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Sete's Summer Events Calendar
Sete is a thriving town of culture, arts and heritage festivities that date back to the Late Bronze ages!
Sete is a thriving town of culture, arts and heritage festivities that date back to the Late Bronze ages! This information was only discovered in 1973, with the remains sitting at the bottom of the Lagoon, Etang de Thau. With the Mt St Claire acting as a hide out for pirates and a geographical point for sailors, it became a commercial stop over to other Mediterranean ports. Sete was officially founded in 1666 when the project to connect the lagoon and ocean began under the authority of King Louis XIV, to build its economy through exportation. Today, many art festivals, museums and jousting events continue in celebration of the small fishing town’s history.
Today, many art festivals, museums and jousting events continue in celebration of the small fishing town’s history.
Jousting and Maritime Heritage
An event that dates back to 1666, traditionally opposing bachelors with married men, jousting is still a lively part of modern life. Grand stands and a live band build up around the canals creating a holistic community atmosphere.
Through July and August, weekly tournaments occur at La Cadre Royal. Depending on the age of the competitors, there are jousts at 3pm and 6pm.
5th- 9th July- St Pierre’s Atonement Day
Also known as the fisherman’s holiday, this carnival is a popular celebration for the locals. St Pierre, the fisherman’s patron, is boarded to an exceptionally dressed trawler and taken out of the harbour to pay tribute to missing fisherman. It is celebrated with jousting events.
23rd August- 28th August- St Louis Festival
A celebration of King Louis XIV, the 6 day festival marks the finale of the jousting season. 70 street shows and bodegas line the street and square, and concerts of an evening through-out the week make it an exciting event for all, which culminate with the fantastic firework display.
1st September- Beer Festival
Along Avenue Victor Hugo, a selection of local wine and beer are on offer to taste and buy as part of the annual celebration of Sete and Neuburg twinning township since 1986.
Music Festivals
29th May- 4rd June- K Live Festival, Sea, Art & Sound
A festival of Urban Cultures, K Live combines concerts, architecture and street art. Live music concerts take place nightly at La Theatre de le Mer, an incredible amphitheatre over- looking the ocean. A day-by-day guide will be available at the Villa upon arrival to decide which acts take your fancy; before-hand read into detail here for ticket prices and availability.
30th June- 7th July- World Wide Festival
Bringing countries together from all across the globe, WWF collaborates soul, relaxed mixes with night time parties! Kicking off the festivities are street sets which occur during the day in Sete, followed by an open air convert performed at the hub of musical culture, Theatre de la Mer. Tuesday 3rd July offers everyone a relax day ready to move the music and DJ’s to the beach!
7th-12th July- SUNSETE
Through-out the week it is possible to attend seminars with local production companies and actors who host master classes in the Sete cinema with animation personalities from the World of Cinema. As the dark draws in, the deck chairs come out on La Fontaine beach near Villeroy to play an outdoor cinema.
13th-20th July- Festival Jazz a Sete
Louis Martinez and his team set up this festival through passion and has since become the main summer gig for up and coming Jazz musicians in the South of France. For a line-up of named artists please visit their website.
21st July-7th August- Fiesta Sete
Fiest’A Sete is a World Music Festival which hosts a large number of events at the Theatre de la Mer, in different parts of the town and in villages around Thau Basin. It covers genres from Swing, Jazz, Rap and Cuban performed by global starts and young, up-coming artists.
Markets
A trip to the South of France wouldn’t be complete without visiting a local French market.
On a Thursday in the main square and through-out the high streets of the town, Sete is taken over by the smell of fresh produce, local cheese and meats. If you only stop by for the atmosphere, all stools offer free tasters of the delectable produce so is a benefit for everyone. Running from 9am till mid-day, it is the perfect way to see Sete and only a 20 minute bike ride away from the Villas
Alternatively Corniche, a 10 minute bike ride away along the flat beach promenade, offers similar produce on a smaller scale on a Sunday from 9am-1pm.
Museums and Art
Open Air Museum of Sete
Or the MaCO launched in 2008 with the K-Live Festival. The awarded Street Artists leaving their work on a wall around the town. They have enriched the town, creating an artistic and picturesque journey, leading you around the docks, along the canal and through the narrow, quirky streets of Sete.
Muse de la Mer
Fully immerse yourself in the history of the docks that surround Sete and learn the real stories of jousting.
Adults £3.60 Children under 12 Free / Open 02/05-18/10 10am-7pm daily except Monday
Regional Contemporary Art Centre
With free entry, why not have a browse around this extraordinary building which still holds the walls of its original use, fish freezing! This production encourages work in the region by hosting resident artists, publishing books, providing artistic education and holding several exhibitions each year. Since 1997, over 250 artists have been presented.
The Chapelle du Quartier Haut
It was originally the convent of the nun of St Maur, who came to Sete on 1728 to take care of the teaching of many poor girls of the town. In the early 20th century it became the school of the commerce industry and then a Technical College. It has since been refurbished and today is an essential culture venue hosting exhibitions of contemporary art.
Once you arrive at our luxury Villas in Sete, you will have a ‘What’s on this week’, put together by our knowledgeable, friendly staff to inform you of what you can enjoy during your stay.