France - Le Cape D'Agde
Family Vacation and Naturist Resort in Languedoc Region
Cap D'Agde has excellent beaches and many activities for children. It is close to historic towns and has a special holiday village for nudists with its own private beach.
In the early 1960s, General De Gaulle dreamed of transforming the flat swamplands of the Languedoc-Roussillon coast in south-west France into a "Florida of France". This is a vast modern resort with long white sandy beaches with every kind of sports facility you can imagine.
In spite of it springing up practically overnight (historically speaking) the architects have successfully captured the traditional Languedoc style and spirit. The colours of the buildings are those frequently found in this part of the Mediterranean and reflect the colour of the earth and sky
France - Le Cape D'Agde - Deep Sea Fishing, Kayaking, Great Beaches and more
Le Cap d'Agde cannot compete with the history of ancient nearby towns but it does have its own charm. Thousands of trees have been planted; there are hedges heavy with rosemary and tree-lined walks by canals. When you're feeling lazy there are great beaches to loll around on. And for those days when the energy is high you can take sailing courses, hire a catamaran, go windsurfing or jet skiing with qualified instructors, try your luck at deep-sea fishing or your skill at kayaking. There are 64 tennis courts, horse and pony riding - the list is endless.
France - Le Cape D'Agde - The Naturist Quarter
And for the ultimate in sun-bathing, the all-over tan, there's the Quartier Naturiste which has the best beach in the area. Complete nudity is the general rule, although it is not obligatory. With accommodation for some 20,000 visitors it is one of the largest naturist resorts in Europe.
France - Le Cape D'Agde - The Old Town
The nearby old town of Agde goes back 2500 years to the Ancient Greeks. Only 4 km inland, it is an easy walk or you can take a bus. It has a myriad of narrow streets stuffed with craft shops and cafes and is situated on the Canal du Midi, which links the Mediterranean with the Atlantic.
The bustling port of Sete is close by. This is where the great comic playwright, Moliere, spent much of his time and staged many performances. With its many canals, lined with elegant buildings, it is reminiscent of Venice. Narrow, winding streets lead down to the water where there are dozens of restaurants offering oysters and mussels from the breeding grounds just out to sea. They don't come any fresher than this. A local speciality is lobster in tomatoes and brandy. Delicious!
France - Le Cape D'Agde - Carcassonne
Probably the most famous place in this region is Carcassonne - a fortified medieval city. This is every child's idea of what a city was like in the days when knights rode on white chargers. It even has a drawbridge over a moat and the view from the battlements toward the Pyrenees is fantastique! It is a 13th century walled city that could be right out of a fairy tale. Today 80 percent of Carcassonne is authentic in origin - what you see is much as it was six hundred years ago.
You can take the train to Carcassonne from Agde and be there in an hour. Meanwhile, back in the 20th century at Cap d'Agde folks are leaving a day of sea and sand to sample what the quayside restaurants have on offer. Maybe a plate of sea urchins? They look odd but taste good - and that sort of sums up Cap d'Agde.
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