By Sat on the Mediterranean coast of the South of France is Sète, a port city bordered by a biodiverse saltwater lagoon known as the Étang de Thau on one side. The beautiful Mediterranean Sea borders the other side of the city.
However, one of the main things the city is known for is its network of canals, meaning that the city is often referred to as the “Venice of the Languedoc” or “the Venice of France”.
The canal network connects the two bodies of water that body Sète, making it seem as though the city is almost floating.
Just like Italy’s Venice, much of the city is made of water and boat tours are extremely common with tourists. You’ll notice quaint pastel-coloured rowing boats at every turn.
The city has been listed as one of the best “hidden gems” in the South of France by travel insurance experts at StaySure. “Sète is France’s answer to Venice,” they said.
“There are regular boat tours offering you a glimpse of the city from the water, with some even taking you into the Étang.
But more de rigueur is to sit on the terrace of a canalside restaurant so you can enjoy some of the local oysters with a chilled bottle of zesty Picpoul de Pinet.”
Given that the city is within reach of the vineyards of Languedoc, there are plenty of “affordable and easy-drinking wines” in the region. Many of these wines are well paired with seafood, and given Sète’s location, there are plenty of fresh seafood options to choose from.
Oysters are a speciality farmed right in the Étang and then shipped to destinations around the world.
“A combination of fresh sea water coming in to replenish the lake, the shelter of the lagoon-like environment and abundance of sun means these oysters are large, plump and much meatier compared to the native oysters in the UK,” said the experts at Staysure.
If you want to walk off your lunch or are hunting for the best views, then Mont St-Clair is the perfect lookout point.
You can either hike the 175 metres to the top or hop in the car, with a car park conveniently located at the top.
