Sète in France - experience the little Venice of France

Welcome to Sète in France! Sète is located on a narrow isthmus on the French Mediterranean coast, just south of Montpellier. This harbour town is full of canals, boats and outdoor cafés, almost reminiscent of a small Venice.

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Sète in France

Sète is a commune, town and fortress that stands out for its special location on the narrow isthmus between the Étang de Thau and the Mediterranean.

We walked and walked ...

We accidentally parked a little too far from the city centre of Sète, and had to walk a long way. First we walked past several nice beaches on the outskirts of the city. Then we saw a large boat harbour with cranes, which did not look overly inviting.

We started to get discouraged. Were we really on the right track? Would we really find this nice and charming little town that people had told us about?

Sete Frankrike — Beautiful beaches just outside Sète

Sète in France - a charming city

When we finally entered the city, we were surprised by a really charming little community around a wide canal. The canal and all the water almost made the town look a bit like Venice. Fishing boats, cargo ships and passenger boats were everywhere, and along the waterfront the fish restaurants were next to each other.

Walking up between the houses, there were also plenty of small shops. This is a nice and fun city to be in and if you want to shop without being too expensive, Sete is a perfect place. We wanted to stay longer but the journey must go on.

Kanaler i Sete i Frankrike — Charming town centre with canal and boats

New flavour experiences

We chose a restaurant at random and ordered a 3-course lunch for 15 euros. For starters we had mixed seafood, for the main course we had fried shark with sauce and chips and for dessert we had creme brulée.

The meal included 3 completely new taste experiences for us: raw (!) mussels, sea snails and fried shark. Everything was really good although I (Helena) thought the sea snails looked a bit scary... We have to say that we think you almost always get good and creative food in France.

Lunch i Sete — The starter for today's lunch

More to see and do in the neighbourhood

In the vicinity of Sète, we can recommend, among other things, visits to charming Palavas les Flots and at charming and interesting Carcassonne. If you're travelling north, we can also recommend the stunningly beautiful natural area Gorges du Tarn.

28 April 2015 22:04

France

exotic food, fish & shellfish, freedom best, Motorhome holiday France, restaurants

Helena

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24 Comments

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Maggan and Ingemar says:

That meal would not have filled me up. And also raw mussels and snails....no, I won't do that. Have gone past Sete, but not stopped, looks to be a cosy town. Will probably make sure to stop next time.

28 April 2015 - 23:44

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Inga M says:

This city is a real little gem. Looks just the right amount of small town and picturesque. And what a location with water on several sides.
I wouldn't have made it through that meal, but you're used to eating both.

29 April 2015 - 3:29

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Comment by post author

admin says:

Maggan and Ingemar, sorry I missed printing all the dishes - that was just the starter! I have changed the post now. Of course it was food so we were full!
🙂

Inga M, we like seafood and enjoy trying new things, but there were many different dishes to choose from!

29 April 2015 - 3:55

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Marina says:

It looked really cosy, perhaps worth stopping there next time there is talk of a trip to the south of France.

29 April 2015 - 3:55

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Mr Steve says:

So many new and exciting places for you to discover.
What a fantastic lunch. The starter was of the cooler variety.

29 April 2015 - 7:15

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Snows says:

I was in Sète when I travelled by train. We ate at one of the restaurants by the canal and it was the first time I encountered a toilet with only a hole in the floor... We stayed a few days before moving on...

29 April 2015 - 7:42

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Lennart says:

Exciting and affordable lunch!

We passed there in 2014 on our way to the north, did not stop right there!

Maybe next time!

29 April 2015 - 8:04

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BP says:

What did I say;-) Really fun that you liked Sete! Oh just the food - yummy! You wouldn't even get these delicacies for five hundred here at home. Just the divine starter would cost three hundred bucks. I'm surprised that France has such low prices. Lucky for you:-)

29 April 2015 - 8:12

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Anonymous says:

Sounds very exciting! What kind of shark was it? Did you find out?

29 April 2015 - 8:25

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Mr Nils-Åke Hansson says:

There were many taste experiences. I have never tasted shark. 15Euro good price.
Stay well
Nisse

29 April 2015 - 8:34

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Comment by post author

admin says:

Marina, very nice and worth a trip here! Then there is a lot that we have not had time to see yet ...

