You can read our article, but in summary: L’Oranger is known for its Mediterranean cuisine and warm welcome, while Chez François is famous for its excellent seafood platters. For fresh and local dishes, La Table de Laura is a real gem and our favourite restaurant in Sète. Le Boucanier offers a casual atmosphere with delicious seafood tapas. For oysters, L’Annexe is an excellent choice, as is Les Halles de Sète indoor market. La Poulperie serves dishes based on octopus, and Leelou Bistrot offers homemade French meals with vegetarian options and brunch. In summer, several restaurants open right on the beach, like La Ola. There’s something to satisfy every palate and every budget.

Visit the Quartier Haut, but stay dry!

The Quartier Haut, Sète’s, high district, is the oldest neighbourhood in Sète, built by fishermen from Naples at the end of the 19th century. Today, it has become a haven for artists, with many small workshops scattered around, some open all year round and others during special “Artist Days.” Expressive, joyful, and charming, it retains the authenticity of Sète. Here, you’ll find our 19th-century fisherman’s house, Le Pouffre.

On rainy days, you may not want to wander too much in the streets, but you can visit the Saint-Louis Decanal Church and the Quartier Haut chapel, as well as the Paul Valéry Museum and the Sea Museum.

Saint-Louis Decanal Church in the Quartier Haut of Sète

Saint-Louis Decanal

Rue des 3 Journées
The Saint Louis Decanal Church (Eglise Saint-Louis Décanale) is the oldest and largest church in the town, also known as “La Décanale”. Built in stone in 1702 in honour of the town’s patron saint, this building was designed by architect Daviler, who worked with the famous Renaissance architect Mansart. The church was built on the site of a temporary wooden church, with the first stone laid in 1666. In 1989, Saint Louis Decanal Church was listed as a historic monument.

Each year, during the Fishermen’s Festival, the statue of Saint Peter, the patron saint of fishermen, is transferred to the church for a large mass, followed by a procession to the sea in tribute to the sailors who have passed away.

Quartier Haut chapel

2-10 Rue Borne, 34200 Sète
The small Quartier Haut chapel (Chapelle du Quartier Haut) was originally the convent of the Sisters of Saint-Maur, who arrived in Sète in 1728 to educate local girls. Deconsecrated, it became a Practical School of Commerce and Industry in the early 20th century, then a Technical College. Today, it houses artworks, some of which are related to the town’s maritime tradition. Admission is free, and guided tours are regularly provided by artists exhibiting in the space.

The chapel is open every day of the year except Tuesday.

Paul Valéry Museum

148 Rue François Desnoyer, 34200 Sète
Just behind the Marine Cemetery, with an exceptional view of the Mediterranean Sea, a renovated building in the 1970s Corbusier style houses collections of paintings and drawings from the fine arts. The Paul Valéry Museum (Musée Paul Valéry) contains over 7,000 works. In addition to its fine arts collection, which includes over 730 paintings and nearly 2,900 drawings, the museum holds three specific collections: the Paul Valéry Collection, the Salah Stétié Collection, and a collection of Arts and Popular Traditions.

The surrounding gardens host outdoor events such as conferences, literary meetings (notably “Les Journées Paul Valéry,” held every September), poetry, recitals, and concerts, reflecting the Mediterranean identity of Sète. The café offers delicious dishes and drinks to enjoy on the terrace overlooking the gardens and the sea.

Paul Valéry Museum is open every day except Monday.

Sea Museum

1 Rue Jean Vilar, 34200 Sète
The Sea Museum (Musée de la Mer) is dedicated to the town’s maritime history. Located in a former fishing warehouse, the museum offers a fascinating insight into maritime life, traditions and activities aroun d the the sea. The museum’s collections include boat models, navigational instruments, fishing tools and testimonies of the local maritime culture. Temporary exhibitions and events are regularly organised to enrich your experiences and highlight various themes related to the maritime world.

The Sea Museum is open every day except Tuesday.

Go up Mont Saint-Clair, but on foot!

Rising 175 metres above sea level, Mont Saint-Clair is an extinct volcano that gives Sète its distinctive silhouette. From the summit, a magnificent panorama overlooks the canals, the harbour, the Richelieu Citadel, the lighthouse and the famous Marine Cemetery where the French writer, poet, and philosopher Paul Valéry was buried in 1945. You will find Notre Dame de la Salette de Sète chaptel (Chapelle de Notre Dame de la Salette de Sète) and a cross that is illuminated every evening.

If you can’t walk up Mont Saint-Clair due to the weather, you can drive up; there’s a small parking area, or you can take the road leading down from the car park and park against the wall. You can also take bus line no. 5 from the Cimetière Marin stop or from Promenade J. Baptiste Marty in the town centre.

