenology workshop lasting about half an hour organised around the Halles during the traditional Thursday market.
Several slots are offered from 10am to 1pm. I personally booked for the one at 11:30. When I arrived at the Halles de Frontignan, I found the stand just behind it, which I could spot thanks to its barrels and its yellow banner.
I am welcomed by Valérie from the Tourist Office who introduces me to our oenologist, Didier Duquenoy, and invites me to sit around a barrel. It's rather convivial, there are 3 of us per bar...
By Ludivine - June 2019
Located under the halles just behind the town hall, Frontignan's market remains a must-see place to stock up on local produce. It's Saturday morning and we start our Mediterranean holiday with a trip to the market in the heart of the seaside resort.
Strolling around the covered market
We start by strolling around the covered market where many stalls are set up in front of the halls. There are a few fairground vendors and craftsmen unpacking all sorts of goods, from wicker baskets to brightly coloured scarves and small manufactured goods.
As we approach the halls, we are attracted by the scent of Mediterranean spices: oregano, basil, cinnamon, coriander and Provençal herbs... I can't resist these beautiful black olives in marinade which will be ...
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...