big - Office de Tourisme de la Grande Motte

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The Mediterranean
has some really
big ideas!
MEDITERRANEAN
> Welcome
OFFICE DE TOURISME : 00 33 4 67 56 42 00 _ www.ot-lagrandemotte.fr
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Table of Contents:
P.4 In La Grande Motte, big is beautiful! P.6 A big, big sun!
P.8 Parks with a big heart! P.10 The Mediterranean gives you really big ideas!
P.12 Aminities that delight even the biggest names in sport!
P.14 It’s not just for biggies!
P.15 A big, warm welcome! P.16 Big entertainment!
P.18 So many big beauty spots to see!
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editorial:
Imagine a lush green landscape on the shores of the Mediterranean.
An area entirely focussed on recreation. An area where the sun shines more than three
hundred days a year.
Located beachside in the heart of the “Petite Camargue”, La Grande Motte invites you
to get away from it all.
If you’re looking for wide open spaces, this is the place for you.
The greenest resort in Europe, three-quarters of it occupied by Mother Nature, is
more like a park than a town.
Still very much in fashion, its 1970’s architecture inspired by the pyramids of Mexico is a
hymn to light and sunshine.
This is a sparkling town, attentive to its visitors, providing entertainment, festivities
and leisure activities.
This is more than a mere holiday destination; it’s a town with a great quality of life,
waiting just for you.
This short booklet is just a foretaste of the enjoyment awaiting you here.
It takes time to get know and love La Grande Motte.
Why not take a look?
The Mayor and his team.
Welcome
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Sunshine, the Mediterranean,
beaches, parks,
thalassotherapy, unique
architecture, a conference
centre, sports activities, a wide
range of accommodation...
and much, much more.
In La Grande Motte, big is
beautiful!
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Conference Centre.
e
Sharing the pleasures of swimming.
A cool rest on the quayside.
of a sense of true well-being, whether you
prefer an early morning run, a cycle trip, some
sailing, a spot of golf or some pampering at the
thalassotherapy centre. Everything is possible
because everything is here, on the spot!
The easy access to La Grande Motte is another feature
of its charm, whether you come via the A9 or A75
motorways or through the “Mediterranean”
airport (10 minutes from the town centre). And the
TGV high-speed train takes you to and from Paris
in just 3 hrs. 15 mins.
rom a bird’s eye view, the town is like A GREEN
OASIS WITH A BLUE FRINGE, with its tall white
pyramids as its main feature.
F
This is a Southern French town, on the seafront,
a unique town, reminiscent of a dream. Jean
Balladur’s visionary architecture sought inspiration
in nature, from the outline of the Pic Saint Loup to
the horizon. It also reflected his awe when faced
with the Inca pyramids in Mexico.
La Grande Motte is an intelligent town, totally
designed as a “town at the beach”, and to encourage
people to take full advantage of it, there are wide
open spaces, terraces and swards of green
parkland, mile upon mile of footpath, a multitude
of carefully designed amenities, high-quality
accommodation, and disabled access to much of the
town’s infrastructure.
This is a real town, a bustling place throughout
the year, an active town where people immediately
feel at ease, encouraged to relax and enjoy some
leisure time, sports and water sports.
This is a privilege to be shared with family or friends,
whether you are a sports fanatic or come in search
Welcome
You can still take advantage of all this, even if you
come here on business.
With its numerous amenities (modular halls,
auditorium, lounge areas and restaurants etc.), the
conference centre (Palais des Congrès) in
La Grande Motte is the ideal venue for a special
event, a congress, a conference or a seminar.
Ask for our business tourism guide on
00 33 4 67 564 050.
Open spaces to blow away the cobwebs.
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Sea, beaches, lake,
sand castles,
relaxation, seashells,
beach volleyball, sunshades,
a pool complex...
and a big, big sun!
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7 kilometres of
gently-sloping beach.
Thrills and excitement
guaranteed at Le Grand Bleu.
HE SEA HAS NEVER
BEEN SO CLOSE TO
YOU. La Grande Motte
with its 7 kilometres
of fine sand is intensely
Mediterranean and water reigns
supreme, in all its forms. The long
stretch of beach gently sloping down to the sea
is ideal for swimming, games for young and old,
and the well-being of parents.