Steve, the starter was an experience!
🙂

Znogge, don't know exactly but guess those toilets were more common in Europe in the past! I also encountered them the first time I travelled by train, but it was in Eastern Europe somewhere.

Lennart, we also found it very affordable!

BP, we said the same thing when we ate. I wonder what it would have cost in Sweden? But it will be cheap because it is fished locally! No transport...

Anonymous, no unfortunately. We also thought about it...

Nils-Åke, I have only eaten rotten shark in Iceland (a strange speciality they have). This shark was good! White meat that melted in the mouth.

29 April 2015 - 8:45

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solan says:

An interesting city, tricky to find. We have succeeded once out of three times. Perhaps the best is to stand a bit outside and bus in. We will do that next time. Still good route!

29 April 2015 - 8:59

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JoY says:

We cycled in there as we were parked along the sea. Yes, there were many restaurants there, I remember.
Hugs

29 April 2015 - 9:16

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Ama de casa says:

What a cosy city! And how good all the seafood is in France!
🙂

29 April 2015 - 10:53

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Alexandra says:

Glad you liked Séte, so did we! 😀 Also remember that there were many restaurants there, however, we did not try any of them, we had a picnic in a park instead. Raw mussels sounded a bit nasty though haha

29 April 2015 - 10:55

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Comment by post author

admin says:

Solan, we were a bit too far away and had to walk a bit. But there was a car park at the castle where you might be able to stand? Most places were for cars with a maximum height of 2.10, but there were some larger vehicles outside the barrier.

JoY, glad you were here too!

Ama de casa, amazing with all the seafood! And cheap compared to Sweden!

Alexandra, I didn't even know you could eat raw mussels, but apparently! They were a bit like oysters in texture, and tasted fresh from the sea!
🙂

29 April 2015 - 12:10

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CavaforLunch.com says:

Such lovely pictures! It must be an absolutely amazing place 🙂

29 April 2015 - 13:47

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Anders and Birgitta says:

Nice to read about Sete, we have travelled through there many times but never stopped.

29 April 2015 - 14:29

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Ditte says:

How nice that you went there and also enjoyed the city. And exciting menu! I would probably have chosen another one, but it's fun to try what you haven't eaten before.
I was here many years ago when we rented a large caravan at a campsite south of Montpellier, in Valras Plage. And sometime in my youth. But when I saw the canal pictures, the memory was refreshed.

29 April 2015 - 15:02

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Lena in Wales says:

How nice to see pictures from Sète. I recognise myself at the canal. Sure is nice there!
Nice to see the newspaper article about you.
Enjoy your stay in glorious France!

29 April 2015 - 15:58

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Comment by post author

admin says:

CavaforLunch, thank you for your comment! Sure, a great place!

Anders and Birgitta, it was a nice stop!

Ditte, you've been everywhere!
😉

Lena in Wales, thank you for the greeting and glad that you were also in Sete!

29 April 2015 - 17:17

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Linnea Edmark says:

You look like you're having a great time! Good food, sun and nice weather. Things to remember the days when everything is not as sunny, warm and nice 😉.
Greetings Linnea I Bavaria

30 April 2015 - 11:12

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steel city anna says:

How nice! And sunny! Hail has just now. The food looks good and if I had not known what it was, I would have tasted it 🙂 .

30 April 2015 - 18:02

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Margret Björklund says:

We have visited Sete 2 times when we go down to ? in Spain. A real gem lived well both times ate good food mussels and fish recommend staying there do not pass by very cosy place ????

28 April 2018 - 13:49

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Sète in France - experience the little Venice of France

Sète in France

We walked and walked ...

Sète in France - a charming city

New flavour experiences

More to see and do in the neighbourhood

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24 Comments

Maggan and Ingemar says:

Inga M says:

admin says:

Marina says:

Mr Steve says:

Snows says:

Lennart says:

BP says:

Anonymous says:

Mr Nils-Åke Hansson says:

admin says:

solan says:

JoY says:

Ama de casa says:

Alexandra says:

admin says:

CavaforLunch.com says:

Anders and Birgitta says:

Ditte says:

Lena in Wales says:

admin says:

Linnea Edmark says:

steel city anna says:

Margret Björklund says:

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