Oysters at a Producer's Mas
1 h 30All year
Thau lagoon oysters in the producer's shed, with the lagoon in front: raw or gratinéed, from €1 each, in Bouzigues and Loupian.
From €1
How to do it
OystersAll year
Oyster at a masFrom €1 each
Best timeApr · May · Sep · Oct
Minimum time1 day
In summer, the malaïgue. With very hot water the lagoon runs out of oxygen and oysters die. In 2018 a third of the harvest was lost. If it happens one year, there will be less produce in August.
What to do
What to do in Bouzigues
Each plan says how long it takes, who it's for and whether you can book.
Boat to the Oyster Tables with Bleu Marin
1 hApril – 12 November; in winter, groups only
A one-hour boat trip from Bouzigues port to an oyster bed in the Thau lagoon, with a family of producers. €14.
From €14
Book
Musée de l'Étang de Thau
1 hFebruary to November · closed Mondays
The museum of fishing and oysters of the Thau lagoon, in Bouzigues port: aquariums and models, one hour, €5; closed on Mondays.
From €5
How to do it
Plan the trip
Bouzigues, step by step
Each choice narrows the next: the season shapes how best to travel, and how you travel decides where you stay and where you eat.
When to go
When to go to Bouzigues
Oysters are eaten all year. In spring and autumn there is room at the mas and the lagoon is calm. In high summer the water heats up, there are lots of people and in years of strong heat the lagoon suffers the malaïgue.
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Best timeGood timeLow season
How you travel
Bouzigues your way
Choose how you're travelling and we'll tell you where to stay, how to get around, where to eat and which services you'll need. We only show the ways of travelling that make sense here.
By Car, from Mas to Mas Along the Shore
The north shore of the lagoon can be driven from Balaruc to Mèze, stopping at the mas. Sète is a quarter of an hour away.
80–120 €per person per day, approximate
- Where to sleepA La Voile Blanche, facing…
- Getting aroundBouzigues – Sète, about 15…
- EatingProducers' mas, from €1 an…
- ServicesFree Catonnière car park
Where to sleep
- A La Voile Blanche, facing the water
- Motel La Côte Bleue, with enclosed parking
Getting around
- Bouzigues – Sète, about 15 km
- A9 motorway, exit 33, a few kilometres away
Eating
- Producers' mas, from €1 an oyster
- La Côte Bleue, for a sit-down meal facing the lagoon
Services
- Free Catonnière car park
- Sète station for anyone joining the trip by train
By Motorhome, with an Area in Mèze and Campsites on the Shore
In Bouzigues there is free parking without facilities. To sleep with water and waste disposal, the Mèze area or the Bouzigues and Loupian campsites.
35–55 €per person per day, approximate
- Where to sleepMèze Camping-Car Park area, all…
- Getting aroundBy day, free Catonnière car…
- EatingTakeaway oysters at the mas
- ServicesWater and waste disposal in…
Where to sleep
- Mèze Camping-Car Park area, all year
- Lou Labech and Loupian campsite, spring to autumn
Getting around
- By day, free Catonnière car park, no facilities
- Mèze – Bouzigues, 8 km along the shore
Eating
- Takeaway oysters at the mas
- Sète Halles in the morning
Services
- Water and waste disposal in Mèze with the network's card
- Service area at Lou Labech
Camping, Half a Kilometre from the Lagoon
Two campsites 500 m from the Étang de Thau. Camping outside them is not allowed: the lagoon shore and the coast are protected and the law prohibits camping by the sea.
30–50 €per person per day, approximate
- Where to sleepDomaine Lou Labech, in Bouzigues…
- Getting aroundBikes to hire at Lou…
- EatingBread at the Lou Labech…
- ServicesWashing machines at both campsites
Where to sleep
- Domaine Lou Labech, in Bouzigues, April to October
- Loupian municipal campsite, March to November
Getting around
- Bikes to hire at Lou Labech
- Mèze's beaches 3 km from Loupian
Eating
- Bread at the Lou Labech reception
- Snack bar in Loupian from June to September
Services
- Washing machines at both campsites
- Sète station about 14–18 km away
Fly to Montpellier or Toulouse and drive to the lagoon
From Catalonia it is quicker by car or train; from the rest of Spain, flying makes sense. Montpellier is the closest airport, about 35 minutes from Bouzigues on the A9; Toulouse, with more direct flights from Spain, is about two and a half hours away. Hire the car at the airport: the oyster tables, Mèze and Villa Loupian are spread along the shore.
- Getting thereMontpellier Méditerranée (MPL), about 50…
- Getting aroundHire car at the airport
- Where to stayMotel La Côte Bleue, on…
- ServicesCar hire at Montpellier airport
Getting there
- Montpellier Méditerranée (MPL), about 50 km away
- Toulouse-Blagnac (TLS), with direct flights from Madrid and other cities
- Train to Sète from Montpellier, and from there to the lagoon
Getting around
- Hire car at the airport
- Cycle route around the Étang de Thau
Where to stay
- Motel La Côte Bleue, on the edge of the lagoon, with a restaurant open daily
Services
- Car hire at Montpellier airport
- Sète station
How much does it cost?
