Sete Attractions

Sète (pop. 39,579), situated at the foot of Mont St-Clair, is traversed by many canals. After Narbonne and Aigues-Mortes were cut off from the sea by the accumulation of sand it became the principal port for the North African trade. It is now an important fishing and commercial port. The Vieux Port dates from the time of Louis XIV. From the Môle St-Louis there are fine views of the town and Mont St-Clair (175 m/574ft; views), on the slopes of which is the 18th C. citadel. In the "cimetière marin", the "cemetery by the sea" celebrated by Paul Valéry (1871-1945), a native of Sète, in a famous poem, Valéry himself is buried. Near the cemetery is the Musée Paul-Valéry, with mementos of the poet and exhibits and documents on the history of the town. There is also a room devoted to the singer Georges Brassens (1921-1981), who lived as a boy in Sète and is also buried here.