M_RICARD_OT-THAU
M_RICARD_OT-THAU
Description
A 17th-century fort turned mythical stage
Today's Théâtre de la Mer was originally Fort Saint-Pierre, built by order of Vauban to defend the port. Renovated as a theater in 1959, it opened its doors in 1960. Jean Vilar, a native of Sète, had proposed the idea before founding the Festival d'Avignon.
Its amphitheatrical architecture, spread over seven platforms, offers a breathtaking view of the sea, reminiscent of ancient theaters, and boasts exceptional acoustics. The theater is situated so that spectators can admire the artist and the sea at the same time.
Legendary summer programming
Since its first musical heyday with Claude François in the 1970s, many artists have performed here: Ben Harper, Laurent Voulzy, Thomas Dutronc, Didier Lockwood and many others. On concert evenings, Sètois take their boats out to sea, next to the theater, to enjoy the show.