.svg/35px-Blason_ville_fr_Bouzigues_(Hérault).svg.png){kind=small}
| Bouzigues ((oc)Bosigas) | |
.jpg/210px-Bouzigues_(Hérault,_France).jpg) | |
| View from the Thau lagoon | |
| Information | |
| Country |  France |
|---|---|
| Regions | Occitania Herault |
| Lake | Thau pond |
| Altitude | Between 0 and61 m |
| Area | 3,05 km² |
| Population | 1 660 hab. (2018) |
| Density | 544,26 inhab./km² |
| Nice | Bouzigaud |
| Postal code | 34140 |
| Telephone prefix | 33 4 67 |
| Spindle | UTC 01:00, UTC 02:00 |
| Location | |
 43 ° 27 ′ 19 ″ N 3 ° 39 ′ 13 ″ E | |
| Official site | |
| Touristic site | |
Bouzigues is a town in the department ofHerault, located on the edge of the Thau lagoon, 14 km of Sète. The main activity there is oyster farming, and there are many quality restaurants. Bouzigues is hardly a seaside resort, as there is little tourist accommodation, but it is a quiet place where one can escape from everyday life.
Understand
The name of Bouzigues comes from Occitan Bosigas (which means "wasteland"). The Thau lagoon extends 5 km between this small town of 1,700 inhabitants and the Mediterranean Sea. However, Bouzigues delights the atmosphere of a traditional Mediterranean fishing port, as well as the beautiful climate typical of this sunny corner of France. From the port of Bouzigues, one can look beyond the oyster and mussel beds towards the Sète and Marseillan. In the hinterland, do not miss the vineyards and olive groves.
The title “Oyster Capital” suggests a strong shellfish industry, but this has not spoiled the charms of Bouzigues, which is essentially a sleepy town for most of the day. Just before noon, she transforms; tourist coaches deliver crowds of passengers, who stroll along Louis Tudesq Avenue in search of the ultimate seafood. Then enter 12 h 00 and 14 h 30, each restaurant feeds its insatiable clientele with platters of mussels, knives, shrimp, sea bass, red mullet and famous oysters. Once satisfied, most tourists hit the road, and Bouzigues resumes its comfortable tranquility. For you, it might be time to sunbathe at the beach, or sit in front of the harbor and watch the world go by. Or perhaps you preferred to explore the shady alleys of the old town. Even outside of meal times, you'll never be the only visitor to Bouzigues, but you'll probably feel like you've found a well-kept secret.
Tourist offices
The reception of Thau Pond Museum is equipped with a small 1 visitor Center which offers plenty of brochures and reduction tickets applicable to tourist attractions in Hérault. The main North Thau Basin Tourist Office is on quai Baptiste Guitard, in Mèze.
To go
Bouzigues is located on the northern coast of the Etang de Thau, between the towns of Meze (6 km) and Balaruc-les-Bains (8 km). You can easily reach Bouzigues from the SNCF and maritime stations of Sète (where car ferries arrive from Morocco). Montpellier is about thirty kilometers from Bouzigues, and its airport is a little further.
By car and motorhome
To reach Bouzigues by road from the airport, you will need to follow the D66 to the highway A709, that you will take, direction Béziers / Barcelona. After a few minutes you will cross a toll and reach theA9. Leave the motorway at exit 33, then follow the signs that will tell you Bouzigues.
The departmental road D613 joins Bouzigues from the motorway. There are three different exits to enter the city. At the last of these (or the first since Meze), there is a 1 parking for motorhomes , chemin de la Catonnière (15 min walk from the port). To reach the city center, follow Avenue Louis Tudesq to the port, where there is another car park. Places are limited; in high season, remember to arrive early.
By bus
Buses from Hérault Transport serve Bouzigues from several towns in the department, and offer very good prices (a one-way ticket costs 2 € for an adult). In particular, line 320 leaves the city center of Sète, passing by the bus / SNCF station, and serving Bouzigues at the stop of 2 the beach . Two different lines come from Tramway stations of Montpellier : line 103 from Saint-Jean-de-Védas (tram T2), and line 104 from Sabines station (also served by T2). The two buses from the prefecture stop at 3 branch D613 . This is a roundabout about 10-15 min walk to the city center; Finding the right path is very easy, but the "shuttle on foot" is not suitable for people with reduced mobility.
