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!
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...
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...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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....
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 ...
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...
A 7-kilometre long strip of sand bordered by the Mediterranean Sea and almost 320 days of sunshine a year, that's the setting that awaits you in Frontignan-Plage. The seaside resort even has one of the major assets of the Thau Archipelago: a transparent beach that is almost deserted... So many reasons to go to this charming town!
The Lido beaches
Situated to the north-east of Sète, the seaside resort benefits from an exceptional geographical situation between the sea, ponds and garrigues and offers as many beautiful sandy and pebble beaches on either side of the marina, which have been awarded the Blue Flag for over 25 years.
You can choose between Port Ouest, Port Est, Les Plaisanciers, Le Grau, La Bergerie, l'Entrée or the Aresquiers beach.The Aresquiers beach
An a...
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 ...
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 ...
The ideal place for a nature break, Frontignan will give you a new lease of life!
We booked for our weekend a bed and breakfast in the district of Frontignan-Plage. Welcomed in this pretty flat by the sea, we enjoy an evening picnic on the sand.Waking up to the sound of the waves
We have seen that sports classes are offered on the beach. So we will enjoy a yoga session to start the day. Then, we go to a beach restaurant, it's the opportunity to eat fresh fish!
From there, we rent bikes, we were told about the Muscat festival, and we intend to discover this wine of grape variety "muscat petits grains" which makes the reputation of the city. We head for the city centre to discover this famous Muscat as well as the other wines of the area. We take our tasting tickets and o...
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...
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...
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 ...
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...
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...
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!
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...
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,...
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 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 ...
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...
Discover the many facets of Frontignan, Mireval and Vic-la-Gardiole through our selection of photos...