No matter what kind of beach you like, you’ll find it in Languedoc. We have miles of white, warm sand stretching from Montpellier to the Spanish border, and every beach is unique. There are quiet, secluded, warm coves. Family beaches with a shallow water and pony rides, ice cream and water slides for the kids. Beaches that are brilliant for kitesurfing. Romantic hidden beaches. Quaint village beaches where you can sit by the sea in a charming café between swims.
Our Favourites
Vias Plage
Secluded behind a line of tall grassy sand banks, this little bay has tidal barriers that create sheltered mini-beaches, golden sand, and some of the warmest water around. It’s not flashy, but it’s quiet, great swimming, and a15 minute drive from Maison Rose-Clair.
Collioure
A day at Collioure is like a day on the Italian Riviera, with beachside cafes and finerestaurants lining the shore, rows of tables right on the beach beside the ancient castle that juts spectacularly out into the water, and a stunning view of the Pyrenees in the background. Just a stone’s throw from the Spanish border, the town enjoys gorgeous sunshine and warmth. Its sea, sky and hills are splashed with colours so deep and bright that some of the world’s greatest artists, inlcuding Henri Matisse, painted there. The beach is small, and not terribly sandy, but the whole package is art and nature combined, and nothing short of spectacular.
Meze
We love Meze for its differences. It’s on the etang, rather than the open sea, so it’s calm, warm and quiet. But it’s a short and pretty walk from the beach to the charming port cafes to finish your beach day with a meal of the area’s famous oysters and picpoul de pinet. Then it’s a quick 15 minute drive home to Maison Rose-Clair.
Marseillan Plage in February
La Franqui
South of France beaches aren’t only about lying around and soaking up the sun. Watersports are all the rage, and for wind and kitesurfers, La Franqui is the king of beaches. Bordered by the sea on one side and the etang (inland lake) on the other, La Franqui is a wide strip surrounded by wind and water on two sides that makes it a mecca for windsurfers. Its shallow water and low waves make it perfect for kids as well, and the salty etang is great for crabbing.
Cap d’Agde
Cap d’Agde, home to nine beaches, stretches all the way from the white sand duned nudist beach to La Tamarissiere, a superb beach with a centuries-old pine forest as its border. In between, you can find everything from a great kids’ beach, to the carnival atmosphere of a Coney Island beach town, to rented chaises and beach bars.
