Le Grandemotte
The beach is the big attraction at Le Grande Motte. A lighthouse at the end of the major stone jetty at Le Grande Motte protects motorboats and sailing ships from ramming into the jetty at night. Similar to all new towns, resort new towns are pitched to young families with children. La Grande Motte was set up for the summer vacation season, but most of the vacationers were not there yet. There are no automobiles at the beach front.
In this new town design, the beach front is exclusively for housing, dining, walking areas, and hitting the beach. This is a walking area more distant from the beach and adjacent to a street.. The gambling casino contributes to the recreational spirit of Le Grande Motte. Sidewalk cafes are just as engaging and relaxing when situated along a large pedestrian plaza adjacent to a beach.
Le Grande Motte was designed to an overall Mexican theme.The pyramid-shaped buildings were patterned after Mayan temples.
It's a completely different holiday experience to, say, renting a little cottage amongst the vineyards further inland, but if you're looking for a little bit of 'bling' and excitement, La Grande Motte is probably Languedoc's most jumpin' spot on the coast.
The marina here is large, although supposedly not as large as the huge Grau du Roi marina just along the coast. And the beaches just by the town are OK. You're better off heading 20 minutes east to Espiguette - with its huge expanses of sand and plenty of nudity!
Or, just south of La Grande Motte, you'll find Le Grand Travers - a long, more 'urban' beach that stretches between La Grande Motte and (ugly) Carnon. It's a favourite with families and joggers and won't leave you feeling quite as cramped as the Le Grande Motte beaches.
Family fun
There are plenty of facilities and entertainment for children at La Grande Motte. There is a play area with trampolines and bouncy castles and a go-karting track (Point Zéro), several merry-go-rounds , as well as two mini-golf courses (Point Zéro and Motte du Couchant) and quad bikes (domaine du Petit Chaumont). The Parc de Loisirs Nautiques Le Grand Bleu (La Plaine des Jeux, 195 rue Saint Louis) offers water slides, a wave pool, waterfalls, Jacuzzi, sauna and a lot more. Four-wheel safaris in nearby Camargue are also popular with children of all ages. Last, but not least, there is a carnival on the last Friday in August with free face-painting for children, floats, food and dancing. Retail therapy
Many of La Grande Motte's shops are unashamedly geared towards holidaymakers and stock everything from beachwear to cheesy souvenirs . Small supermarkets are handy for buying groceries and wine. There is also a market (place du Marché) on Thursdays and Sundays. A night on the town
There's no raucous nightlife here, but plenty of bars (many with live music) and a smattering of clubs that will keep most visitors happy. Meanwhile the casino (avenue du Casino) offers roulette, Black Jack tables and 130 slot machines as well as a restaurant-bar-nightclub, La Rumba . Another popular nightclub is La Dune (route des Plages). The Scènes d'Eté festival in July and August and the carnival at the end of August also ensure there is plenty of entertainment in the summer months. Eating out
There is no shortage of options when it comes to eating out in La Grande Motte, with everything from pizzerias to seafood restaurants, via Oriental, Italian, crêperies, fast-food and even vegetarian choices, not to mention of course traditional regional cuisine . There are also several beach restaurants on the avenue de Carnon (Le Grand Travers) and around the marina. Getting around
La Grande Motte can easily be explored on foot . A bus network links the resort with Montpellier as well as other towns and villages in the area, including Nîmes, Aigues Mortes and Le Grau du Roi. If you are planning on exploring the surrounding areas, hiring a car might be a good idea. Taxis are available too. Exploring further afield
Some 20km (12.5 miles) to the east lies the Camargue , the area in the Rhone delta famed for its flamingos, bulls and wild horses , as well as its salt pans and rice paddies . A flat but beautiful land of marshes and lagoons, it is home to over 400 species of birds and a big population of mosquitoes too. Make sure you visit Aigues Mortes , a medieval fortress-town built in the 13th century, and Les Saintes Maries de la Mer , a gypsy pilgrimage site.
Splashing out
Spend an afternoon on one of Europe's best golf courses, Le Golf (avenue du Golf). Built by celebrated American course-architect Robert Trent Jones, it is the first of its kind in Europe and probably the only one where you'll see flamingos as you tee off. Those not feeling too energetic can treat themselves to an energising treatment or a relaxing massage at the Institut de Thalassothérapie (Point Zéro). Flying in
Montpellier Méditerranée Airport (MPL)  back to links
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