Here are three ideas for things to do around Montpellier. — A round trip to the authentic towns of Sete, Camargue and Gros du Roi will take no more than a daylight hours, and you can return to Montpellier for an overnight stay.
See the harbor seals in Grau-du-Roi.
In the small fishing town of Grau-du-Roi, salt was extracted from the salt marshes in the past centuries, which was the main source of income for the village. Since 1989, tourists have been coming here to see the sea creatures in the Seaquarium.
The 2,400-square-meter area is home to more than 2,000 fish and marine animals, including 10 species of rays and almost 25 species of sharks — more than anywhere else in Europe — as well as Mediterranean and tropical fish, seahorses and turtles.
Seals and sea lions are trained daily at different times. This is not a demonstration, so the animal trainers usually do not tell or explain anything to the audience — this is how the animals are protected from stress. Before the performance begins, visitors to the aquarium are called to the pool to see the marine mammals in their most natural environment.
- Open from 09:30, closing time from 18:30 to 23:30 depending on the season.
- The ticket is €14.5.
In addition to the oceanarium, the town is famous for its beach, which is located just 50 meters away. Sandy beaches with light sand and soft sea air stretch for 17 km.
Good sandy beaches can be found in the town of Palavas-les-Flots just outside Montpellier, which can even be reached by bicycle. To find out how to get to the sea, see our article on Montpellier.
In Gros du Roi, the drawbridge has been preserved and is still raised daily. During the drawbridge, traffic on both sides of the bridge is paralyzed for 15 minutes.
Tasting seafood in Sète
Sète is called the gateway to the Languedoc and is home to one of the most passable seaports in the country. The city’s canals are crossed by lifting bridges that allow ships to pass through at certain times. Sometimes all the bridges are raised, and then Sète is briefly transformed into an island, cut off from the rest of the world.
The fishing village of Pointe Courte is a 10-minute walk from the train station. It feels like the city center and its hustle and bustle are just around the corner, but it is quiet and peaceful. Along the waterfront there are colorful houses and fishing boats, nets and laundry drying on ropes, cats roaming everywhere, and delicious coffee. In 1959 the movie «Babette Goes to War» with Brigitte Bardot was filmed in the town.
Climb the hill of Mont Saint Claire. It is covered with coniferous forests, so the air is clean and rich. There is an observation deck with views of the city and the sea.
Many people come to Sete for the therapeutic Etang de Thau thermal spring lake. It is not necessary to come for 10 days to undergo a full course of treatment. The thermal springs, pine forests around, and sea iodine air will help you get a second breath after half a day. You can get to the beach near the lake by bus N1 (blue line), stop Saint-Nicolas.
One of the restaurants on the seafront de la Marine is a must. The set is famous for its seafood. Order Bouzigue oysters with white wine, or mussels from Lake Tho — stuffed in Seto style or in tomato sauce.
One of the city’s traditional dishes: Seta burrida is a white fish stew with aioli sauce. It is made of monkfish, sometimes with sea bream and sardines.
When traveling, buy a seafood pie — Tielle. In the past, fishermen used to take such pies with them to sea.
Watching pink flamingos in Camargue
Camargue is a nature reserve in the south of France, created in 1970 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. On the beaches of the Camargue, Kendji Girac filmed the music video Sonrisa.
The park is interspersed with wetlands, salt marshes, reed marshes and sea lagoons. The Camargue is a nesting ground for flamingos and home to black bulls, which roam free in herds. The bulls are looked after by French cowboys (gardiens) on white horses. This breed of horse lives only on the reserve — the Camargue horses. They are born with a dark color, but over time their coat turns white. I didn’t have time to see the horses, I had to limit myself to buying a plush bull.
Watch flamingos and herons at the Pont de Gau bird park. Around 250 species of birds are resident or migratory in this reserve. There are viewing platforms for easy birdwatching and they are marked on the map along the hiking route.
- The park is open daily, from 09:00 to 19:00.
- Entrance fee is 7,5 €. Payment at the ticket office in cash only.
You can explore the Camargue on foot, by car or by boat — they leave from the town of Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer and stop at the most picturesque places in the national park.
- The ticket is 13 €.
- The duration of the cruise is 1.5 hours.
- First departure at 10:00 am, 4—5 cruises per day.
For 25 € you can book a horseback ride on white mustangs or a jeep safari for 40 € per person from Saint-Marie-de-la-Mer and from Arles.
There is also a guided tour by tourist train from the city.
- The ticket is €7.5.
- The duration is 50 minutes.
- 4—5 departures per day, with the earliest flight at 11:00.
As a memento of your visit to Camargue, take local wine Le Muscat de Lunel and Bel Air and sea salt with spices that are mined in the region.
Transportation near Montpellier
All three towns can be reached by train. From personal experience: 2nd class trains are similar in comfort to electric trains with padded seats. They take about the same amount of time as buses, but the bus station in Montpellier is on the outskirts of the city, so I don’t recommend it.
- The train schedule is here.
- There are no turnstiles on the platform, but you shouldn’t ride as a hare — controllers walk around the carriages and fine all stowaways. The fine starts from 35 €.
If you don’t want to depend on public transportation schedules, book a car at a rental shop.
- The cost of rental for a day — from 40 €.
- Choose a car on Rentalcars.
Saint-Marie-de-la-Mer is easily accessible by public transportation from Arles. There are direct buses several times a day.
- The trip will take about 40 minutes.
- The ticket is 1 €.
On the seaside, there is no hurry to get anywhere. Don’t plan a big program for the day and don’t try to catch up with everything — better to take a seat in a restaurant with a view and leisurely sip a cocktail on pastis — it’s a local aperitif.