For those looking for good amenities and a
chance to relax, La Grande Motte offers a choice
of 14 beaches with services such as the hire of
mattresses and sunshades and, in some cases,
meals or the hire of pedalos.
With visitors in mind, the beach has beach-volley
equipment, entertainment, sports tournaments
or games just for fun. In fact, there’s something
for everybody at the beach.
On the other side of the town is a lake, the Etang
du Ponant, another venue for water sports
and recreation.
Do you like water? Le Grand Bleu is a vast
pool complex in the heart of the pine
forest with giant flumes, sports,
leisure and adventure pools, a water
slide, a river, a waterfall etc. There
is also a relaxation area with steam
T
room, jacuzzi and sauna. And because there are
outdoor and indoor amenities, visitors can enjoy
the benefits and pleasures of water throughout
the year.
Safety and amenities, beach-side: disabled
access and provision of wheelchairs, water
inspection (European Blue Flag 2005), 3 lifesaver
stations, 15 showers and toilet blocks, sand
cleaned every day etc.
Hard-going for fitness fanatics.
The Etang du Ponant.
Welcome
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Pine trees, oleanders, palm
trees, footpaths, children’s
play areas, lawns, jogging...
The town’s parks have a big
heart!
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33 hectares of flowerbeds.
Tour the resort on the sightseeing train.
Home from the beach.
a Grande Motte
is variously and
deservedly described
as THE ENVIRONMENTALE EXEPTION ON THE
COAST and as the “lung of the
coast” and it staunchly defends its
unique personality. Nature is part and parcel of
the town, providing balance, a healthy environment,
amenities and beauty for all those who live and
holiday here.
This “environmental” focus was a test, and a
testament to the imaginers of its founders
and designers. It has enjoyed the
full support of the town for
more than 30 years now,
producing outstanding
surroundings. In fact,
of the town’s 1,500
hectares, 70% consist of
areas free of constructions !
There are, for example, 280
hectares of parks and gardens
(59 hectares of lawn, 22 hectares of meadows,
29 hectares planted with 28,000 trees and shrubs,
33 hectares of flowerbeds and hedges), vast areas
of unspoilt nature covered by conservancy
regulations, the shores of the Etang du Ponant and
4.2 kilometres of sand dunes protected jointly by the
Conservatoire du Littoral (the French coastal
conservancy agency) and the Office National des
Forêts (the French forestry commission).
All these footpaths, grassy banks and open spaces
are the ideal setting in which to “blow away the
cobwebs”, play, take a stroll or relax with the family,
in the midst of refreshing, scent-filled Mediterranean
vegetation that is unfailingly popular.
The “Green Town” has 22 kilometres of footpaths or
L
Welcome
cycle tracks leading
to the centre of the
town.
In environmental terms,
nothing is left to chance the air and water are
subject to quality controls, there
is selective waste disposal, the harbour is
clean and the well-appointed beaches are protected
by regulations.
Far from the seaside resorts that resemble concrete
jungles, La Grande Motte is an oasis of greenery and
freshness where life is good and Man
is at one with Nature.
The joys of cycling.
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Cruising, sea fishing, water
skiing, wind surfing,
diving, rowing, sailing
on a catamaran :
the Mediterranean gives
you really big ideas!
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Sea rowing.
Yachting marina.
f you love the sea and water sports, YOU’LL BE
IN HEAVEN IN LA GRANDE MOTTE, ON THE
SHORES OF THE MEDITERRANEAN.
Located on the Baie d’Aigues Mortes between
Sète and Le Grau-du-Roi, La Grande Motte has a
magnificent yachting marina with 1,476
moorings for sailing craft and yachts, providing
shelter throughout the year. And if you’re
cruising, La Grande Motte is a convivial
port of call, with practical, safe
quayside moorings reserved for
visitors.
The town is passionate about
the sea and it offers a wide
range of water sports,
leisure activities and fun
to enjoy throughout
your stay.
Try sailing, cruising in
the Baie d’AiguesMortes, windsurfing
and water skiing, diving,
Water skiing.
parascending etc.
You can take beginners’ lessons or more advanced
sailing instruction on a sea-going dinghy or a
catamaran, and practise windsurfing or go rowing
on the lake.
Enjoy a sea angling trip, hire a boat for a
go-as-you-please outing, then round off your
day at a table in an outside dining area
overlooking the harbour and savour some
freshly-caught fish or a delicious seafood platter.
