La Grande Motte
La Grande Motte
Experience a unique futuristic town by the Mediterranean. La Grande Motte is the work of a visionary architect: Jean Balladur. He was commissioned to design a sea resort on a marshy wasteland in the 60s. He built an exceptional site with pyramid residences inspired by Mexico's Pre-Columbian temples and the sea world.
Venture into this creation step by step. Walk or cycle on 25km of dedicated trails linked to the great Méditerranée à Vélo bike path (EuroVelo 8).
La Grande Motte
Head to La Grande Motte, Grand Site Occitanie, for a relaxing, natural destination! Professional kite surfer Thomas Lombardo tells us his top tips.
Did you know?
La Grande Motte is a leafy sea resort that's buzzing all year round. The town is home to 70% of tree-filled green areas and over 8000 permanent residents.
Get a real insight into La Grande Motte with the many Tourist Information guided tours. You'll learn that "La Grande Pyramide" building is based on the Pic Saint-Loup's inverted reflection.
You'll also learn things like distinguishing Le Couchant, the "feminine" neighbourhood with seafront curvy buildings on the one hand. And Le Levant on the other hand, the "masculine" neighbourhood in the town centre with short pyramids and straight buildings.
La Grande Motte
Don't miss
Golf and thalassotherapy are what La Grande Motte is famous for and are part of its history. The Floridian-style golf course designed by Robert Trent Jones was opened in 1986 followed by the thalassotherapy centre.
La Grande Motte is surrounded by an incredible wealth of nature. Le Ponant Lake (280 hectares), the mouth of the Vidourle and the lido, a dune belt between the sea and L'Or Lake, are home to incredible biodiversity.
Signs provide information about orchids and bird species including the area's iconic flamingoes. Don't be surprised to meet a loggerhead sea turtle as they sometimes surface in summer.
With children
There are children's workshops to observe sea turtles in the process of reacclimatising at Le Ponant Lake. Find out more at Tourist Information
La Grande Motte
7km of fine sand beaches! Le Grand Travers beach, a favourite among people from Montpellier, is packed with beach huts. Le Couchant beach is your go-to for windsurfing, stand-up paddling, canoeing, kayaking, kitesurfing, diving... anything in terms of water sports.
Along the town centre's beach there are children's games whilst adults can enjoy the restaurants and shops on the seafront promenade. Continue towards Le Grau-du-Roi and you'll reach Point Zéro Beach, protected by dunes.
Parking
You can't drive to La Grande Motte's seafront but you can go through the resort. There are lots of shaded car parks on the outskirts so you can make the most of the town on foot or by bike.
Our suggestions
Regional Committee for Tourism and Leisure Occitanie
Others websites
How to get there
La Grande Motte is 20km from Montpellier in the Hérault.
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