Seaside resorts in Languedoc

Vast sandy beaches, coves with pebble beaches, imposing rocks, an azure blue sea and beautiful nature reserves: this is the 200 km long coast of the Languedoc in the south of France. The capital of the region is Montpellier in the Hérault department. Four of the five departments in Languedoc are located on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. From south to north, these are the Pyrénées Orientales, Aude, Hérault and the Gard regions. There are about 30 seaside resorts along the coast, some of which are just a small fishing village, other seaside resorts are tourist hotspot with all sorts such as shops, restaurants and apartment complexes. The coastal region is a popular holiday destination for many. Sun, water and beach remain an ideal combination during the holidays. Famous sights such as the Arena of Nîmes and the Pont du Gard are located in the north of the Languedoc. The Camargue, a land of cowboys, bulls and wild horses, lies east of Montpellier, at the point where the Rhône flows into the Mediterranean Sea.

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You can also go and visit the famous pink flamingos in the Languedoc. The Languedoc hinterland is largely made up of vineyards, the mountains of the Pyrenees in the south and the Cévennes and the Gorges du Tarn in the north. Well-known cities are Perpignan, Carcassonne, Narbonne, Nîmes and Montpellier. Typical dishes of the region are the cassoulet in Carcassonne, the brandade de morue in the region of Nîmes, the tielle de Sète and the crème catalane. You can eat or drink at the various beach bars or practise various water sports such as swimming, sailing, diving, jet skiing, canoeing, parasailing, boat trips, windsurfing, kite surfing, stand up paddle boarding and much more. From the beach you can walk into the village to check out the shops and boutiques.

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Aigues-Mortes

Aigues-Mortes is located on the northernmost point of the Languedoc coast, east of Montpellier. This old fortified town was built in the 13th century because the French king needed a port city and Marseille did not belong to France at that time. Aigues-Mortes is completely surrounded by walls, from the Tour Constance you can walk all around the city on the wall while having beautiful views. It has a pleasant city center with shops, boutiques and squares with terraces such as Place Saint Louis. The famous pink salt fields of the Camargue, which is where the "fleur de sel" comes from, are located around Aigues-Mortes. You can see groups of flamingos regularly here.

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Argelès-sur-Mer

Argelès-sur-Mer is the southernmost seaside resort of the Languedoc and has extensive sandy beaches. Further south, the rocks of the Pyrenees merge into the Mediterranean Sea and there are small towns on a bay such as Collioure and Banyuls. On the coast of Argelès, almost all forms of water sports are possible, while in the hinterland you can climb the mountains and see the vineyards. Also visit the village, especially the old town where the Catalan charm is visible: narrow streets, colored buildings, small shops and restaurants with French and Spanish cuisine. Climb the 34m high Notre Dame and enjoy the view.

Banyuls-sur-Mer

Banyuls-sur-Mer is located on the Côte Vermeille, the coastal region from Argelès to the Spanish border. The famous Banyuls wines come from the vines that grow on the mountain slopes above the village. Banyuls is located in a bay with a pebble and a sandy beach. Palm trees grow along the boulevard, creating a Mediterranean atmosphere. Places of interest in Banyuls include Cap Rédéris, the museum of Aristide Maillol, the aquarium and the wine cellars. The harbour is full of coloured Catalan boats. Do you like to go diving during your holiday? Join an excursion and see the unique underwater flora and fauna between the rocks and cliffs of Banyuls-sur-Mer.

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Barcarès

Northeast of Perpignan is the seaside resort of Barcarès, at the beginning of the narrow strip of land that lies between the Mediterranean Sea and Lake Salses Leucate. Barcarès is known in Europe as an ideal place for windsurfing, kite surfing and wakeboarding thanks to the Tramontana, the wind that blows between the Pyrenees and the Massif Central. On the other side of Barcarès there are miles of sandy beaches where you can enjoy the beach, the sun and the sea. The local culinary speciality is the Bouillinade du Barcarès: fish and potatoes in a spicy sauce. During the summer Barcarès hosts the Fête des Pêcheurs, various rowing competitions and the Joutes Sétoises.