I
Regattas.
La Grande Motte is taking part in the “Clean
Harbours in the Mediterranean” scheme.
Funboard.
Welcome
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Golf, tennis, riding,
thalassotherapy, a pool
complex, sports hall,
sports arena etc. Whatever
the season, the town
boasts amenities that
delight even the biggest
names in sport!
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30 courts in a pine forest.
A massage at the Institut de Thalassothérapie.
n addition to all the sea-based recreation, LA
GRANDE MOTTE OFFERS A WIDE RANGE OF
SPORTS and leisure activities in amenities open all
year round that boast the very best of equipment.
Selected by leading sports clubs as the venue for
training camps, the sports stadium in La Grande
Motte has already played host to famous French
and international football teams, including the
French team. It has also hosted training camps
for sports such as rugby and athletics and
organised tournaments and prestigious sports
meetings.
Our town is steeped in sport so take advantage of
all the amenities on offer:
30 tennis courts in the depths of the pine forest
including 5 indoor courts, 2 clay and a
mini-tennis court. Is golf your game? Whether
you want to learn or practise, there are 3
courses including the famous 18-hole
international course designed by American
architect Robert Trent Jones. In all, 85 hectares
of greens and fairways.
La Grande Motte’s riding stables provide
instruction for all levels of skill, in
addition to hacks and courses for equestrian
sports fans.
I
If you prefer to get fit the gentle way, let yourself
be pampered in the superb Centre de
Thalassothérapie Méditerranée.
The riding centre.
Welcome
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La Grande Motte
is not just for
Biggies!
A GRANDE MOTTE IS A PARADISE FOR
CHILDREN AND TEENAGERS, providing
a wide range of amenities, sports and leisure
activities to fill their free time and ensure that
they work off some of their energy. There are
children’s play areas, sports grounds, sports
tuition for all levels of skill, a skate park for
skateboarders and roller bladers, water-based
“sliding and gliding” sports, more traditional
water sports, and arts and crafts workshops,
to name but a few.
L
Everything here has been designed with
children’s safety in mind. The beach is easy
to get to and life savers are in attendance. Sports
amenities can be accessed from footpaths.
In fact, you can be sure of happy holidays for all
the family.
During the year, and in the high season, there
are many events aimed at young people
including concerts, festivals, free street and
beach entertainment, roundabouts, games
rooms, an Internet café, discos and, of course, Le
Grand Bleu which is open all year.
Children’s carnival.
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Acrobatics at the skate park.
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A big warm
Welcome at
any time of
Year!
o really appreciate how beautiful the
Mediterranean is and make the best of the
off-peak weekends and short breaks on offer from
the Tourist Office, YOU HAVE TO COME TO LA
GRANDE MOTTE IN EVERY SEASON of the year
and not just in summer.
T
Do you need to get away, relax and take time out?
Do you want to get back to tiptop form, do some
sport and enjoy yourself?
Whatever the season and whatever you prefer to
do, La Grande Motte provides superb surroundings.
There’s no risk of being bored when you’re here!
La Grande Motte is a real town, with a resident
population of 8,000 people. It has year-round
entertainment and shopping opportunities.
Business and major sports or cultural events and
entertainment fill the calendar from one end of the
year to the other, with the Grand prix de golf, Salon
d’automne de peinture, the Fête Camargaise etc.
You can also enjoy one of our many
restaurants.
The atmosphere is convivial
and, whatever the season, you
can enjoy a wide range of
mouthwatering cuisine using
regional produce and seafood.
All of it washed down with
good Languedoc-Roussillon
wine.
An invigorating
walk on the
seafront.
The joys of cycling with
the family
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Sculptures and symbols.
Welcome
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Dances, fireworks,
roundabouts, shows,
concerts, a casino, discos,
a bullfighting arena...
you can enjoy fun and
entertainment on a lavish
scale here!
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The open-air theatre.
It’s party time!
hether the sun affects people or it’s a trait
of the Camargue character, IN LA GRANDE
MOTTE, IT’S PARTY TIME throughout the year!
A quick look at the calendar of events will give
you a foretaste of the local ambiance and a
glimpse of the swirls of colour that go with fun
and enjoyment.
Theatre, dance, concerts, fireworks, music
festival, “taureau piscine” (bullfighting in
a water-filled arena), shows and fêtes,
an art exhibition etc.
