Meze

Meze is a popular tourist resort situated slightly inland just behind Sete on the Bassin de Thau lake with its sandy shores. The Bassin (or Etang) de Thau Basin is a twenty metre expanse of lagoon full of brackish water separated from the sea by a narrow stretch of sand. Famous for ostreiculture (oyster farming) it uses oyster tables cables instead of the more usual oyster beds. These tables offer an efficient method of harvesting as they lower cables into the seawater to which oysters can attach themselves and develop.

Meze is the centre of the Basin’s environmental management with the Station de Lagunage aquaculture research centre with a laboratory, water treatment plant and fish nursery. It also has state of the art equipment used to dispose of waste products which have been caused mainly by the advent of tourism, The water is kept pure and clean by good environmental procedures, and as well as offering excellent conditions for the culture of oysters and other shellfish it is well used by locals and tourists for fishing and a large variety of water sports.

A charming harbour town full of restaurants, it comes as no surprise that the main streets in Meze are lined with stalls selling the very freshest shellfish. With beautiful surrounding countryside and a mountain backdrop, the Mediterranean beaches are just a few kilometres away.

This extraordinary town is also famous for its remains of nests with fossilised dinosaur eggs which were discovered only a few years ago on the road to Montagnac. There is now a museum situated in a large natural park which extends over 36 kilometres. You can walk through a 12 acre pine forest and travel back millions of years viewing all sorts of exhibits including a skeleton of a giant brachiosaurus which was unearthed here.

There are numerous hotels to choose from in Meze, but if you prefer the outdoor life then the Beau Rivage is a small campsite with all the facilities you require for an enjoyable holiday. It is just a ten minute walk away from the centre of town and has an outdoor swimming pool and children’s pool.