Just 30 km from our boutique hotel in Montpellier, Sète is one of the Grands Sites Occitanie Sud de France. One of the prettiest fishing and trade ports in the Mediterranean, this town is also known as the “Venice of the Languedoc” owing to its location between the sea, canals, and the Étang de Thau. Favoured as a port site by Colbert, constructed by Italians, and the hometown to legends such as Paul Valéry and Georges Brassens, Sète is sure to enchant you. Located at the foot of Mont Saint-Clair between the great blue sea and the Étang de Thau, it boasts a mosaic of neighbourhoods with a village atmosphere. Here you’ll find lively chatter, fresh fish, and a festive spirit!
The beaches in Sète (which are Blue Flag) stretch out along the lido, a sandbar that separates the sea from the Étang de Thau, forming a pleasant natural space made up of former salt marshes and vineyards. To see the sea from above, follow the Promenade de la Corniche from the town centre, a heavily protected natural site overlooking the Mediterranean. Plus, head up Mont Saint-Clair for an outstanding view over the town and the sea.

Just 35 km from the Hotel des Arceaux, discover the fortified city of Aigues-Mortes, one of the best-preserved medieval sites in France. Located at the heart of the Camargue Gardoise, listed as a Grande Site de France and a Natura 2000 zone, Aigues-Mortes was the first Mediterranean port of the Kingdom of France. Today it is surrounded by land. 
When you arrive, you’ll be stunned by how well preserved the monumental city walls are, which are 1.6 km long. Take a tour of the entire area along the parapet walk, where you can enjoy a wonderful view of the salt marshes and the Camargue. Visit the majestic Tour de Constance, the residence of King Louis the Saint, from where he set off on his Crusade. Then stroll through the town, bursting with life thanks to the numerous workshops of artists and artisans.

Located at the bottom of a valley, the village of Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert with its abbey, a masterpiece of Romanesque art, is a miracle straddling against the cliffs, with the beautiful green waters of the River Hérault twisting and turning at its feet. 
Just 35 km from the hotel and located at the heart of the Gorges de l’Hérault, a listed Grand Site de France, Saint-Guilhem is listed as one of “The Most Beautiful Villages in France”, and is also located on the Camino de Santiago, just another reason to discover this gem with its abbey, its Tour des Prisons, its cloister, and its Château du Géant, which offers an incredible view over the surrounding area.
Nearby, the River Hérault has carved out wild gorges, providing truly epic views from the Pont du Diable, the oldest Romanesque bridge in France, and one that’s truly legendary. After having crossed it on foot, head across the newer Passerelle des Anges, designed by architect Rudy Ricciotti, for an exceptional panorama.

The Cirque de Navacelles, less than an hour from the Hotel des Arceaux, is an ecological and geological gem and is also a listed Grand Site de France. It also invites you to discover the agro-pastoral landscape of the Causses and Cévennes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Seen from the Blandas or Baume-Auriol belvederes, the Cirque de Navacelles will take your breath away. A one-of-a-kind in Europe, this 300 m-deep canyon is a result of the breakdown of limestone plateaux and a former oxbow lake of the River Vis. This river has found a more direct route by creating a monumental waterfall, to be discovered in the hamlet of Navacelles.
At the centre of the cirque is the Rocher de la Vierge, often called “L’Huître” (the Oyster), a rock topped with a statue of the Virgin surrounded by a sea of vegetation. It’s a real contrast after crossing the vast and arid limestone plateaus of Larzac, Blandas and Campestre.   

Emperor Augustus wanted to make Nîmes a second Rome – and indeed, like Rome, the city of Nîmes is surrounded by seven hills! The destiny of this city in the Languedoc was thus sealed over 2000 years ago. Today, it boasts a new life all of its own thanks to a superbly rejuvenated city centre, where the Ancient and Modern go hand in hand to create something even better. 
Things you have to see include the Arena of Nîmes (the best preserved Ancient Roman amphitheatre in the world), the Maison Carré (the only Roman temple from Antiquity to be completely preserved), and the Jardins and the Quais de la Fontaine.
A few kilometres away is the breathtaking masterpiece the Pont du Gard (a UNESCO World Heritage Site and another Grand Site de France). Built in the first century AD with stones extracted in the area in Roman quarries, it is the best-preserved aqueduct in the world and the most striking in the Mediterranean basin.