Sète, not far from Montpellier, is an absolute gem. With the sea on one side, a lagoon on the other and a network of canals in between, this is a busy and unpretentious working port town, but the pretty pastel houses make it a really pleasant area to spend a week on a luxury villa holiday. There are also eight miles of wide sandy beaches where you can soak up the sun.
Stay in a luxury villa in the pretty French town of Sète on the Mediterranean coast, characterised by rows of little pastel houses and a traditional fishing port. It sits roughly halfway between Montpellier and Cap d’Agde. This old fashioned jewel is known as the Venice of the Languedoc region, and it just oozes Gallic charm. Ancient canals criss-cross the town and outlying area, and are still in use today. Sète is a busy working port, full of laden fishing boats that adds oodles of charm.
A large salt water lagoon, full of oyster and mussel beds stretches out behind the town. Sète is built around a hill, the Mont St-Clair, and its sandy beaches form narrow spits on either side, bordering the sea and the lagoon. The local residents scoot around on little boats, using the canals. These waterways are also the venue for the annual boat jousting tournament, which goes on through the summer to its grand finale at the end of August.
There are eight miles of beautiful Mediterranean beaches around Sète, some quiet and some more lively, such as La Fontaine beach. Visitors come mainly for the sunshine, walking, cycling, and laid-back atmosphere. The town is home to many artists and musicians, and has an impressive centre for contemporary arts. There is plenty to see and do on a luxury villa holiday in Sète, from annual music festivals to the daily clamour of the fish auction house.
Accommodation in Sète ranges from the modest to the truly luxurious. Boutique hotels and upmarket private luxury villas provide a high comfort factor amidst the rustic charm of this historic port town. The nearest airports to Sète are either Beziers or Montpellier.