CIEL CHATEAU
Country house for rent,
Sete, near Montpellier, Beziers

SLEEPS 10
SWIMMING POOL
EXTENSIVE GARDENS
VIEWS OF SETE AND MEDITERRANEAN SEA
5 BEDROOMS
3 BATHROOMS
DELUXE PRIVATE

ABOUT SETE

Under the gallo-romans Sète was known as Ceta or Sita, centered on the island of Mont Saint Clair, known for the production of pickled fish. After silt forced the closure of the sea ports of Aigues Mortes, Agde, and Narbonne, Sète, became the definitive Languedoc port. Centuries later the town was almost totally destroyed while being liberated by the allies at the end of the second World War. However Sete was quickly reborn to become the principal fishing port for France on the Mediterranean.

The charm of Sete is in the effortless energy that exumes from the canal, the sea, the streets, the restaurants. You can walk and discover fishing boats, busy with their cargo, walk and find a restaurant to eat and watch, even in the relative cool of deepest winter. It seems there is a warmth here, perhaps because of its cosmopolitan feeling of ships from ports far away or from the young coming from the nearby university city of Montpellier.

It is no wonder that Georges Brassens, who is buried here, was imbued with song and word, and also that it was to provide the inspiration for Paul Valèry. Walk down the Saint Louis Pier (Mole Saint Louis - originally constructed by Riquet to protect the entrance of the port) - look at the fishing boats and yachts vie for space. Here you will see some fo the fastest sailboats in the world as it is here that the French train for the America's Cup.

The slim lighthouse is the last light house in France equipped with a fresnel lens from rock crystal. Perhaps take a bite in one of the wonderful restaurants on the canal before climbing up Mont Saint-Clair (183m), where you will have a wonderful view of the village, the port, the Bassin de Thau, the Cevennes, the Pyrennees. Visit the Chapelle Notre Dame de la Salette. a church that originally served hermits who prayed for the souls of the fishermen, as well as lighting fires to warn of pirates. Here too, is the Sailors Cemetary (Le Cimetiere Marin). Constructed in 1843 this cemetary was immortalised by Paul Valery.

Just like the poet, numerous Setois celebrites are buried here facing the sea. Look at the sailors names that run from Belgian to Scandinavian, often appended with Italian like endings, because they wanted to have a closer attachment to the Mediterranean zeal. Close too visit the Musée Valéry with a good collection of paintings, a wonderful exhibition on the life of the poet, as well as historical items relating to Sète.

Perhaps as you leave, this warm, colorful town, this Venice of Languedoc, wander around the Pointe Courte, to drink in the atmosphere of the fishermen's quarter. Or take a drive out on the coastal road to Agde, and lie under the sun, and rush into the waves - look down the seeingly endless beach to the distant Pyrennees punching into the sky.

Sete is well located to enjoy the best of Languedoc beaches that stretch to Cap d'Agde (famous for it naturist resort). Visits to the cosmopolitan delights of Montpellier - concerts, museums, shops. Day trips to abbeys cradled in hills such as at St Guilhem-le-Desert, Lagrasse in the Corbieres (with the mountain top Cathar castles of Queribus and Peyrepertuse) or the medieval cité castle at Carcassonne are all possible.

ACCESS

There are international connections by air at Montpellier (30 mins), Marseille (1 hr), Nimes (45 mins), Carcassonne (1 hr 15 mins) and Toulouse (2 hr 30 mins) where car hire facilities are available. Other international airports are Perpignan (2 1/2 hours), and Barcelona (Spain)(4 1/2 hours).

There are also regular train services to the station in Sete which connect into the high speed TGV rail services throughout France.