Mèze, the Lagoon's Other Port

What it is

Mèze is the big town on the north shore of the Étang de Thau, about 5 km from Bouzigues as the crow flies and with Sète opposite, across the water. Like Bouzigues, it lives off oysters and mussels, but it has more going on: a fishing port and marina, an old town with a 15th-century church, a promenade beside the lagoon and a beach. It can be seen in an hour and a half on your own, and serves as a base for boat trips to the beds.

The stroll

1. The port. Start at the port, where fishing boats and the marina's sailing boats live side by side, in place Camille Vidal. From the quay you have the open lagoon, the oyster tables and Sète's Mont Saint-Clair in the background.
2. The old town. Go into the centre. The church of Saint-Hilaire dates from the 15th century, although the texts already mention a church here in the 10th century; nearby is the chapel of the Penitents. Remains of the old walls survive.
3. The Château de Girard. A manor house of 1660 that the town council bought in 1995; it hosts exhibitions and has a park.
4. The shore. Return to the water and follow the promenade beside the lagoon to the beach, with lagoon water and no waves.

If you have more time, the Sesquier park, 34 hectares around a lake, is a good place to stretch your legs with children. And for dinosaur fans, Mèze has the Plaine des Dinosaures, an open-air palaeontological museum with fossil dinosaur eggs found in the area.

Setting out by boat to the beds

From Mèze marina leaves the Mansathau catamaran, with 20 seats, under motor and sail. It runs a commentated trip of about 55 minutes through the lagoon's oyster beds, with images projected in sync with the commentary, in French and English. In 2026 it cost €16 for adults and €8 for children. From 1 April to 30 September 2026 it sailed every day at 11:00, 14:00, 15:15 and 16:30, and in October, only at weekends; in summer there is also a sunset sailing. Booking is advisable, by email ([email protected]) or on its website.

Another company, Sète Croisières, runs a commentated trip from Mèze through the beds to the port of Bouzigues, with a sunset departure in summer; its 2026 season ran from 1 April to 11 November.

If you prefer to leave from Bouzigues, the Le Bleu Marin boat docks at a producer's bed.

Festivals

The main festival revolves around the Bœuf de Mèze, the town's totemic ox, which goes out onto the streets for three days from 19 August. In summer there are also water jousts in the port and the Thau festival. On those days the centre fills up: park far away or come by bus.

Getting there and parking

From Bouzigues it is a few minutes by car along the shore road. If you are in a motorhome, the Mèze Camping-Car Park area, on avenue du Stade, is open all year, with water and waste disposal. For a night in a tent, the Loupian municipal campsite is about 3 km from Mèze's beaches.

With children and dogs

The stroll is flat and short. With children, the boat, the calm-water beach and the Sesquier park fill a morning. With a dog, the port promenade and the shore are fine, on a lead; check the signs at the beach, which may have its own rules in summer.

To combine: the Villa-Loupian is between Mèze and Bouzigues, a few kilometres away.