Agde et cap d'agde  Site Home - What's New? -Feedback - About Jack-  Travel/Art Links

Languedoc Roussillon

 Languedoc -Agde et Capd'Agde

Back to Languedoc main page

AGDE lays at the mouth of the Herault. A small pedestrian area and a few terraces at the river. The port is used for pleasure trips and fishing. AGDE thanks its name to its founders, originating from the Greek colony MASSALA (Marseille). They called it AGATHE TUCHE (the good faith). It was created around 600 B.C. and therefore is AGDE the second oldest city in France.
The highlight is the 12^th century CATHEDRALE SAINT-ETIENNE, built in black volcanic stones on the spot of a Roman temple. The fortress-like aspect of the church is because the quarrels fought by the local bishops and the count of Agde.
Also a few houses are built with volcanic stone, stone carved out at the MONT ST.LOUP near Cap d’Agde. The USEE AGATHOIS has collections of paintings, ship models and Greek ceramics and shows also some local folklore. It is housed in the HOTEL DE LA CHARITE (1653) Spread over the city you have some nice 16^th and 17^th particular houses.
In the surroundings, two kilometers in the direction of the coast, there is CAP D’AGDE, a resort. Hundred thousand could lodge in the ochre condominium complexes, nude or dressed all kinds of tourist. From half July to Half August it is absolutely packed. Cap d’Agde is also the most important naturist bathing place (nudist) of the Languedoc coast with a special closed Centrum; an own beach and own yacht port.
From the beach of Cap d’Agde you can see the FORT BRESCOU, a former state prison, in the 17^th century plane were made to build a dam to the fort. , the MOLE RICHELIEU, but it was never finished. The tourist office organizes trips to the island. The MUSEE DE L’EPHEBE has a collection of archeological findings, where in 1964 a bronze Greek EFFBE turned up. The PLAGE NOIR is a dark basalt beach.