Hiking
On foot. Around the Archipelago, hiking trails through the garrigue, along the lagoon or along the seafront are a pleasant natural interlude. In the shade of the pine forests of the Bois des Aresquiers or the Forêt des pierres Blanches, in the middle of the vineyards, on the Gardiole massif or in the heart of the Bagnas nature reserve, you'll be able to enjoy a wide variety of typical, unspoilt landscapes that are seldom visited, even in summer. However, you should avoid the hottest times of the day (from midday to 4pm), when temperatures can reach forty degrees.
Horse and donkey riding. Horseback riding on the beach at sunset or donkey-riding through the garrigue with your family, hiking can be a unique experience. The Archipelago offers plenty of choice, and every ride is different depending on the season, the itinerary and the rider's wishes. Numerous equestrian centers offer rides to discover the riches of the Thau region.
Nautical
Sailing, boats of all kinds, kitesurfing, water skiing, stand-up paddle, kayaking, but also yoga in the water or parasailing: the lagoon and the Mediterranean offer an exceptional playground and diversity to lovers of water activities. Between the praise of slowness and strong sensations, young and old will surely find their ideal boat: the offer is very rich!
Cycle tourism, greenways
From Mèze to Balaruc-le-Vieux, you can follow the old railroad line along the northern shore of the Bassin de Thau for 12 km. Along the way, a stop at the crique de l'Angle is a great opportunity for birdwatching.
From Sète to Vic-la-Gardiole, two European cycle routes are available. For 15 km, you can take Route 8 or Route 17, set between beaches and ponds. Along the way, you'll discover the Salins de Frontignan.
From the Port des Quilles in Sète to the Hôtel Les Dunes in Marseillan plage, the Lido greenway stretches for 12 km along the beach. Simple and easily accessible, this route can be shared with the whole family. A further 5.5 km brings you to the port of Marseillan.
From Sète to Aigues-Mortes, this 62 km sportive ride along the Via Rhôna invites seasoned cyclists to discover the Camargue. Along the way, you'll admire ponds, beaches and pass through several coastal communities, all the way to the ramparts of the pretty town of Aigues-Mortes.
It's worth noting that the tourist office's Sétois reception desk has been awarded the "Accueil Vélo" label, guaranteeing a made-to-measure service, with numerous addresses adapted to cyclotourists, as well as expert advice on all the Archipelago's cycling routes. A small repairs kit is also available for cyclists passing through the welcome office.
Bathing
There's no shortage of beaches in the Archipelago for cool, relaxing moments on the towel, and there's something for everyone. Accessible to all, the region's seaside towns have beaches equipped with Tiralos, and Balaruc-les-Bains also has the audioplage system.
Family-friendly. In Sète, the Lazaret, Fontaine, Lido, Baleine, 3 digues and Castellas beaches are ideal for swimming with children.
In Frontignan-plage, you can choose between the Port Ouest, Port Est, Les Plaisanciers and Plage de l'Entrée entrances.
At Mèze and Bouzigues, the water is shallow, perfect for toddlers.
In Balaruc-les-Bains, the bathing areas are lined with footpaths.
Wild. Between Frontignan and Villeneuve-lès-Maguelone, the Aresquiers beach is particularly popular. In the heart of nature, it can be reached on foot or by bike. Some areas are ideal for naturist bathers.
Festive and sporty. Between Sète and Marseillan, you'll find the very large Lido beach, where you can enjoy running and swimming as much as lounging on a deckchair sipping a cocktail or dancing the night away in a straw hut.
River tourism
River tourism is a new kind of vacation, one of the most relaxing. There are numerous boat rental companies in the various ports, offering boat hire for a few hours, a day, a weekend, a week... The most open formula is to rent a boat without a license; the rental company issues a yachting card, explains the rules of navigation and how to operate the boat. The largest barges are designed to accommodate up to ten people.
On the Canal du Midi. Built at the end of the 17th century, under the reign of Louis XIV and the supervision of Pierre-Paul Riquet, this canal is one of the oldest in Europe still in operation. It is 175 km long and comprises 48 locks. Since 1996, it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Today, the canal is dedicated to tourism, allowing visitors to explore a large part of the South of France in complete tranquillity.
Canal du Rhône à Sète. This 80 km-long canal has only one lock on its route. Its route links the commune of Beaucaire on the Rhône to the Etang de Thau at Sète. From there, the route is extended by the Canal du Midi. This passageway is used for pleasure boating by tourist barges and for rowing by certain associations.
Scuba diving
The Thau coastline offers to scuba diving enthusiasts some interesting sites: rocky coasts around Sète, ecosystem of the Thau lagoon, rocky banks off Frontignan... The Mediterranean fauna and flora are particularly rich here: famous speckled seahorse, gilthead bream, mostelle, sea cicada, jellyfish, conger eel, lobster and all kinds of seaweed. Several diving centers offer day and night dives, as well as the famous first dive.
