About Mèze

THE HARBOUR & RESTAURANTS

The harbour is the heart of Mèze, with restaurants lining the quay and tables along the water's edge. Fresh seafood, local wines and the evening light settling over the Étang de Thau.

Order oysters, a glass of Picpoul, and settle in.

OYSTER FARMS & BOUZIGUES

The Étang de Thau produces some of France's finest oysters, and Bouzigues, just 5km along the lagoon, is where to eat them. Restaurants sit directly on the water, serving oysters and mussels straight from the beds outside. One of the great simple lunches of the South of France.

THE NAVETTE: WATER TAXI TO SÈTE

From June to September a navette runs directly between Mèze and Sète across the Étang de Thau, past the oyster farms with Mont Saint-Clair on the horizon. Leave the car behind, take the boat, have lunch in Sète and return on the evening crossing. The stop is opposite Sète station — step off the TGV from Paris and arrive in Mèze by boat.

SÈTE & THE COAST

Sète is 20 minutes by car, a working port town with canals, 12 kilometres of sandy beach and one of the best food scenes on the coast. The Théâtre de la Mer, an open-air amphitheatre built into a clifftop fort, hosts concerts all summer. The world music festival Fiest'A Sète runs late July to early August.

THE MARKET & OLD TOWN

The marché fills the main square on Thursday and Sunday mornings with local producers selling seasonal fruit and vegetables, cheese and regional specialities. The old town streets are worth wandering at any time, with small shops, independent cafés and quiet cobbled corners in every direction.

LOCAL EVENTS & TRADITIONS

Mèze has a calendar of events that runs year-round. Water jousting (le joute) is taken seriously, with tournaments drawing real crowds to the harbour. The August Fête de Mèze, the Festival de Thau in July and a steady stream of pop-up concerts mean there is always something happening.

FLAMINGOS & WILDLIFE

The Étang de Thau is home to the fabulous pink Flamingos year-round.  Winter brings the best sightings, when the birds gather and perform their extraordinary courtship displays. The walking paths around Bouzigues and Balaruc-le-Vieux offer the clearest views. Be sure to pack your binoculars. 

DINOSAUR PARK

On the edge of Mèze, entirely without fanfare, sits the largest dinosaur museum-park in Europe. Six hectares of pine forest, life-size reconstructions and fossil clutches ranked third in the world after the Gobi Desert and Montana.

An unexpected adventure

Brilliant for children, quite surreal for everyone else.

THE BEACH
& SWIMMING

Mèze has two sandy beaches on the lagoon's edge, both a short walk from the house. The water is calm, shallow and warm, ideal for easy swimming without waves or crowds. Further along the coast, the long stretch of beach between Sète and Marseillan offers open sea, beach bars and wide views.

VINEYARDS & WINE ROUTE

Mèze sits in the heart of the Picpoul de Pinet, with vineyards and domaines open for tastings.

Domaine Saint Hilaire, a beautiful historic estate between Mèze and Pézenas, offers free tastings, vineyard walks and food pairing lunches on the terrace. Unhurried, personal and very good value.

CYCLING & THE
LAGOON LOOP

The Étang de Thau has excellent flat cycling routes, including a cycle path that  runs along the old railway line and a longer loop taking in Bouzigues, Marseillan and Sète.  Electric bikes are available to hire in town. Coffee in Bouzigues, lunch in Sète, an apéro in Marseillan and a swim in the lagoon back in Mèze

MONTPELLIER

Montpellier is 25 minutes away, a vibrant and lively southern city with elegant shopping streets, excellent restaurants and wonderful architecture. Well worth a day's visit, especially the historic Écusson quarter and the market at Les Halles Castellane. International airport and TGV trains to Paris and Barcelona.