What to see around Marseillan? This is the question asked by many tourists on holiday in Marseillan plage or on the beaches between Cap d'Agde and Montpellier.
For a weekend, I was able to combine a day in Sète and a day discovering the splendid landscapes, the wild nature and the pretty little villages around the Etang de Thau. So here is how I organized my ideal weekend in the sun between culture, landscapes and gastronomy.
In this article, you will discover the most beautiful villages around Marseillan and most interesting sights. You will also find my route that allows you to visit Sète, Marseillan and the most beautiful places around the Etang de Thau. And as a bonus, you will find the Google Maps map of my tourist circuit to follow in GPS mode.
Where is Marseillan located?
Marseillan is a small village located in the department of Hérault, on the Mediterranean coast in the Occitanie region at the edge of the Etang de Thau. It is best known for its seaside resort Marseillan Plage which welcomes thousands of holidaymakers every summer from France and all over Europe.
Tourism in Marseillan beach
Between the Mediterranean and the Etang de Thau, Marseillan Plage is the ideal place to enjoy the beautiful beaches of Sète, the Regional Natural Park of Haut-Languedoc, preserved natural areas and pretty little villages with a historical and cultural heritage. to discover.
But how to find them? See below the list of must-see tourist sites around Marseillan.
What to see around Marseillan?
Here is the list of the most beautiful sites and the most interesting activities to do near Marseillan around the Etang de Thau:
- Sète
- Bouzigues
- Loupian
- Meze
- Pezenas
- Saint Thibéry pedalorail
- Chateau Villa Laurens
- Bagnas Nature Reserve
- Pointe des Onglous
- Lido de Thau Reserve
Etang de Thau tourist circuit map
You can click "more options" to switch to GPS mode
What to see around Marseillan – Sites to visit
My tourist circuit (map above) starts from Marseillan Plage for a first stage in the town of Sète.
What to see around Marseillan – Sète
Pretty little port city located between Etang de Thau and the Mediterranean Sea, Sète is only 18 kilometers from Marseillan Plage. With this location and its canals, it is nicknamed the city of Venice of Languedoc. You can follow a short itinerary that allows you to visit the most beautiful sites of Sète on foot: Circuit to visit Sète.
What to see around Marseillan – Bouzigues
After a 15-minute drive, you will reach Bouzigues. It is a small village on the edge of the Etang de Thau where there are many producers of oysters and mussels.
You can discover the oyster beds there by walking along the Trémie beach or by taking a boat trip with a local producer.
What to see around Marseillan – Loupian
You only have 4 kilometers to go to reach the next stage of my tourist circuit: Loupian. It is a small village which shelters some Gallo-Roman remains but also an architectural heritage of the Renaissance period. You can discover the ramparts of the old castle, the beautiful facades of the winegrowers' houses, the Romanesque chapel of Saint-Hippolyte, the church of Sainte-Cécile and the Gallo-Roman Villa.
What to see around Marseillan – Mèze
Located just 3 kilometers from Loupian, Mèze is the oldest village in the Bassin de Thau. From Mèze, you can observe Sète which is on the other side of the Etang de Thau.
Mèze is the largest shellfish site in the Etang de Thau and the Mediterranean.
You can therefore taste good oysters and enjoy a pretty beach with free parking:
And finally, you can visit the village of Mèze and the castle of Girard.
What to see around Marseillan – Pézenas
My tourist circuit takes you 18 kilometers from Mèze for a magnificent stopover in Pézenas.
Small city of the Middle Ages, Pézenas was the place of the governors of Languedoc from the 16th century but also the city of Molière. Pézenas is therefore full of historical and cultural heritage that you can discover on foot. Indeed, the sites to visit are very well indicated and signposted:
At the bends of its cobbled streets, you will admire magnificent old private mansions, the old medieval castle, museums, craftsmen's stalls and pretty little shops. L'hotel of the Barons of Lacoste of the 15th century is a small marvel:
What to do around Marseillan – Pedalorail
To continue the loop of my circuit, if you have children, I recommend that you reserve 1h30 for a ride in pedalorail in Saint Thibéry. You will take pleasure in pedaling on the rails of an old railway line, under a forest of oaks with the passage of a tunnel and a bridge which overhangs the Hérault river.
What to visit around Marseillan – Château Villa Laurens
The next stop on my itinerary is in Agde at Château Laurens. Also called Villa Laurens, it is a splendid castle from the 1900s with Art Deco architecture and decor with exotic influences. It has just been completely renovated. See video below:
What to do around Marseillan – Bagnas Nature Reserve
My tourist circuit around Marseillan ends its loop by returning to the Etang de Thau. I suggest you take a short walk in the heart of the Bagnas Nature Reserve (8 km from Villa Laurens).
You will discover the lagoon areas of Bagnas, classified as a National Nature Reserve since 1983. You can access it freely and free of charge to observe many birds (herons, waders, birds of prey, terns, ducks and pink flamingos).
What to do around Marseillan – Pointe des Onglous
Only 3 kilometers from the Bagnas reserve, is the Point of Onglous. This is where the Canal du Midi. The walk along the Canal to the lighthouse is magnificent and offers great photos:
Other sites to visit near Marseillan, Sète or Agde
My tour ends there but there are still plenty of other tourist sites to visit in the region:
- Lido de Thau Reserve
- The Lordship of Peyrat
- The Abbey Castle of Cassan in Gabian
- Valmagne Abbey in Villeveyrac
- Montpellier
- The locks of Béziers
- Saint-Guilhem-le-Desert
- La Camargue
Where to stay in Marseillan Plage?
Located in Marseillan Plage, with direct access to Robinson beach, here is a good hotel plan: theHotel Les Dunes