places to visit around les sables du midi

The surrounding area is rich in beautiful and historic places to visit. Bustling, elegant Montpelier, for instance, regularly voted the city where French people would most like to live. The Camargue, famous for its flamingos, bulls and white horses. The Corbieres region south of Narbonne – ‘da Vinci Code’ country - with its spectacular fortified Cathar villages of Peyrepertuse, Quéribus and Montsegùr. Historic Beziers, with the national park beyond it empty and tranquil even during peak season. And for those who enjoy a taste of culture in more liquid form, Les Sables du Midi also makes a great base for exploring the vineyards of the Languedoc, one of the world’s oldest winemaking regions.

valras plage

Most of the activities at Valras Plage are focused on the 4 km of beautiful and gently-shelving beach making it ideal for swimming, sailing and sunbathing – not to mention the French national sport; lounging on a shady café terrace watching the world go by. As well as providing safe haven to boats of all shapes and sizes, Valras Plage harbour is also home to some delightful bars and restaurants, many of which offer live music during the evening. And if you prefer a handful of chips to a plate of frites, the casino offers poker, roulette and blackjack as well as regular cabaret spectaculars throughout the season.

petit tropez

Billed by the locals as a smaller version of St Tropez, the modern bustling port of Cap d'Agde offers an impressive selection of shops, restaurants and bars. As well as indulging in eating, drinking, shopping and yacht-spotting, you could always hire a boat or go diving. To stop you feeling yacht-envy - some of the boats here are the size of small villages - turn your back on the port, and focus on choosing some homemade ice cream. There are some great beaches nearby and you will be hard pressed to keep children away from 'Toonsland' and the famous 'Aqualand' with its giant flumes, waterslides and wave machine.

lazy summer days

It took 12,000 men, starting in 1666, to build the famous Canal du Midi. If your children don't want to explore its 235km on foot, how about, by boat, bicycle or horse instead?

distance to beaches

• Valras plage (10 mins)

All distances quoted are approximate.