| |
AGDE
Dating back 2500 years, the fortress Cathedral of St Étienne, built in black lava rock, and standing next to the broad river Herault, dominates the town. Many of the old houses in the centre of Agde are also constructed from Lava blocks. Along the riverfront are many good restaurants and the town hosts a good market, all year round on Thursdays. The Cathedral at Agde. Visit the local museum “Musée Agathois”, located in the midst of colorful narrow streets, for an interesting collection of local history. The Canal du Midi passes by Agde, and presented Paul Riquet with a problem – how to allow boats to leave the canal to pass along the River Herault to the sea. An obvious solution but revolutionary in its day was to make a round lock with three exits.
Agde : http://www.ville-agde.fr
WHAT TO SEE
· La cité d'Agde (old city centre of Agde): Guided tours in the historical centre of the ancient town of Agde. Departure point: tourist office, Place Molière, July to August: Tues and Fri at 10am.
· Le Grau d'Agde and la Tamarissière : Seaside resorts at the mouth of the Hérault river:
· Musée de l'Éphèbe : On display: local underwater archaeological collections featuring the famous "Ephèbe d'Agde" a statue of a young Greek man). Musée de l'Ephèbe, Mas de La Clape in Cap d'Agde. ': 04 67 94 69 60 - Open daily
· Musée Agathois : This museum presents the history of Agde Musée Agathois, 6 rue de la Fraternité in Agde. ': 04 67 94 82 51 Open daily (during the season : except Tues)
· Fort de Brescou : Defensive fort built in the 17C on a volcanic island from plans drawn up by Vauban, the Fort Brescou was converted into a state prison during the 18C. Departure point from Le Cap d'Agde and from Grau d'Agde on motorboats. Guided tours on the site: daily, from 15 June to mid-Sept.
· The volcanic cliffs of Le Cap d'agde : A panoramic viewpoint over the shore and the black sand beach, the "grande conque" (large conch).
· Round basin lock of the Canal du midi: As the only lock with a round basin on the Canal du Midi, it constituted a great technical achievement since it combines three different reaches of water. A few yards from there, a footbridge leads to the park of Belle Ile, a 10ha/25acres wooded island which holds the neo-classical Château Laurens. Located along the avenue Raymond Pitet in Agde
· La Réserve Naturelle du Bagnas : This natural sanctuary of 560ha/1380acres of marshes and lagoons is home to almost 200 species of nesting, migrating or non-migrating birds. This site can only be visited with guides from the Société de Protection de la Nature (a local conservationist organization). Maison de la Réserve du Bagnas in Agde. ': 04 67 01 60 23 Weekly
· Le Mont Saint-Loup : From the top of this extinct volcano, a panoramic view along the coast, the Basin de Thau and the inland countryside. Access to this natural site on foot, through a path starting from the road between Agde and Le Cap
d'Agde.
Cap d'Agde
was built next to an extinct
volcano, Mont Saint Loup, that, for over 200 000 years gave
the black tint to the natural building materials of the
area. In 1836 a lighthouse and fort were constructed on its
summit. During the Greek presence in the area, the Cap was a
natural refuge during storms at sea, and many relics of the
Greeks have been found here dating from the 4th century B.C.
This modern seaside resort is another of the new coastal
resorts built during the 1960s to relieve the pressure on
Provence, and was modeled on an old fishing village. Today
it is a magnet for sun lovers, particularly naturists – and
its port is home to thousands of sailing ships. The harbour
side restaurants are very cosmopolitan.
Cap d'Agde :
l'Office
de Tourisme du Cap d'Agde
|
