An occupied settlement since ancient times, Meze, on the north-western coast of the Etang de Thau, is now an important local centre for oyster production. Although tourism has an increasingly important role to play, Meze is currently unspoiled and does not have too many tourists.
Explore Meze
France This Way review: the small town of Mèze will perhaps not detain you very long, but the waterfront and the old town are both pleasant areas to explore as part of your visit to the Etang de Thau.
Your visit to Meze will focus around the harbour, and the streets in the immediately surounding area.
Although Meze is still an active fishing town, the main port for visitors (there are two) is the pleasure port: a pleasant place for a stroll with lots of small pleasure boats and several cafes around the edges of the port. There is a small beach, the Plage du Tambourin, just east of the main harbour.
The centre of the town in Meze has narrow streets to explore in the old town (especially the attractive vaulted passageways). Part of the ancient ramparts can also be seen along the etang. Another point of interest in Meze is the 17th century Chateau de Girard, rather stark in appearance, and externally not of great interest, the castle plays host to various art exhibitions;
Among the religious monuments in Meze is the Chapel of Penitents, on the edge of the water and now also given over to modern art and exhibitions. The chapel needs quite a lot of work, and several aspects of the modern art are perhaps not sympathetic to the 13th century origins of the chapel. This chapel stands in the same location as an Ancient Greek temple once stood.
Others include the churches of Saint Hilaire (15th century) and Saint-Martin-de-Caux (a quaint roman style church constructed in the 12th century for the pilgrims that passed through the town)
Children will enjoy a visit to the paleontology centre - called the Dinosaur Park - which commemorates the fossils found in the region while also allowing children to learn through their own fossil hunting games.
The liveliest day to visit Meze is Sunday, when the weekly market takes place and the town is much more lively than usual.
To see nearby
There are several other small port towns to discover nearby on on the Etang de Thau including Bouzigues (along with Meze, Bouzigues is the centre of oyster production here), Loupian and Balaruc-le-Vieux, each with their own characteristics.
You can find more travel ideas in the Herault guide and the Languedoc-Roussillon guide.
Photos of Meze
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Map of Meze and places nearby
Visit near Meze with France This Way reviews
Loupian
Take a stroll around the town of Loupian, then visit the 1st century mosaics at the nearby Roman villa
Loupian guide
Etang de Thau
The large lagoon of the Etang de Thau has several interesting small fishing villages around its edges
Etang de Thau guide
Bouzigues
No visit to Bouzigues, on the Etang de Thau, would be complete without sampling the fresh oysters and mussels
Bouzigues guide
Balaruc-le-Vieux
Balaruc-le-Vieux is a small village on the Etang-de-Thau and near Balaruc-le-Bains, a long-established spa town
Balaruc-le-Vieux guide
... or see ALL recommended places to visit in Herault
Address: Mèze, Montpellier, Languedoc-Roussillon, 34140, France || GPS coordinates: latitude 43.427, longitude 3.6058
Plan your visit to Meze, Herault
Sightseeing & tourist attractions to visit nearby
- Etang de Thau: site of natural beauty (3 km)
- Etangs du Bagnas: site of natural beauty (15 km)
- Pezenas: recommended detour (15 km)
- Céressou: site of natural beauty (22 km)
- Étangs palavasiens: site of natural beauty (22 km)
- Jardin des carrières de Saint-Adrien: remarkable garden (25 km)
- Parc et jardin du château de Margon: remarkable garden (25 km)
- Cirque du Moureze: site of natural beauty (29 km)
- Cirque de Mourèze: site of natural beauty (29 km)
- Montpellier: secteur sauvegarde (30 km)
- Grotte de la Clamouse: site of natural beauty (31 km)
- Saint Jean de Fos pont du diable (monuments on French pilgrim routes): heritage site (31 km)
The French version of this page is at Meze (Francais)