|
Sete
Sete is an
important fishing, and commercial port, but also a popular tourist resort, with
sandy beaches. It is possible to get a car ferry from here to North Africa.
Known as the ‘Venice of Languedoc’, the town is dissected by numerous canals,
where you can see water jousting, that dates back to 1666.
This is a popular
attraction, where two boats, a red and a blue, are rowed towards each other with
jousters standing on raised platforms, attempting to knock their opponent into
the water, with long lances. Meanwhile, ashore, a band plays music to encourage
the competitors. August 25 (St Louis's Day) is probably the best day to view
this spectacle, but it does take place, frequently, during the summer months.
The festival of St Peter
4th- 7th
July
Another
festival connected to the sea, is the festival of St Peter.
A traditional
festival, during which, fishermen honour their patron saint, St Peter. A parade
takes place in
the city’s streets, to transfer the saint’s statue, from the Penitents Chapel to
the Church Saint Louis. The
patron saint of fishermen, is then carried aboard a fishing boat,
and a moving procession of trawlers decorated with flags
, and adorned with flowers, that
are later sprinkled over the water
in a tribute to men lost at sea.
In the 11th century
because of silting, the lagoon at the back of the town, closed up creating the
Bassin de Thau. Similarly
silt forced the eventual closure of the then sea ports, of Aigues Mortes, Agde,
and Narbonne.
The construction of
the port started in 1666, with the St Louis breakwater. This 650 meters long pier,
protects the old port. The main canal bisecting the town, and known as the
"Canal Royale" was also built. The port of Sète, built at the same time as
the Canal du Midi by Riquet and
Colbert, was designed as the sea-mouth of the canal. Louis XIV had instructed
his minister Colbert to find a new portt for the royal fleet and to create a
Mediterranean port.
The town was
officially created by Royal decree in 1673. Forty years later in July 1710, the
English attacked and seized the port.
In the 19th century,
the port increased its activity because of the trade of wine, wood, sulphur,
cereals, and iron. At the same time its population tripled.
Sete has its own,
very strong cultural identity, traditions, cuisine, and dialect. Built upon and
around Mont St Clair, Sète is situated on the south-eastern side of the Bassin
de Thau, an enclosed salt water lake, used primarily for oyster and mussel
fields.
It is a
cosmopolitan city, in which there is a large Italian community.
The Italian
influence has produced a dialect, that is only heard in Sete, and is
incomprehensible to many people. A food speciality of Sete is the Tielle.
Resembling a Cornish Pastie, but circular. The outer case is made of a bread
dough, and then filled with squid, and fish mixed with a tomato sauce, and
spiced with chili. It was imported from the Gulf of Gaèta, in Italy, by
the Italian immigrants in the XVIII century.
At 183 meters high,
the "Mont St. Clair" offers a panoramic view of the city, and its ports. The "Perres
Blanches" national pine forest, offers numerous footpaths from which you can
enjoy spectacular views of the Mediterranean, and the Thau Lagoon.
The "Quai de la
Marine" and its restaurants offer a large choice fish menus.
The town was almost
totally destroyed, whilst being liberated by the allies, at the end of the second
World War. However Sète was quickly reborn, and has become the principal fishing
port for France on the Mediterranean.
The Sailors Cemetary
(Cimetière marin) which overlooks the Corniche, and faces the sea, is one of
Sète’s most famous places. It was immortalised by the Sète poet, Paul
Valéry, who is buried in the upper part of the graveyard. Constructed in 1843
from the
 old quarried rock, that had been used in the building of the port. Just
like the poet, numerous Setois celebrites are buried here, looking out to sea. Sailors from around the world rest here.
Sète is the perfect place to visit at any time of the year. It is always busy,
with fishing boats, and people wandering its many picturesque streets. If you
want somewhere to eat a fish meal - this is the place. After dinner walks, are
rewarded, by panoramic views of the sea, and the glorious landscape
of Languedoc from Mont St Clair, an extinct volcano.
You can watch cruise ships docking here all year round.
There are museums
dedicated to its most famous sons, Georges Brassens and Paul Valéry.
Sete is separated
from Cap d'Agde by twelve kilometres of fine, sandy beaches.
Office de Tourisme de Sète |
