The Town Of Agde In The Languedoc
Situated at the western end of the Bassin de Thau, Agde is mid way between the towns of Sete and Beziers. It was built next to an extinct volcano, the Mont Saint Loup, which was live for over 200,000 years and provided the black lava rock which has been used to construct most of the buildings in the area.
It is a fascinating historical town which was originally Phoenician and maintained by the Greeks and Romans for centuries as a thriving seaport trading with the Levant, when it provided a natural refuge during storms at sea and many Greek relics dating back to the 4 th Century BC have been found in Agde. It became a quiet fishing harbour when Sete developed and overshadowed it as trading port, and nowadays there are hundreds of beautiful sailing ships moored there.
It is a charming place to spend your holiday, with its warm climate turning it into a sunbather’s paradise, particularly in Cap d´Agde where naturists have their own beach. It has narrow winding lanes running between the rue de l´Amour where the fishing boats moor and the Canal du Midi which flows from Toulouse and joins the River Herault linking it to the Bassin de Thau and Sete. The best restaurants in Agde are located here on La Promenade serving local specialities and the freshest fish dishes you are ever likely to taste.
Agde
On the banks of the Herault stand the impressive ancient fortress Cathedral of St Etienne and the Musee Agathois, which are also constructed in black lava rock and the best places to find out about local history There is a colourful market selling local produce and various crafts every Thursday morning.
The stretch of the Canal du Midi at Agde presented its architect, Paul Riquet, with a problem on how to allow boats to enter and pass along the River Herault to the sea. He therefore designed a round basin lock which combines three different reaches of water. There is a footbridge here which leads to the Belle Ile Park which is a 25 acre wooded island where you can visit the magnificent neo classical Chateau Laurens.