Agde - Activities in the local Area
Agde - 'The Black Pearl of the Mediterranean' offers miles of sandy beaches, limitless sunshine and fishing boats still moor at the quays of this cheerful and colourful port.
Agde is a historic town situated at the meeting point of the Hérault River, the Canal du Midi and the Mediterranean Sea. The area is part of the prestigious Grand Site Occitanie – Agde, Pézenas & Canal du Midi, recognized for its exceptional natural, architectural and cultural heritage.
The old Cite of Agde is the second oldest town in France, the Greeks arrived over 2700 years ago and the area of town where our apartment is located has been occupied ever since.
A maze of picturesque streets full of shops, restaurants and cafe bars are close by yet we are only 5 mins from the vibrant resort town of Cap d'Agde which offers the usual pleasures of the Med - nightclubs, casino, cinemas, Aqualand - the popular water theme park, luna park - a large fairground and the private naturist quarter.
For lovers of history and culture, Agde offers a remarkable heritage including its historic old town, Saint-Etienne Cathedral, the Château Laurens, the Musée de l'Éphèbe and the ancient volcanic architecture of the town. Nearby Pézenas, famous for its links with Molière, is renowned for its beautiful historic centre, artisan workshops, antiques and traditional markets.
Agde is close to some stunning, clean and relatively quiet beaches, it flies two EU blue flags for the quality of its beaches and environment. The beach at Saint Vincent in Grau d'Agde has been classed as the cleanest beach in France by labelleplage.fr website. Along the local coastline are some of the cleanest beaches and best sea swimming conditions in France.
The surrounding countryside offers a wealth of opportunities for cycling, hiking, horse riding, golf, wine tasting and gastronomic experiences.
The Languedoc vineyards and olive groves surround the area, with numerous wine estates and cellars open to visitors for tastings.
Nature lovers can explore the Bagnas Nature Reserve, the Hérault riverbanks, coastal lagoons and protected Mediterranean landscapes.
Activities in the local area are numerous and will keep even the most active family occupied. You can canoe, white water raft, cruise the canal, sail on the river, hit the med on a jet-ski or go on a deep sea fishing trip.
For those who like their water sports a little less active you can take a boat trip along the river and then round the med to Cap D'Agde. Fisherman will be in their element as the river is teeming with fish.
For the land lubbers you can choose from horse riding, pony trekking, quad biking, go karting, 10 pin bowling, cycling, mountain biking, adventure trails or the more regular sports of football, basketball, tennis, golf, boules or volleyball.
For those after a more relaxing time you can enjoy the climate in the local parks or beaches, view a movie at one of the local cinemas, see a play at the theatre, watch one of the many events or festivals, visit the local library or museum or even visit one of the nearby vineyards.
Dining out you are spoilt for choice, numerous restaurants with many serving locally caught fish and seafood, all washed down with excellent local wines.
In the old centre of Agde a lot of the old shops are being turned into Art and craft centres as people move to the out of town supermarkets to do their shopping. There are painters, sculptures, musicians, potters, jewellery makers and other craftspeople displaying their unique items. Look out for the 'Ateliers de la Perle Noir' signs.
It is easy to live without the use of a car in Agde. The apartment is just a 9 minute walk from the mainline TGV train station and the local bus service is frequent and inexpensive.
It is just a 10 to 15 minute cycle ride to the local beaches, the canal du midi or the local supermarkets along dedicated cycle paths.
Shopping in and around Agde is varied and plentiful with lots of the major supermarkets, clothes retailers, sports shops etc. on the outskirts of Agde. It is usually just a 10 minute drive to either major shopping centre and frequent bus services are in operation to and from them.