People2
Nights3
Who you're with
Bouzigues for whoever you're with
A trip with a toddler is not the same as one with a teenager. Pick yours to see what works and what to bear in mind.
As a Family, with a Boat, a Museum and Mosaics
Many children won't touch a raw oyster. In Thau there are boats that reach the tables, a museum with aquariums and a Roman villa five minutes away, and for lunch, grilled and gratinéed mussels.
- What works bestThe Bleu Marin boat to…
- Where to sleepLou Labech and the Loupian…
- EatingGratinéed oysters and mussels at…
- Keep in mindThere is no children's menu…
What works best
- The Bleu Marin boat to the tables, with a children's fare for ages 3 to 16
- The aquariums at the Musée de l'Étang de Thau, free for under-7s
- The mosaics at the Villa-Loupian, with a €10 family pass
- Going up Mont Saint-Clair in Sète to see the whole lagoon
Where to sleep
- Lou Labech and the Loupian campsite, with children's play areas
- Motel La Côte Bleue, with triple rooms
Eating
- Gratinéed oysters and mussels at the mas
- Tielle de Sète at the halles
Keep in mind
- There is no children's menu at the mas: what there is is seafood
- In July and August the sun is strong on the shore: go in the morning
What to do as a family
Where to stay
Where to stay if you're drivingin a campervanif you're campingif you're flying
We show you what suits the way you travel.Change how you travel
A La Voile Blanche
Why we like it: A small hotel facing the water, some rooms with a terrace. You walk to dinner at the port.
From €90
View details
Motel La Côte Bleue
Why we like it: Next to the restaurant of the same name, with triple rooms and enclosed parking. Convenient for arriving by car and not moving it.
From €89
View details
Domaine Lou Labech
Why we like it: A small family campsite, with a motorhome service area, games and bikes to hire. Open from 1 April to 4 October 2026.
From €21
View details
Loupian Municipal Campsite
Why we like it: Spacious shaded pitches, at the foot of the village and 3 km from Mèze's beaches. Open from 27 March to 2 November 2026.
From €19
View details
Campervan area
Mèze Camping-Car Park Area
Why we like it: An area in the Camping-Car Park network, open 24 hours, on avenue du Stade.
From €15
View details
Services for this trip
Where to eat
Where to eat in Bouzigues
From set lunch menus to Michelin stars. We mark the price level and what to order at each place.
Le Cercle des Huîtres
What to order: its raw spéciales and a portion of gratinéed oysters to share.
1001 chemin de la Catonnière · tasting closes in winter and reopens in February · confirm hours by phone
La Côte Bleue
What to order: Bouzigues oysters, baby squid with garlic and parsley and gratinéed mussels.
Takeaway and markets
Halles de Sète, Sète
Nearby
Near Bouzigues
The closest places, whichever country they are in.
Tips
Worth knowing first
- 1Go for lunch, not dinner
Many mas serve at midday; those that open at night do so mainly in season.
- 2Try the gratinéed ones
If someone at the table doesn't eat raw oysters, the oven-gratinéed ones are the way in.
- 3Bring cash
Some producers don't accept cards.
Local tip
Combine the mas with the boat trip to the tables from the port of Bouzigues: you see up close where the oysters you are going to eat hang.
We'd skip it
A Sunday in August at one o'clock without a booking. The mas are full and the shore road is jammed.
How are they raised and how do they differ?
There are no tides in the Étang de Thau. The oysters don't grow on the bottom but hanging: they are stuck in threes onto ropes that hang from the tables, wood and metal structures driven into the lagoon. Some producers take them out of the water for a few hours a day to imitate the tide; they sell them as spéciales exondées, firmer. The result is a meaty oyster, less salty than the Atlantic one.
How do you order and what does it cost?
At the mas, the producers' sheds on the lagoon shore, you order at the counter or at the table: a dozen or half a dozen, creuses or flat, raw or gratinéed. Many also serve mussels and the brasucade, mussels grilled over embers. An oyster costs from €1 each at a producer. Each mas closes one day a week and some take cash only: check the sign before sitting down. In summer and at weekends, book.
The number is the weight, and the lower, the bigger: No. 5 weighs from 30 to 45 g; No. 0, more than 150 g. Spéciale means more flesh, with a fill index of 10.5 or more; the fine is lighter.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How much does an oyster cost in Bouzigues?
At a producer's mas, from €1 each. At a restaurant on the promenade, somewhat more, with table and service.
Do I need to book at the mas?
In summer and at weekends, yes. On weekdays out of season it is enough to turn up.
Why are there no tides in Thau?
It is an almost closed lagoon, joined to the sea mainly by the canals of Sète. That is why the oysters are raised hanging from tables and not in low-tide beds.
What do children who don't want oysters eat?
Grilled mussels, gratinéed ones or tielle de Sète, an octopus pie. At the restaurants on the promenade there is fish.
Can I go without a car?
It is difficult. The nearest station is Sète, about 17 km by road. There is a bus with a change at Balaruc-le-Vieux; for one night, better to sleep in Sète and come by taxi.