On top of all the history and fantastic alpine landscapes, Languedoc has some of the most gorgeous beaches in Southern France. With almost 250 kilometres of coastline, this region has hundreds of beaches dotted along the Mediterranean ranging from expansive man-made resorts to naturally hidden coves, making it the perfect place to take a day out at the seaside.
Montpellier’s beaches
Palavas-les-Flots beach with the famous Phare de la Méditerranée watch tower in the background
Just a few kilometers from central Montpellier are three beaches worthy of attention: Palavas-les-Flots, Carnon and La Grande-Motte. They are all connected to the city with cycle paths, so renting bikes in town and pedalling your way down to the coast, with just the smell of salt guiding you, is a great stress-free way to get to any of the three in less than an hour. All of these beaches are man-made, meaning they have quite a different feel from natural beaches, but the main advantage is that they are safe, clean and tidy.
Palavas-les-Flots is the oldest of Montpellier’s beaches, and as such has the most interesting mix of architecture; Carnon is the closest to town but perhaps with the least to offer in terms of dining options and entertainment; La Grande-Motte has the most unusual look as it was built in the 1960s and has retained its homogeneous post-war style.
For something a bit special, consider splashing out and staying at the Hotel Azur Bord de Mer right next to the marina in La Grande-Motte with spectacular views out over the sea and along the beach. You couldn’t be closer to both the town and the beach here, making it the ideal spot to stay.
Frontignan and the Gardiole
The beaches of Frontignan offer ideal conditions for kite surfers
If you’re feeling a bit adventurous, the beaches of Frontignan, just south of the Étang d’Ingril are a great place to indulge in some watersports. With good access to diving, kitesurfing, windsurfing and various other modes of getting out on the water for an adrenaline kick, the pristine beaches of Frontignan are the perfect backdrops to a day’s fun on the water. What’s more is that the area around the town has a lot more than just beach to offer and there’s something to entertain everyone in the family.
For example, the region directly inland is famous for its sweet Muscat wine made from a variety of grapes originally from Greece. Several vineyards in the area are worth visiting to sample and buy some of the local nectar, including Chateau de la Peyrade, Domaine du Mas Rouge and Domaine le Clos d’Elle.
Additionally, the Gardiole, an area of natural beauty with a series of irrigation canals and man-made lakes just 8 kilometres east of Frontignan, is a wonderful place to get out into nature and go for hikes of various difficulty levels or hire a mountain bike and explore the unusual rocky landscape on two wheels.
Back on the beach of Frontignan, the outdoor playground, Kid’s Paradise, is a fun and secure place for the little ones to go wild and work off some energy by jumping around on bouncy castles of all shapes and sizes or practice their aim with a game or two of minigolf. Come sunset, a meal at the delightful beach-front restaurant, Poisson Rouge, is a must for the ambiance and service. With typical French seafood as well as some vegetarian options, there’s something to please even the fussiest of eaters.
Sète
The view of Sète from across Étang de Thau
With some of the finest sand of the beaches of Languedoc, the 12 kilometres of coastline that stretches south from Sète between the Mediterranean and the Étang de Thau, the beaches of Sète are beautiful, clean and welcoming.
Plage du Lazaret and Plage de la Corniche are actually in the town of Sète, making them the easiest to access by foot. Of course, this also means they can be among the busiest, but heading even a little further along the coast to Plage de la Fontaine and Plage du Lido you’ll find wide open beaches with lovely views of the sea, plenty of space and several nice restaurants and bars right by the sand.
Back in Sète, a unique way to discover the Venice of the South is by kayaking through its many canals. There are tours on offer that include all the necessary equipment, safety instruction, expert guiding and are often combined with a visit to a private beach for a swim to cool off.
For nice, clean rooms and spectacular views of the sea, Hotel la Joie des Sables sits right between the town and the Plage de la Corniche, making it an excellent option for a stay in Sète with easy access to both.
Balaruc-les-Bains
Fishermen’s traditional boats in Balaruc-les-Bains
Just inland from Sète, jutting out from the shores of the Étang de Thau, is the spa town of Balaruc-les-Bains. Known for its healing properties since antiquity, the thermal waters of Balaruc are harnessed for your enjoyment at O’Balia thermal spa, one of the best thermal spas on the Mediterranean.
There are various indoor and outdoor pools of different temperatures to relax in as well as a hammam to soothe your muscles and take a moment to recharge if you’ve been spending a lot of time out in the sun at the beach.
A visit here can make a great gift and can leave you feeling energized after even just a few hours, but of course, you may also choose to spend a whole day or even a weekend here.
As far as accommodation options go, Residence Aqualia close to the centre of the town is a good mid-range option with some nice additional amenities such as child care and a casino while still being within walking distance of everything the town has to offer.
Cape d’Agde
Put on your birthday suit and head for the beaches of Cape d’Agde
Home to one of the most popular nudist beaches in the region, Cape d’Agde is a centre of naturism in Southern France. With two kilometres of accessible coastline with a wide range of types of places to stay, eat and shop along it, the fine sandy beaches of the area are a beautiful place to spend a few hours or even days. Access to the nudist beach is regulated and there is a strict ban on filming or photography enforced at all times, so you can rest assured that you won’t be captured in your birthday suit without your consent!
Another lovely beach near Cape d’Agde is the black beach at La Grande Conque, which offers something a bit different than the white sandy beaches of much of the rest of the coast. Situated in a natural cove just across the marina from the nudist beach, this relatively secluded beach with dark, volcanic sand is the perfect place to come and relax for an afternoon without any distractions.
For a pleasant hotel option, the Hotel Le Bellevue Cap D’Agde, with a sauna and steam bath is close to the beaches but still near to much of the town’s entertainment district with plenty of restaurants, cafés, and nightlife within easy walking distance.
Béziers and around
Man walking on a sand dune at Serignan Plage
Less than 30 minutes drive from Béziers, Serignan Plage is inside the Site Naturel des Orpèlliers, a protected area of 15 hectares. This secluded beach does not have many amenities but is a beautiful natural beach all the same, ideal for getting away from the crowds and finding some peace. It is wide and undeveloped, with fine white sand lending itself perfectly to creating a sandcastle or just taking a relaxed stroll.
On the other side of the river Orb from Serignan is Valras Plage, a small town with all the typical shops, restaurants and markets you’d expect from the region as well as a pristine beach of its own. A little more developed than Serignan, Valras Plage is great for families and people wanting a bit more infrastructure while still craving solitude.
Just to the west of the centre of Valras Plage is the Hotel Albizzia, this relatively small hotel is the perfect option for a place to stay within easy reach of both the lovely town of Béziers but also the beaches, with outstanding service, reasonable prices and some nice extras like bicycle rental.