On a boat
The Thau lagoon meets the high seas at Sète and the Canal du Midi at Marseillan, then Bouzigues welcomes many holiday boats. The number of places to welcome visitors amounts to 10 typical canal boats. As soon as you arrive by boat, go to the 4 Harbor master's office , 
33 4 67 53 39 84, which is located in front of the fishing port, next to the Thau Pond Museum. Here you will pay all port charges and taxes.
By bike
We may regret the old railway that once served the shellfish industry, but we should appreciate the cycle path (Greenway) who replaced it. It follows the coast from Balaruc-les-Bains, through the town of Bouzigues, then joins Loupian and Sète. At each end, the greenway is linked to other tracks that would serve your tours of the region.
Circulate
It is a very small town, so you will get around on foot or by bike. Watch out for vehicles that are sometimes too fast circulating in the small streets of the town.
To see
- 1 Thau Pond Museum Fishing port quay,
33 4 67 78 33 57, e-mail : [email protected] 
10 h - 12 h 30 and14 h 30 - 19 h in July-August, 10 h - 12 h and14 h - 18 h out of season. 
Adult 5 € Child 3,5 €. – Rich museum on the life of the pond. The first room of the exhibition presents the culture of oysters in its historical and modern contexts. Afterwards, a small aquarium shows some species of fish and crustaceans that live in the neighboring waters; the museum offers you good recipes, the memory of which becomes quite funny when you continue to the conservation room. Here you will learn about the ecology of the pond, and learn about the pressures on nature caused by intensive fishing and tourism. It is a museum where your children will not be bored, and where most of the information is given in German and English as well as in French. - 2 Fishing port and marina Fishing port quay – The real must-sees in Bouzigues are the city's two small ports. You will see traditional rowing boats and modern yachts moored at the jetties. It is also the starting point of a tourist boat which makes the promenade of the pond. Wander to the boat repairman's hut to watch his slow, relaxed, and fascinating work.
- 3 Old Bouzigues – The pretty alleys and sunny squares of the old town are a must see. Admire the colorful houses that line the narrow passages, and let yourself be charmed by the garden of the church, rue Jean Jaurès. If the church is open, it will be worth a visit, as it houses the tombs of the feudal lords of Bouzigues. Do not miss the communal well (XVIIIe century) on the Chemin des Aiguilles. When you find yourself in the present-day Place du Général de Gaulle, which is two stories high, you can imagine the fishing quay that it once was.
- 4 Zoo Farm 450, Chemin des Aiguilles (Follow the signs, or read the instructions fun website.), 33 4 67 78 30 13, 33 4 67 53 32 74 summer : Tue.- Sun. : 10 h - 19 h ; rest of the year: Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday, public holidays 14 h - 18 h. Adult / child over 12 years old: 6 € ; child aged 3-12 4 € ; child under 3 years old: free entry. – Meet the pets at this cute zoo for little ones, which has a children's play area and picnic area.
- 5 Fireman Museum Fire station, Z.A. de la Gare, Avenue Alfred Bouat, 33 4 67 78 32 57, e-mail : [email protected] Guided tour by appointment only. Free entry - donations are appreciated. – A hidden gem among the attractions of Bouzigues, run by volunteer firefighters. This museum houses many objects (helmets, gear, pumps ...) associated with the French firefighter since 1780 and dating back to the present day.
Adult Do
- 1 Navy Blue Sightseeing Boat (Main pier of the marina), 33 6 03 31 44 90 Daily departures April-October. Apr, Oct: 15 h ; May, June, Sep: 11 h, 14 h 30, 16 h ; July August : 11 h, 14 h 30, 16 h, 17 h 30. Departures only by reservation November-March. Schedules change depending on weather conditions - check on the slate at the entrance to the port. Adult : 12 €, child (aged 3 to 16): 8 €. – the Navy Blue will take you to the shellfish parks during a long hour of guided tour that will allow you to better understand the life cycle of commercial molluscs. The welcome is warm and the commentary gives a lot of information in a humorous style. Unfortunately the team only speaks French, but if you have difficulty understanding, we will provide you with sheets in French or in English.
- 2 Greenway (Departure from the parking lot of the old station if you are cycling; otherwise, to avoid the boring crossing of a modern housing estate, you can walk from Pyramid Beach - see below for directions.) – This cycling and hiking trail 12 km traces an old railway; you can follow it west to Mèze, or east, which is much more interesting, to the equestrian center which marks the urban outskirts of Balaruc. You will pass very close to lagoons and mudflats where you will have the opportunity to see the remarkable fauna: the flamingo and the common buzzard are common, as are several species of heron (the gray heron, the black heron, the great and the little egret). With any luck, you might spot the sudden azure of a kingfisher, or the red tail of a squirrel rushing out its little things. How bewitching!