Put up your umbrella and enjoy the views of the town, the coast the sea and the lagoon!

Notre Dame de la Salette de Sète chapel

Visit the Notre-Dame-de-la-Salette chapel

This small chapel is a traditional pilgrimage site, with a mass held on the 19th of every month. Upon entering, you’ll see the frescoes created by the painter Bringuier (from 1951 to 1953), which cover the entire building. The part of the chapel dedicated to Sainte Rita and Notre-Dame de la Chapelle is also adorned with ex-votos (offerings made to God in request for a favour or in gratitude). A visit to the Notre-Dame-de-la-Salette chapel is an unforgettable experience!

Discover a former fishing trawler

Quai Aspirant Herber, 34200 Sète
Welcome aboard the trawler Louis Nocca! From the deck to the engine room, embark on a guided tour of a Sète trawler. Explore aquariums, videos and informational panels about life at sea. You can access the trawler’s innards to see the impressive engine in the engine room, take the helm for a souvenir photo, and become the fishing captain for a moment. Children under 10 can visit for free.

The boat is open every day from 10 am to 12:30 pm and from 2 pm to 6 pm, depending on weather conditions. Tickets are available on-site.

Louis Nocca, a former fishing trawler in Sète

Discover the life of Georges Brassens

67 Bd Camille Blanc, 34200 Sète
George Brassens Museum (Espace Georges Brassens) is a dynamic space using modern image and sound technology. Through your headphones, Georges Brassens guides you through the paths of his life and work. To end the visit, exclusive films and recitals are shown in the video room, offering an intimate and moving moment to dive into the poet’s world. Georges Brassens is buried in the Py cemetery, facing the Thau Lagoon, just 2 minutes’ walk from the museum.

Georges Brassens Museum is open every day except Monday.

Visit contemporary and modern museums

CRAC – Régional Contemporain Art Centre

26 Quai Aspirant Herber, 34200 Sète
CRAC Sète is a space dedicated to contemporary art. Opened in 2011, the mission of the CRAC is to promote and spread contemporary creation through exhibitions, artist residencies, and cultural events. The centre presents a variety of works ranging from painting and sculpture to installations and digital art, highlighting both emerging artists and established figures.

CRAC Sète is open every day except Tuesday.

MIAM – International Museum of Modest Art

23 Quai Maréchal de Lattre de Tassigny, 34200 Sète
https://miam.org/
MIAM is a unique museum dedicated to promoting modest arts, a category that includes creations from popular culture, outsider art, and other forms of artistic expression often marginalized. Opened in 2000, the museum showcases works made from simple, everyday materials, challenging traditional notions of art. MIAM presents an eclectic collection, including crafts, found creations, and contemporary works that question concepts of value and beauty.

MIAM is open every day except Monday.

Explore art galleries

Galerie Plurielle – Art gallery

Entrance 76, 65 Grand rue Mario Roustan
Galerie Plurielle is an exhibition space dedicated to contemporary art and the promotion of diverse artists. It stands out for its dynamic and eclectic approach, showcasing works ranging from painting and sculpture to photography and digital art.

Galerie Plurielle is open every day except Thursday, and Monday and Tuesday mornings.

L’Atelier Sète – Associative art gallery

29 Rue Honoré Euzet
L’Atelier Sète is an associative art gallery dedicated to promoting contemporary creation in a friendly and participatory environment. This gallery highlights works by local and emerging artists, offering a platform for diverse exhibitions, performances, and workshops.
Check the L’Atelier Sète website for their programme.

Le Réservoir Sète – Art gallery

45-46 Quai de Bosc, Sète
Le Réservoir is a contemporary art gallery dedicated to promoting artistic creation in all its forms. Located in a former water reservoir, the gallery offers a unique and inspiring setting for diverse exhibitions, featuring both local and international artists. The gallery hosts works ranging from painting and sculpture to multimedia art. Le Réservoir regularly organises cultural events, vernissages, and performances, encouraging exchanges between artists and visitors.

L’Atelier Dock Sud – Art gallery

2 Quai de l’Aspirant Herber, 34200 Sète
L’Atelier Dock Sud is an art gallery promoting contemporary creations. Situated in an inspiring setting, this gallery presents works by both emerging and established artists. The gallery offers a variety of exhibitions, from painting and sculpture to other forms of contemporary art. The space is also used for cultural events, workshops, and meetings, providing a platform for exchange between artists and the public.