Fishing
In the sea or in the lagoon, recreational fishing is subject to regulations set by prefectural decree. The rules concern the catching areas, the species, the minimum sizes authorized, as well as the navigation areas and the speed limits. To enjoy the pleasures of fishing, there are several possibilities: to be accompanied by a professional who will distill all his good techniques and advice as well as his passion for his job, or to rent a boat with or without a license for excursions in complete independence.
Thermalism
Once reserved for specific treatments, curative waters, whether marine or thermal, now bring their benefits to a wider public. Balaruc-les-Bains, the first spa in France, offers treatments related to the properties of water, but also formulas that everyone can enjoy. Bubble baths, swimming pool, shower, massage, seaweed or mud wraps, beauty treatments... So many moments of relaxation where one fills up with mineral salts, trace elements, one takes care of one's form, one's tonus, one relaxes, according to formulas going from the half-day to the week.
If the Romans already used its waters to treat their rheumatism, its period of glory began in the 18th century with the construction of a thermal building of which the Sevigne pavilion remains. The success of the cures comes from the originality of the treatment: the water used comes from a spring rising in the Thau pond which is captured in depth. It is the only resort close to the Mediterranean Sea and its peninsula enjoys an incomparable view of Sète and the Etang de Thau.
O'balia is the relaxation and well-being area of Balaruc-les-Bains. Far from the classical thermalism of the resort, here, 2 200m2 of space are entirely dedicated to pleasure and relaxation. Various treatments are offered: spa, massages, body, face or hand care, with of course the immersion in the beneficial thermal water.
Local Traditions
Languedoc jousting. This traditional sport, which has its roots in Frontignan dating back to 1627, is still very much alive here. During tournaments, the white-clad knights of the Tintaine parade to the sound of traditional music before taking their places on their boats: two barques, "la rouge" and "la bleue", propelled by eight to ten rowers and guided by two coxswains. The jousters are positioned on a platform called a tintaine, nearly three meters above the water, at the end of each boat. The two boats position themselves for the assault. The two boats brush up against each other on the right to allow the two jousters to make the pass. Armed with his spear and bulwark, the jouster tries to knock down his opponent. The winner is the one who remains in place on the tintaine after the pass. The fight begins as soon as the oboes and drums sound the charge. Under the sun, these tournaments are unmissable spectacles, full of fervor. Atmosphere guaranteed in Sète, Mèze, Balaruc-les-Bains, Frontignan or Marseillan. In Sète, the showpiece event is the famous Saint-Louis tournament at the end of August. This is when the champion of champions is crowned.
Traditional rowing. Whatever the season, the pretty painted wooden boats brave the wind and bad weather. On board, rowers and a coxswain speed along the canals of Sète and Frontignan. Here, rowing can be practiced as a leisure activity to enjoy the city in a different way, or as a competitive activity to prepare for national or international championships on the canals of Venice, in front of the Statue of Liberty in New York or on the St. Lawrence in Quebec!
Tambourine. An ancestral ball game, every village once had a vast, open area to play on. Now codified and practiced internationally, this spectacular discipline is well worth a visit in summer (in winter, the season stops and the game is played indoors). All you have to do is take your place along the pitch, a rectangle measuring approximately 80 m by 20 m, divided in two by a single line. On either side are two teams of five players (two at the back, two on the rope and one in the middle), each equipped with a tambourine, a 28 cm-diameter circle covered with synthetic skin and fitted with a handle (like a musical instrument, but much stronger). To engage, the drummer uses a battoir, a smaller tambourine mounted on a long handle. Then the game begins, in which a small rubber ball, weighing around 80 grams and capable of speeds of up to 250 km/h, is thrown back and forth. The ball is returned in the same way as in tennis (on the fly or after a bounce), and the points are scored in the same way. The most impressive thing about these games is undoubtedly the sound of the ball being hit and the skill of the players. As much a competitive activity as a leisure one, and almost as familiar in the villages as pétanque, tambourin is open to all and is a fast-paced, fun sport. To be seen in Balaruc-les-Bains and Mèze.
Square balls. In the South of France, petanque is played all year round. An unusual local speciality: during the Saint Louis festival in Sète, you can attend a championship played with square boules, as the streets of the Quartier Haut are on a slope.
Capelet. A traditional game also known as course à la bigue, capelet consists in taking on an 18-metre mast, greased and soaped beforehand, which is placed obliquely over the water. Apart from not falling, the aim is to catch one of the two hats positioned at the end of the mast. Always a joyful spectacle!
Bouvine. Behind the word "bouvine", the biou, the toro, points the tip of its horns. No doubt because Spain is not far away, but more certainly because the Camargue is the land of black bulls, bouvine brings together the sports and traditions that fire aficionados. At the top of the list are the Camargue races, a local speciality that will be on display all summer long around Lunel and in every arena in the region. These races are a codified confrontation between man and bull. But here, there's no blood, no fighting, no death, just a contest of speed and agility. The racing bull carries six "attributes" (tassels, strings, rosette) between its horns, which the shavers must take from it using a small curved comb. With several men in the arena (the race is also a competition between them), these men charge the beast and try to take away these rewards. This gives rise to races, jumps, passes and "rasets" where the man grazes the bull. To be seen during the summer at the Frontignan arena.