There is always somewhere to go and something
interesting to do in La Grande Motte.
W
Children reign supreme.
And if you are a sports fan with a love of wake
board, sea rowing, sailing regattas, or golf, don’t
miss the many sports events and competitions
held in La Grande Motte…
You will always be welcome in
La Grande Motte if you
come to enjoy yourself
and have fun.
Fireworks festival.
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La Camargue, Nîmes,
Aigues-Mortes, Avignon,
le Pont du Gard,
Montpellier, Arles...
there are so many big
beauty spots to see!
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The mediaeval town of Aigues-Mortes.
“Le Palais des Papes”
Avignon
ll around La Grande Motte, LIES A REGION
STEEPED IN DIVERSITY with its own very
marked character. If you enjoy being at one with
nature, the Camargue is just a few miles away,
with its lakes, birds, cattle ranches and light grey
horses ridden by the “gardians” or cowboys.
Then there are the Cévennes mountains, the
Hérault Gorge, caves etc.
If you like walking, head for the breathtaking
Cirque de Navacelles, a cwm gouged out of the
mountain by Mother Nature. If you prefer shade,
peace and quiet, cycle along the banks of the
Canal du Midi or sail along it, gently
gliding from one lock to the next.
For history buffs, Languedoc has much to offer
with memories of Ancient Greece and Rome
and reminders of the Middle Ages. Among the
A
The arena in Nîmes.
sightseeing venues are the Pont du Gard over
the River Gardon, the Maison Carrée
and arena in Nîmes, the mediaeval village
of St-Guilhem-le-Désert, Aigues-Mortes,
Sommières, the walled town in Carcassonne and
the many abbeys that host festivals and
exhibitions in the summer months.
Culture and the Arts will spur you on! A few
miles away is the Popes’ Palace in Avignon, the
setting of a famous drama festival. There is also
Arles and its passion for photography and
Montpellier, famous for music and dance.
In fact, wherever you are in Languedoc, share in
the locals’ love of partying and sense of fun in
Southern France, home to bullfighting festivals,
carnivals, winegrowing traditions, religious
festivals, gourmet cuisine and history. There are
festivals and special events throughout the year,
a real incentive to come and see some magnificent
beauty spots and delightful little villages.
When you stay in La Grande Motte, you’re at the
centre of an area with a fascinating, beguiling
culture.
“Place de la Comédie”
in Montpellier.
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Map
To Lyon, Paris
To Millau,
Clermont-Ferrand
Cévennes
Uzès
A75 Motoway
A9 Lunel exit
A9 Montpellier Est exit
A9
Mo
tow
ay
Avignon
Nîmes
Lunel
Carcassonne
Béziers
Narbonne
To Spain
Montpellier
ay
tow
Mo
9
A
Provence
Arles
Aigues Mortes
Camargue
La Grande Motte
Le Grau du Roi
To Marseille,
l'Italie
Saintes Maries de la Mer
Sète
Méditerranée
La Grande Motte
Municipal Tourist Office
Reception and Information: Pavillon d’Accueil
Allée des Parcs, 34280 La Grande Motte
Open daily including Sundays and public holidays.
October to March: 10.00 AM - 12.30 PM / 2 PM - 6 PM
April, May, June, September: 10.00 AM - 12.30PM / 2 PM - 18.30 PM
July and August: 9 AM - 8 PM
Annual closure: 25th December and 1st January
Tel. 33 00 4 67 56 42 00 • Fax 33 00 4 67 29 91 42
General Administration
Conferences - PR- Media - Contact - Events
Palais des Congrès
Avenue Jean Bène 34280 La Grande Motte
tel.: 33 00 4 67 56 40 50 • Fax: 33 00 4 67 56 78 30
www.ot-lagrandemotte.fr • E-mail: [email protected]
AU 034 98 0002
l •e s •t •u •d •i •o
Paris/Montpellier TGV : 3.15’
- Impression : SVI-PubliCcep Arts Graphiques - Crédits : OT La Grande Motte, Aigues Mortes, Nîmes, Avignon, Montpellier,
G. Rey / J. Sourioux / H. Comte / J.P. Campomar.
Montpellier Airport: 10’
Montpellier Station : 20’
Nov 2005 - Conception : Un Air de Vacances - Exécution :
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