There are two small beaches in Bouzigues. Swimming is unsupervised and dogs are officially prohibited (although many people ignore it):
- 3 Pyramid Beach Fishing port quay (next to the port and the museum) – Between the floats, we cleared the algae to leave space for people to swim. If you move slowly you will see small fish basking in the warm shallows. From the beach, there is a panorama towards Balaruc and Sète, and it is also possible to walk by the pond.
- 4 La Plagette Avenue Louis Tudesq (a few hundred meters from the port, served by the "La Plage" bus stop) – Ironically, this beach is a bit bigger than the other, and has a lot less seaweed. It has a volleyball net and a beautiful view over the oyster beds towards Mèze and, on a clear day, the Pyrenees.
To buy
Food and miscellaneous
- 1 OC'API Place Georges Clemenceau Mon.- sat. : 7 h 30 - 13 h and16 h 30 - 20 h ; Sun. : 7 h 30 - 13 h. – A mini-market that sells stuff for the beach, and various food items, including fresh greens, local cheeses / meats, and alcoholic drinks.
- 2 La Petrie Artisan Baker Pastry Chef 12 Grand-Rue Étienne Portes (Ignore confusing road signs. Leaving from the Hôtel de Ville, follow rue de la République passing in front of Place G. Clemenceau, then take the first left and keep to your left at the fork immediately after. You are now in the Grand-Rue.) Tue.- sat. : 7 h 30 - 12 h 30 and16 h - 19 h 30 ; Sun. : 7 h 30 - 12 h 30. – Very good selection of breads; try the Aveyronnais. The pastries are also to be tasted. However, the pastries are disappointing and the reception a bit cold for the south.
- 3 Bouzigues market Place de la Golette Tuesday / Friday - mornings. – Sale of Hérault products in a very small market
Meze offers you a much larger market (every Thursday and Sunday), small halls (open Tuesday-Sunday), and two useful supermarkets (Carrefour Market and Intermarché).
Seashells
There are half a dozen shellfish merchants, most of whom are also ranchers. Be prepared to pay a premium for the famous Bouzigues oysters; the other products - mussels, shrimps, some fish and tiel sétoises (a kind of squid and tomato pie) - are inexpensive. Most of the shops are next to the shellfish farming area, at the other end of Avenue Louis Tudesq from the port, but there is one on Place de la Golette.
Memories
- 4 The Craftsmen's Workshop (Soaps of Bouzigues) 17 avenue Louis Tudesq, 33 4 30 72 64 03 – Handicrafts from Bouzigues and its surroundings. The boss makes soaps and cosmetics.
- 5 The Elixir Rue de la Poterne, 33 4 67 78 75 98 – Sale of tobacco and newspapers, as well as some souvenirs and wine from the local terroirs
- 6 The Dressing Rue de la Poterne, 33 6 73 49 39 69 Tue.- Fri. : 10 h 30 - 12 h 30 and16 h - 19 h 30sat.- Sun. : 10 h 30 - 19 h 30. – Vintage clothes and the best postcards from Bouzigues
Eat
Culinary specialties
Seafood, of course. Apart from the famous oysters, the mussels and prawns are exceptional. To facilitate your culinary discoveries, consider ordering a plate of knives, or taste one of the most famous recipes of the pond, the tielle sétoise, a kind of pie garnished with octopus or squid, mixed with a sauce. spicy tomato. Cold mussel trays should be avoided unless you already enjoy that particular taste.
You are on a diet vegetarian ? Bad luck, because the restaurants in Bouzigues are typical of rural France, offering very few dishes without meat or fish. You will have to go up to Sète to find an organic restaurant, The part of the angels, which will offer you a good selection of vegetarian dishes. Otherwise, Montpellier is a different culinary world.
Restaurants
All the restaurants line Avenue Louis Tudesq, next to the pond. If you are dining at sunset, consider requesting a table on the terrace to take in the beautiful skies; no matter the address.
- 1 The big Blue 13, Avenue Louis Tudesq, 33 4 67 78 72 09 – Has an upstairs terrace with a view of the Thau lagoon.
- 2 The Petit Bouzigues 45, Avenue Louis Tudesq, 33 4 67 78 56 25, e-mail : [email protected] Tue.- sat. : 12 h - 14 h and19 h - 21 h 30. – A very good address which only has a chef, a waitress and 16 place settings. The specialty of the house is octopus, but the chef knows how to cook all the products from the pond. Reservation strongly recommended.
