A shore Thing
Living France|Autumn 2016

Sunshine and sea set the pace of life in the towns on the shores of the Étang de Thau, Languedoc-Roussillon’s largest lagoon, as Sophie Gardner-Roberts discovers.

Sophie Gardner-Roberts
A shore Thing

When conjuring up images of the French Mediterranean coast, you perhaps think of the glitz and glamour of the French Riviera, the wild ruggedness of the calanques or the endless silver-sanded beaches stretching out between Cap d’Agde and Spain. But look a little closer and you’ll find the Étang de Thau, a little- known gem situated between Montpellier and Béziers in Hérault.

The French word étang translates as ‘pond’ or ‘pool’ in English, but with a surface of 7,500m2 – over 19 kilometres long and five kilometres wide – the Étang de Thau makes for a rather large pond indeed! Many refer to it as the ‘Thau lagoon’, and with its waters that are slightly warmer than the sea and its deep blue mirror-like surface, the word ‘lagoon’ sums it up best.

Dominated by Mont St-Clair and squeezed between land and sea, the Étang de Thau is the largest lagoon in Languedoc-Roussillon. It provides a wealth of natural resources to the towns clinging to its shores, whose activities are mainly fishing and shellfish farming. As a result, locals are fiercely proud of and passionate about gastronomy, with a wealth of mouth-watering fish specialities on offer in the area.

With one of the sunniest climates in France and picture-postcard scenery, it’s hardly surprising that the department of Hérault is so popular with holidaymakers and homeowners alike. The Thau lagoon reflects the department’s warm and sunny lifestyle, but offers a quieter alternative for buyers looking for a peaceful French retreat away from the crowded seaside resorts.

Of course, the summer months are busy with tourists, but no matter, it’s the sunshine and the sea that set the pace for people living on the shores of the lagoon.

And life around the Étang de Thau is everything you could possibly dream of, whatever the season.

Esta historia es de la edición Autumn 2016 de Living France.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

Esta historia es de la edición Autumn 2016 de Living France.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

MÁS HISTORIAS DE LIVING FRANCEVer todo
Guide To: Working For A Foreign Company
Living France

Guide To: Working For A Foreign Company

If your current employer is happy to let you continue working for them after you move to France, there are a number of rules and regulations to be aware of to ensure you stay on the right side of the law, as Catharine Higginson explains

time-read
5 minutos  |
May 2020
On vintage soil
Living France

On vintage soil

Life in the vineyards of Aude is a dream come true for Leicestershire-born Katie Jones who now successfully exports her wines back to the UK, as Brigitte Nicolas learns

time-read
8 minutos  |
May 2020
KNOWLEDGE IS POWER
Living France

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER

What happens if you are buying a French property but can’t attend the completion meeting at the notaire’s office in person? Matthew Cameron explains how a power of attorney can be used and how it works

time-read
6 minutos  |
May 2020
In safe hands
Living France

In safe hands

There can be few more unusual homes than the 11th-century Château de Clérans, situated close to the Dordogne river in the Périgord Pourpre region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine.

time-read
5 minutos  |
May 2020
THE CAPTAIN'S TABLE
Living France

THE CAPTAIN'S TABLE

Robin Ellis made his name as the original Captain Poldark but a diabetes diagnosis led the Tarn-based actor to add cookbook writing to his CV, as Richard Webber learns

time-read
7 minutos  |
May 2020
My frugal France
Living France

My frugal France

Embracing modern technology could save you money and time on both the pleasures and essentials of life in France, says Laura Harley as she shares some of her favourite French apps

time-read
2 minutos  |
May 2020
Hidden Talents
Living France

Hidden Talents

Moving to France enabled these three expats to switch off from busy careers and in turn discover new creative talents, says Gillian Harvey, who counts herself among them

time-read
7 minutos  |
May 2020
Beauty to behold
Living France

Beauty to behold

With its legendary vineyards, charming old towns and rich gastronomy, Gironde is quintessential France at its best, as Alison Weeks discovers

time-read
8 minutos  |
May 2020
AS SEEN ON SCREEN
Living France

AS SEEN ON SCREEN

A Dordogne town, a Charente city and a Pyrenean village all have a starring role in three new films hitting the big screen this year, joining a long list of French locations that have gone before them, as Vicky Leigh learns

time-read
8 minutos  |
May 2020
A local's view
Living France

A local's view

Trish and Mark Tyler run a beautifully restored chambres d’hôtes, set in six hectares of park and woodland near StÉmilion, which has a fascinating history

time-read
6 minutos  |
May 2020