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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.
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 and 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
The Cathedral at
Agde.
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 Gr au 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 sandy 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 and 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
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