- 3 At the Tchepe 14, Avenue Louis Tudesq, 33 4 67 78 33 19 Mon.- Sun. : 9 h - 18 h. – Shellfish tasting direct from the producer, on site or to take away.
- 4 At Francine's 11, Avenue Louis Tudesq, 33 4 67 78 95 84 – Hearty seafood dishes.
- 5 L'Arseillère 17, Avenue Louis Tudesq, 33 4 67 78 84 12 – Another good restaurant for tasting oysters and mussels.
- 6 At Alex & Lucie's 19 Avenue Louis Tudesq, 33 4 67 74 98 36 sea.- Sun. : 12 h - 15 h and19 h - 21 h. – Hearty dishes and friendly service which can be a bit late when there are a lot of people. Arrive at opening time to make the most of it.
Snack
- 7 Lydia Benito Artisan Glacier (The Ice Creams of the Bouline) 8, rue de la République, 33 4 99 02 63 16 – Excellent ice creams, sorbets and frozen desserts.
- 8 Mitcho pizza Place de la Golette, 33 4 30 41 47 43 Every day except Monday, from 17 h 30. – pizza truck, take out pizzas. Mitcho cooks at his own pace, talking to his customers. If you don't want to wait, you can order by phone.
Have a drink / Go out
The wine to taste is the picpoul de pinet AOC, which goes very nicely with seafood and fish. The one with the black label has a sweet and fruity taste, while the “white label” version is raw and smooth. Both serve well chilled. There are several wineries open to the general public in the area, where you can buy your picpoul or other Languedoc wines.
Beyond the gastronomy, Bouzigues has practically no nightlife. There is only one bar in town, apart from those attached to hotels.
- 1 The globe 18, rue de la République, 33 4 67 78 32 69 Every day 7 h - 21 h. – PMU bar, free wifi.
Housing
If Bouzigues is really quiet, it's because there aren't many accommodations in town. Beyond what is listed below, there are a handful of lodges in the close vicinity. Do not forget that Balaruc-les-Bains and Mèze are seaside resorts, where there are more tourist accommodation.
Hotels
- 1 White sail 1, avenue Louis Tudesq, 33 4 67 78 35 77, e-mail : [email protected] room: € 65- € 85; suite: € 110- € 190. – Opposite the port, the hotel offers individually designed rooms, a bar-restaurant and views overlooking the pond.
- 2 The Blue Coast 59, avenue Louis Tudesq, 33 4 67 78 31 42 room € 68- € 147. – Located next to the shellfish industry, this is a motel-style establishment that offers modern rooms, a swimming pool and a restaurant.
Camping
- 3 Lou Labech rue du Stade, 33 4 67 78 30 38, e-mail : [email protected] Two people and electricity socket: € 16- € 30. – A small site for 48 caravans and / or motorhomes, where there are also chalets for rent. The campsite has a health club and free wifi connection. TV, laundry and communal refrigerators. Bike rental available. Your children can say hello to the friendly provencal donkeys that live next door.
Communicate
The customers of World can enjoy free wifi. However, the nearest cybercafé is at 13, rue du 11 novembre 1918 (Sète), and is called cyberphone7.
Around
- 1 Loupian – an interesting neighboring town that deserves a little detour. Most visitors go directly to the Gallo-Roman villa to admire its exceptional mosaics, but they forget the village. Too bad for them. Access by bike or by bus (line 320), if you don't feel like driving.
- 2 Meze – another fishing town like Bouzigues, but larger. Its beach, its pretty port and its bi-weekly market (Thursdays and Sundays) are to be seen. Line 320 of departmental buses or D613 will get you there in minutes.
- 3 Sète – a port city which shelters a good museum of fine arts, it is also the birthplace of Georges Brassens, great interpreter of the French song. Access by car or bus, our faithful line 320.
- 4 Montpellier – essential city to energize your holidays. Whether you are going by car or by bus (lines 103/104; ask for a return ticket with TaM ticket to be able to access the tram), it is better to go to the Sabines tram station where there is a park-and-ride, rather than trying to find parking in town.
- 5 Nimes – the Arena which still howls and all the other Roman buildings which are sumptuously preserved. Instead of driving, consider taking the train from Sète station, which is served by bus line 320.
- (in) This article is partially or entirely from the Wikivoyage article in English entitled « Bouzigues » (see the list of authors).
