The best road cycling routes around Sète

From the greenway, your gaze plunges onto the Thau pond and its immense checkerboard of shellfish farming tables. These regular alignments are the farming facilities where the lagoon's oysters and mussels are produced. Bouzigues holds a special place in this story: in 1925, Antoine Louis Tudesq and other Bouzigues oyster farmers developed the "Pyramid" technique, which contributed to the development of shellfish farming in the pond.

The greenway runs here on a narrow strip of land between the Étang de la Moulière to the north and the Crique de l’Angle to the south. The latter is a natural cove located at the eastern end of the Étang de Thau, where the fresh waters of the Vène meet the brackish waters of the lagoon. This wetland, classified Natura 2000, hosts numerous water birds in particular.

From La Catonnière, the view plunges over the étang de Thau and its immense checkerboard of shellfish tables. These regular alignments are the breeding facilities where the lagoon's oysters and mussels are produced. Bouzigues holds a special place in this history: in 1925, Antoine Louis Tudesq and other Bouzigues oyster farmers developed the "Pyramid" technique, which contributed to the development of shellfish farming in the étang. The panorama thus allows us to read the landscape differently: behind this vast expanse of water lies a true production space, shaped for over a century by the work of the "sea peasants".

The greenway runs here on a narrow strip of land between the Étang de la Moulière and the Crique de l’Angle. To the south, the view opens up beyond the Crique de l’Angle over the Étang de Thau, then over Sète, dominated by the silhouette of Mont Saint-Clair (183 m).

This medieval village, which appeared in the 11th century, had a strategic position, perched above the Hérault valley. Even today, its castle, fortifications, and towers give it a military appearance.

Between the ponds of Vic and Ingril, the Bois des Aresquiers forms an astonishing coastal pine forest of nearly 97 hectares. Its peculiarity lies in the immediate proximity between the forest and the lagoon environments: the pine forest succeeds the sansouires and salt marshes before reaching the banks of the ponds. Protected by the Conservatoire du littoral since 1980, the site also has an agricultural history. After belonging to a religious community, the estate was exploited for various agricultural activities, then for vines until the 1970s. Pine plantations and a period of non-management then contributed to forming the current woodland. This history has not prevented a remarkable plant diversity: about fifteen rare or threatened species have been recorded there, including Bupleurum glauccum, a protected species discovered on the site, and Ophrys cumbulifera, an endemic Mediterranean orchid.

Going up Grand Rue towards the church of Sainte-Léocadie, several old houses bear witness to the traditional architecture of old Vic. Stone surrounds, cornices, openings, and facade details make up old buildings that still contribute to the identity of the village center. The municipality ensures the preservation of the style of these facades.

🏰 Redoute du Castellas – old watchtower by the Lido Directly by the Lido between Sète and Marseillan-Plage, standing somewhat lost among dunes and pine trees, is the Redoute du Castellas. The small stone defensive tower was used for monitoring and defending the coast – the approach of possible attackers was to be detected early from here. The tower has three levels. The lower area presumably housed a storage room, with the actual defensive areas featuring embrasures above. The upper floors were accessible via ladders, which could be removed in an emergency. The exact dating is interesting: various sources attribute the tower to the 16th or 18th century. What is certain, however, is that the Redoute has been protected as a Monument Historique since November 6, 1939. Today, the massive little tower between the beach, dunes, and cycle path seems a little unusual – at the same time, it serves as a reminder that this seemingly peaceful stretch of coast was also once militarily monitored. 🇫🇷 Anyone cycling along the Lido will practically pass right by it. 🚲👌🏼 Greetings Marcus ✌🏼