Canet Plage

Canet Beach is a popular seaside resort on the Mediterranean coast, located between St. Cyprien and Ste. Marie. You can walk straight into the village from the beach. The village has pretty streets with shops, boutiques and restaurants. The "Pavillon Blue" eco-label has been awarded to Canet Plage for its clean beach. Visit the Canet aquarium with various species of sharks and more than 600 species of marine animals or visit the Vicomtal Castle or the St. Martin Chapel. There is a nature reserve between Canet and St. Nazaire. There are many opportunities for water sports such as jet skiing, diving, parasailing, surfing, sailing, going on boat trips, canoeing or just sunbathing on the beach.

Cap d'Agde

Between Narbonne and Montpellier, along the part of the Mediterranean Sea known as the Golfe du Lyon, lies Cap d'Agde. This seaside resort is called the "Black Pearl of Occitania", because of the black volcanic soil of Mont Saint-Loup. The region has more than 10 beaches such as Richelieu, Rochelongue and Baie de l'Amitié. To the east, you’ll find the following beaches: La Plagette, La Grande Conque, La Plage des Falaises, La Plage du Môle, La Plage de la Roquille and La Plage Naturiste. Visit the lively boulevard, walk through the shopping streets, go on the train or visit Aqualand. Bagnas nature reserve is located near Cap d'Agde. Fort Brescou from the 16th century lies off the coast of Cap d’Agde.

Collioure

Collioure is known as the St. Tropez of Languedoc. It is located on the Côte Vermeille, the southern coastal strip of Languedoc in southern France and lies between Port Vendres, Cerbère and Banyuls. It is the warmest region of France. Collioure is located on a beautiful bay where you can enjoy water sports. The medieval town with small streets and pastel-colored houses was frequented by artists such as Matisse, Picasso, Dali and Derain. Visit Château Royal, the summer palace of the former kings of Mallorca, Fort St. Elme, Fort Miradou, the Tour Madeloc and old churches such as Notre Dame des Anges. Taste the local dishes with anchovies or Le Croquant.

Gruissan

One of the most beautiful seaside resorts of the Aude in the South of France is the authentic fishing village of Gruissan and Gruissan Plage. The Tour Barberousse, remnants of an old castle, lies in the old centre of the village. The houses are built in circles around the castle. Also check out the "Chalet Pilotis", the pretty coloured houses on wooden stilts that stand on the beach "Plage des Chalets". Gruissan is located in the nature reserve "Narbonnaise en Méditerranée Natural Régional Park". This park is home to over 300 species of birds and 2000 species of plants. Salt is mined in the vicinity of Gruissan. You can buy the "Sel de Gruissan" in many places.

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La Grande Motte

La Grande Motte lies between Montpellier and the Camargue. The shape of the apartment buildings is what makes this modern seaside resort recognizable to everyone. The idea arose to build a modern seaside resort in this area in around 1965, under the leadership of President Charles de Gaulle. The architect Jean Balladur created a design based on the Pyramids of the Mayas with a futuristic look. La Grande Motte has a large marina with nice shops and cozy restaurants on the quay. There are well-known beach bars on the beach such as Paillote Bambou.

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Le Grau-du-Roi

Le Grau-du-Roi is one of the largest seaside resorts in Languedoc in the Gard department and is located near La Grande Motte and Aigues-Mortes. It is a popular seaside resort where many go for a day during their holidays in France. Stroll along the harbor, watch the beautiful boats, sunbathe on the beach and go shopping in the little boutiques. Walk along the striking swing bridge that connects the two parts of Le Grau-du-Roi. Port Camargue, the largest marina in Europe with 5500 berths, is also located near Le Grau-du-Roi. Well-known beaches in the area are Plage de l'Espiguette and Plage Sud, which is especially popular for water sports.

