From La Bergerie du Mas Delon, the choice is yours: freshwater swimming at Lake Salagou (4 km, 8 minutes), or the beaches of the Mediterranean less than an hour's drive away. Cap d'Agde, Sète, Valras and Palavas-les-Flots are all within reach for a day at the seaside from the gîtes.
La Bergerie du Mas Delon enjoys an ideal position between lake and sea. 4 km away, Lake Salagou offers freshwater swimming in a spectacular natural setting, with its red sand beaches and its ruffes. Less than an hour away, the Mediterranean coast unrolls its beaches of fine sand.
In July and August, Lake Salagou is often more pleasant than the sea beaches: fewer crowds, calm water, an unspoilt natural setting, and supervised swimming at the developed beaches. For a seaside day with white sand and waves, Cap d'Agde (50 km) and Sète (55 km) are the closest options.
📷 Christian Ferrer — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
From Lake Salagou to the Mediterranean beaches — here are the best options, whatever you're in the mood for.
Les Vailhés beach and the Clermont-l'Hérault beach are the lake's two main developed swimming areas. Clean fresh water, supervised swimming in season, water sports (paddleboard, canoe). The setting of red ruffes is unique.
Cap d'Agde is the Hérault's big seaside resort, with its many beaches, its marina and its water sports facilities. Its 14 kilometres of beaches leave you spoilt for choice: La Roquille strewn with seashells, the long Richelieu beach, the Môle beach, or the little cliff-framed beach for those after some quiet. The leisure island packs in restaurants, bars, minigolf and an amusement park.
Sète is a singular town set between the sea and the Thau lagoon. The Corniche beach runs along the seafront, while the town itself — canals, market, water jousting — offers a one-of-a-kind experience. More cultural and authentic than Cap d'Agde.
Valras-Plage, at the mouth of the Orb, is a quiet family beach, less crowded than Cap d'Agde. The village is pleasant, and the beach is long and shallow — ideal for families with young children.
Palavas is the seaside resort closest to Montpellier. Two beaches either side of the canal, with a lively atmosphere in summer. Combine it with a visit to Montpellier on the same day.
Le Grau-d'Agde (55 km) is a less crowded beach close to Agde. La Grande-Motte (70 km) is known for its 1970s pyramid architecture and its long beaches of fine sand. It holds the European Blue Flag label and has twelve shower points spread across the East beach, the Centre beach and the West beach — Motte du Couchant.
Between Sète and Palavas, Frontignan lines up seven kilometres of beaches facing the Mediterranean, with water quality guaranteed by the European Blue Flag. A good alternative when Sète is packed at the height of summer.
Next door to Cap d'Agde, Marseillan has three long beaches of fine sand much loved by summer visitors: Le Rieu, Le Robinson and the Méditerranée beach. A chance to combine swimming with a discovery of the Thau lagoon.
Set between Palavas-les-Flots and La Grande-Motte, around twenty minutes from Montpellier, Carnon is lined with a fine-sand beach popular with families and water sports enthusiasts.
Between Frontignan and Palavas, Les Aresquiers is one of the most unspoilt beaches on the Hérault coast: no buildings on the seafront, just a ribbon of sand bordered by lagoons. The one to pick if you're after peace and quiet rather than beach bars.
The closest beach is at Lake Salagou, just 4 km from La Bergerie du Mas Delon. For the Mediterranean sea, the nearest beaches are Cap d'Agde (50 km) and Sète (55 km).
Yes, Lake Salagou has several developed beaches with supervised swimming in season: Les Vailhés beach and the Clermont-l'Hérault beach. The water is clean and shallow at the developed beaches, ideal for families.
Cap d'Agde (50 km) is the most complete seaside resort. Sète (55 km) is more authentic, with its canals and the Thau lagoon. Valras-Plage (60 km) is quiet and family-friendly. Palavas (65 km) is ideal if you are also visiting Montpellier.
Swimming at the Salagou 4 km away, Mediterranean beaches at 50 km. The best of both worlds from a 176-hectare estate in the Hérault.