Cinema: perfect for rainy days

The cinema is the perfect escape for rainy days where you can unwind with the children. Sète has two cinemas:
• Cinéma Le Palace – 24 Av. Victor Hugo, 34200 Sète
• Cinéma Comoedia – 6 Rue du 8 Mai 1945, 34200 Sète
View the films currently showing at Veocinemas Comoedia Sète.

Places to visit near the Thau lagoon

Valmagne Abbey

Valmagne Abbey (Abbaye de Valmagne) is a former Cistercian abbey located between Villeveyrac and Montagnac, about 30 minutes from Sète. Founded in the 12th century, it is renowned for its impressive vaulted halls, its cloister, and its abbey church, which reflect the significance of the Cistercian order during the medieval period. The Abbey of Valmagne is open to the public, offering guided tours, cultural events, and concerts. It also produces its own wine. This historic site is surrounded by vineyards, making it a perfect spot for art, history, and nature enthusiasts.

The Abbey of Valmagne is open every day except Monday.

Valmagne Abbey – Photo: Archives départementales de l’Hérault (France) DAASI

Maison Noilly Prat

1 Rue Noilly, 34340 Marseillan
La Maison Noilly Prat is essentially for adults, but there’s a nice courtyard for kids to play while you visit the shop! Located in Marseillan, about 20 minutes from Sète, it is a renowned distillery famous for its vermouth production. Founded in 1813, it is known for its artisanal methods and unique savoir-faire, passed down through generations. Maison Noilly Prat offers guided tours where visitors can discover the vermouth production process, from selecting ingredients to bottling. Visitors can explore the cellars where the vermouth ages and learn about the herbs and spices used in the recipes. It is situated right next to the Marseillan port, with its restaurants and shops.

Maison Noilly Prat is open every day.

Thau Lagoon Museum

Bouzigues Port, 34140 Bouzigues
On Bouzigues port, Thau Lagoon Museum (Musée de l’Étang de Thau) is dedicated to the history and culture of oyster farming and shellfish production in the Thau Lagoon. The museum offers a unique insight into the traditional techniques and practices of the region’s shellfish industry. Visitors can also enjoy a great view of Sète from the charming Bouzigues port as they enter the museum.

The Thau Lagoon Museum is open every day except Monday, and it is closed in December and January.

International Toys Museum

2b Rue Montmorency, 34120 Pézenas
The Internaltiona Toys Museum (Le Musée International du Jouet) in Pézenas, about 40 minutes from Sète, is a fascinating place that traces the history and evolution of toys over the centuries. Housed in a historic building, the museum presents an extensive collection of both antique and contemporary toys, ranging from dolls and trains to board games and wooden toys. You can explore themed exhibitions that highlight the handmade production of toys and the influence of different eras on their design.

The International Toy Museum is open every day except Sunday.

Villa-Loupian Museum

RD 158 E4 – 34140 Loupian
Villa-Loupian Museum (Musée de Site Villa-Loupian) and its archaeological site showcase a Roman vineyard. It is home to one of the rare examples in France of preserved Roman mosaics displayed in their original location. This site is the result of over forty years of archaeological studies and work, contributing to the preservation and exhibition of the polychrome pavements from the late Antiquity (5th century AD, classified as Historic Monuments).

The Villa-Loupian Museum is open every day except Tuesday.

Take a day trip to Montpellier

Montpellier Zoo – Parc de Lunaret

50 Avenue Agropolis, 34090 Montpellier
Montpellier Zoo, also known as Parc de Lunaret, is a zoological park located in a natural 80-hectare setting, near Montpellier. Opened in 1974, it is one of the largest zoos in France, dedicated to conservation and raising awareness about biodiversity.

The park is home to a wide collection of animals representing various species from around the world, including mammals, birds, reptiles, and endangered species. The Amazonian greenhouse (which requires a fee) is a great place to visit when it rains.

Admission to the zoo is free, except for the Amazonian greenhouse, and it is open every day except Monday during school terms.

Montpellier zoo – Parc de Lunaret

Planet Ocean World

Allée Ulysse – Odysseum, 34000 Montpellier
Between sky and earth, Planet Ocean is a true invitation to adventure for families. Tickets provide access to both the Mare Nostrum Aquarium and the Galileo Planetarium. The Mare Nostrum Aquarium is home to over 400 species and offers several themed visits and activities for children. This magical place is the result of the merger between the Mare Nostrum Aquarium and the Galileo Planetarium. After watching the sharks being fed, children can embark on a discovery journey through the skies, comfortably seated under a 15-metre-diameter hemispherical screen.

Planet Ocean World is open every day.

Other activities at the Odysseum

There are plenty of indoor activities to enjoy at the Odysseum, such as cinema, ice skating, climbing, Fort Boyard Adventures, and a skydiving simulator.