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Leucate Plage

The seaside resort of Leucate with Leucate Plage, lies between Narbonne and Perpignan, in the Corbières region. La Franqui and La Plagette Beach are also located in this area. The town is known for its large marina and the beautiful cliffs along the coast where you can take beautiful walks, such as to the lighthouse. Every year, the championships for kite surfing and windsurfing are also organized here. Many demonstrations are also given here. The eye-catcher is the pontoon that goes into the sea. In total there is 18km of beach, including beaches such as Gallion, Briganti, La Plagette, l'Anse du Paradis, Mouret and more.

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Marseillan Plage

Marseillan and Marseillan-Plage lie between Sète and Cap d'Agde, in the region of Béziers. This part of the Languedoc is home to many tourist villages, which means there is always a market or other event on during your holiday. There are plenty of water sports facilities along the coast. This beach is also one of the most beautiful in France. There are many restaurants such as Color Café, Mussels and Company and Bar A Huitre in Marseillan. The restaurant "Les Pieds dans l'eau" is located on the beach. Stroll along the Plage d’honneur, watch the boats in the harbour or take a boat trip on the Canal du Midior the Étang de Thau. You can also walk through the Gorges d’Heric or along Lac du Salagou.

Narbonne – Plage

Narbonne – Plage is located near Narbonne, between Gruissan and Valras. It is located in a natural park at the foot of the Massif la Clape. From this seaside resort you can take beautiful walks through this unspoilt area. On the coast, in addition to swimming and diving, you can also go sailing, jet skiing, surfing, kayaking or sailing with a catamaran. Boats sail back and forth to the marina, which has over 600 berths. For years, the blue flag has been flying here as a sign of the good water quality. There are many things to do and visit in the area such as the night markets, traditional festivals and other events.

Palavas-les-Flots

The seaside resort of Montpellier is Palavas-les-Flots, a pleasant place where you can go for walks along the quays, walk through the shopping streets and enjoy the sandy beach. A unique attraction in this village is the cable car over the canal. The Phare de la Méditerranée is the former water tower that now houses a restaurant. From the top of the tower, you will have a beautiful view over the surroundings and you’ll see the Saint-Pierre church, the mountains of the Cévennes, the azure waters of the Mediterranean Sea and the Pic St. Loup. If you have time to spare, visit Parc du Levant or the Museum Albert Dubout with its many cartoons.

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St. Cyprien Plage

One of the larger seaside resorts in the Languedoc is St. Cyprien Plage. It is located in the Pyrénées-Orientales in French Catalonia, a short distance from Perpignan and is known for its large port, which makes it pleasantly busy all year. Various boat trips are organized from St. Cyprien that take you along the Côte Vermeille so that you can take a good look at the rocks and the coves. In addition to the beach and the sea with the many water sports, many visit Aqualand Saint Cyprien for a day during their holidays . You can also wander over the pleasant shopping streets and restaurants.

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Sète

Sète, also known as the Venice of Languedoc, is a beautiful port city, known for its oyster farms. Visit the city and the nice squares such as Place Léon Blum, also known as Place du Pouffre. Some well-known beaches in Sète are Plage du Lido, Les Trois Digues, Jalabert, Castellas, Corniche and Quilles. Some events organized in the area include Escale à Sète with beautiful ships in the Grand Canal, music festivals and Les Fêtes de St. Louis with “Les Joutes ": a water jousting tournament that take place on the Canal Royal, in the middle of the city. Each neighbouring village uses its best boat and men to participate in the tournament. Sète is definitely worth visiting during the holidays.

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Valras Plage

During the summer, Valras is full of tourists who spend their holidays here. Valras is considered the beach of Béziers and is very suitable for family holidays with children. The former fishing village is located at the mouth of the Orb, has a beautiful marina and the pleasant boulevard Jean Moulin. On the boulevard and in the shopping streets there are several restaurants with terraces where you can enjoy a glass of wine or a cold beer. From the harbour you can enjoy all kinds of water sports such as sailing, surfing and jet skiing. You can also rent boats here. Near Valras you’ll find the Orpellières nature reserve where you can go on beautiful walks.

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