La Grande Motte: All destinations, advice & information for your holidays!
La Grande Motte demonstrates what green cities can look like: around 70 percent of the urban area consists of trees and other plants. Discover in La Grande Motte the distinctive avant-garde buildings designed by the visionary Jean Balladeur. He found his inspiration in Mexican temples.
Table of contents
La Grande Motte - Must-see attractions
Grand Traverse Beach
White, powdery sugar-fine sand and clear water make Grand Travers Beach a popular bathing destination. Since its shore gently slopes into the Mediterranean, small children can splash around safely here. For adults, sun umbrellas and loungers are available for rent. Numerous cafes and restaurants along the beach invite you to linger. Mobile snack and ice cream vendors offer hungry beachgoers a refreshment in between. At dune crossing 60, there is a dog beach. Sanitary facilities like showers and toilets provide comfort during a day at the beach.
Grand Bleu Aquatic Park
The water park Espace Grand Bleu is located in a pine forest very close to the sports fields. You can enjoy swimming fun regardless of the weather in the indoor pool. Floor-to-ceiling windows let in plenty of light. In good weather, the water park with its outdoor area is a popular alternative to splashing around at the beach in seawater. Ambitious swimmers will find perfect training conditions in the 25-meter-long sports pool. In the summer, you can use the 3-hectare outdoor area with water slides and a play area with water for smaller children.
Ponant Adventure Park
A vacation on the coast of southern France is also suitable for adrenaline junkies. Besides swimming, sailing, and diving, there are other great activities to discover here: For example, climbing in the Ponant adventure park in La Grande-Motte. Visitors can choose from 10 courses of varying difficulty levels. La Grande-Motte is a popular holiday destination. The city is known for its pyramid-like high-rise buildings. The adventure park with a high ropes course is located not far from the marina. It is a short walk to the beach and nearby golf course.
Golf La Grande Motte
Picturesque lakes and shade-giving pines shape the La Grande Motte golf course. The approximately 20-hectare water surfaces, like the two bunkers with light sand, present a sporting challenge. A bar and a restaurant ensure culinary well-being. The golf course offers three courses for all skill levels. You can perfect your golf skills on a total of 42 holes. If you specifically want to practice your tee shot, you have the opportunity on 60 mats. Equipment can be rented on site.
Pond of Ponant
The Etang du Ponant covers an area of 280 hectares. The natural paradise is 3.5 km long. The maximum depth of the water is 4 meters. In the popular recreational area, you can wonderfully relax, swim, or water ski. If you want to experience a bike tour in untouched nature, the 34 km circular route around the Etang du Ponant is just right for you. A break in between is worthwhile: with a bit of luck, you can admire pink flamingos.
Le Grau du Roi
The picturesque historic harbor in the center of Le Grau du Roi offers an idyllic atmosphere. Accompanying it is Port-Camargue, one of the largest marinas in all of Europe. Nearly 5000 boats of various types are docked in the marina. As a popular seaside resort, Le Grau-du-Roi offers dreamlike sandy beaches like Plage de l'Espiguette, which invites you to sail or surf. Additionally, there is a sea aquarium with many special marine animals or great hiking opportunities in the dunes east of the city.
La Grande Motte - Secret spots
The Pond of Gold / Pond of Mauguio
Among the attractions of La Grande-Motte is the 15 km long coastal lake L'étang de l'Or or Etang de Mauguio. Only a narrow spit separates it from the sea. From the hiking trail around the flat lagoon, you can observe entire colonies of pink flamingos searching for food in the water.
Remarkable architecture: Church of Saint Augustin
You can visit a noteworthy church in La Grande-Motte with Saint Augustin. The white building features bold modern architecture with an open bell tower in the shape of a teardrop. The organic forms continue in the magnificent stained glass windows. Classical concerts and performances by gospel choirs often take place in the church.
Recreation and activities in Parc du Levant
Between the southern French seaside resort of La Grande-Motte and the picturesque harbor town of Sète lies the Parc du Levant on a narrow strip of land in the Mediterranean. On more than 18 hectares, you can hike, meditate, bowl, pet ponies, enjoy a leisurely picnic, or work out on the fitness trail amidst this green oasis of Mediterranean vegetation.
Bird-rich wetland Les Salins
30 km west of La Grande-Motte lies the wetland Les Salins. In the area once used for salt production, fresh and saltwater areas create habitats for a wealth of animals and plants, including the enchanting flamingos. The lagoon complex, part of the natural heritage of the RAMSAR and Natura 2000 area of the Palavasian ponds, also has beautiful beaches.
La Grande Motte - In 3 days
Day 1
The tranquil community of La Grande Motte in the south of Occitania is ideal for a short vacation. Spend the first day at one of the many dream beaches along the Mediterranean and unwind in the mild climate. Between May and October, you will find perfect conditions for swimming and sunbathing here. Visitors can look forward to unspoiled nature, fine sand, and well-deserved tranquility at Plage du Grand Travers. If you are looking for livelier areas with some bistros and restaurants nearby, Sunset Beach and Point Zero are the right places for you. Those who do not just want to relax can also try various water sports at any dream beach. Even during the transitional periods and around the turn of the year, there are opportunities to try wind and kite surfing as well as sailing. In summer, stand-up paddling is popular.
Day 2
Use your second day in La Grande Motte for a city tour of Montpellier. The center of the metropolis is just 25 kilometers away and can be easily reached not only by car but also by public transport. Montpellier is one of the largest cities along the French Mediterranean coast and is rich in historical buildings. Among the most famous sights is the Cathedral of Saint Peter, which was built in the 14th century and is still largely preserved in its original state. The heart of the city is the Place de la Comédie. In the middle of the square is the iconic fountain Les Trois Grâces. It is surrounded by centuries-old buildings like the opera house. On foot, you can quickly reach the former city fortifications in the historic old town, with the Tour de la Babote tower being particularly worth seeing. A hidden gem is a tour through the Antigone district with its Catalan monumental buildings.
Day 3
If you are interested in the ancient past of the region that once belonged to the Roman Empire, a tour to Nimes is a must. On the third day, set off from La Grande Motte heading north and take a look at the millennia-old attractions there. By car, you are less than an hour away from Nimes, which is 50 kilometers away. There, the amphitheater is considered the most famous landmark and at the same time the perfect starting point for city tours on foot. Once, more than 20,000 spectators could be seated here, and even today, spectacular events still take place at irregular intervals. Similarly old is the Maison Carrée temple, which represented the center of the Roman forum in ancient times and is still excellently preserved today. In the Musée de la Romanité, numerous finds from this era are exhibited, and you can learn more about the significance of Nimes in the Roman Empire.
La Grande Motte - Climate
In La Grande Motte, there is a typical Mediterranean climate: In summer, you can expect hot and dry weather, and in winter, it remains mild. In the coldest month, January, temperatures range between seven and 14 °C. The most rainfall occurs in November with 13 days. There are up to 12 hours of sunshine per day from June to August. The water temperature reaches its highest value of 24 °C in July and August. If you plan a vacation in July and August, you can look forward to temperatures of 27 °C.