Tourist Attractions & Monuments Hérault

It is a major book of the Canal du Midi, with eight basins and nine doors allowing to cross a height of 21,50 metres over a length of more than 300 metres. True water staircase, technical prowess for the time, locks are a permanent attraction, still active despite the construction of an innovative book, the water slope, next but often broken.

Between the pond of Prévost and the sea, stands the cathedral of Maguelone. This Romanesque building was the seat of the bishopric of Montpellier from the^5th to the 11th century. The original monument was destroyed after its reconquest from the Saracens but rebuilt in the early 12th century. In the 13th century, at its peak, the building became a cathedral-fortress, seat of the bishopric of Maguelone and bastion of the papacy in Languedoc. Recently, the cathedral has been adorned with stained glass windows in a refined style. At the first visit, the site is breathtaking. Indeed, the peninsula dominates the whole of a natural site surrounded by vineyards on one side and water on the other. It is a real impression of the end of the world and isolation conducive to a change of scenery since you can also walk in an exotic garden. Another surprising fact that makes this place quite magical and out of time: we first hear a strange cry, mournful or joyful, before realizing the presence of peacocks. These masters of the place seem to take their role of protectors of the cathedral very seriously. The site has been developed for 50 years by the association "Les Compagnons de Maguelone", an establishment of service and assistance through work. Since 1969, it has been helping disabled people to reintegrate professionally by offering them activities and accommodation, thus perpetuating the tradition of hospitality of this unique place. The domain hosts exhibitions and concerts, notably during the Festival of Ancient Music every year in June.

Wrongly nicknamed "Hôtel Philippe le Bel", this Gothic house has the characteristic layout of medieval residences. Its façade and decorative elements are representative of the civil architecture of the 13th and 14th centuries. The exterior of the house is dotted with ogival windows and the majority of them have carved decoration. These are difficult to interpret due to the complexity of medieval iconography. One of the elements present is a figurative figure holding two fleurs-de-lys, which would be a reference to the monarchy.

Housed in the Medical Library, this museum is dedicated to the collection of Xavier Atger (1758-1833), a print and drawing enthusiast who donated his collection to the university on his death. With a thousand drawings, five thousand prints from the French, Italian and Flemish schools of the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, and a few paintings, the visit is worth its weight in gold! Since 2017, 81 drawings by the artist Colette Richarme (1904-1991) have joined the museum, an arrival that establishes an exciting dialogue between modern and classical art.

Housed in a building with modern architecture, directly inspired by the identity of the town, the tourist office plays the role of showcase for the seaside town to the full, to the point of opening up its 200 m² of space to artistic and architectural expression. In addition to the ticketing service for regional shows and events, as well as guided tours, it has a shop where you can choose from a wide selection of designer objects under the city's brand name "LGM by La Grande Motte": decoration and lifestyle, stationery, accessories, textiles, all inspired by the uniqueness of the resort. Fully accessible to people with reduced mobility, whatever the type of disability, the tourist office also provides information 24 hours a day, thanks to a touch screen in a reception area and a wifi space installed outside. All the news of the city is also likely to be consulted from your smartphone on lgmtoday.com.

Built at the beginning of the 15th century, the first town hall was called the "Maison Commune". Remains its black basaltic stone crest of Agde, surrounded by a carved heart where the letters "C.C" are engraved (Corps Consulaire) and above, the date: 1587.

The Hotel de Ville is a spacific former house. The Municipality settled there in 1919. It is in 1980 that it takes its current aspect with the complete renovation of the entrance hall, transformed into a reception and exhibition room which now houses a collection of ancient remains, treasures collected in the Etang de Thau.