What are the must-see attractions in Montbazin?

A thousand-year-old village nestled between the hills of La Moure and the Thau lagoon, Montbazin boasts a rich medieval heritage to be discovered as you wander through its picturesque narrow streets. The unmissable Saint-Pierre Chapel, a 12th-century Romanesque building, houses rare frescoes of Italo-Byzantine influence that are worth the visit in their own right. Then take a stroll towards the Colonnades, the belfry of the former Chapel of the Penitents and the Mediterranean Garden, a true haven of peace open to all. A former stop on the Via Domitia, Montbazin is also a land of vineyards where you can meet the winegrowers and taste award-winning wines. Don’t miss the Juffet mill, recently restored thanks to the Mission Bern, or the hiking trails in the Moure hills, which offer splendid views of the Thau lagoon and the Mediterranean.

When is the market in Montbazin?

The Montbazin market is held every Sunday morning in the Place du Jardin Public, in the heart of the village. This weekly event brings together local producers offering quality produce (artisan, organic, seasonal fruit and vegetables, etc.) and is regularly accompanied by tastings and friendly entertainment.

How do I get to Montbazin?

By train, you can reach Montbazin via Sète station from Paris in 3 hours 40 minutes by direct TGV, from Lyon in 2 hours 10 minutes, from Toulouse in 2 hours, or from Marseille in 2 hours 25 minutes. Once you arrive at Sète station, you can reach Montbazin by bus on route 22, by taxi or by hire car. By car, Montbazin is located approximately 22 km from Sète and approximately 23 km from Montpellier, accessible from the A9 motorway, exit 33. During the season, it is also possible to cross the Thau lagoon by ferry from Sète station to the port of Mèze, then take bus route no. 22 on the Sète Agglopôle Méditerranée bus network.

Montbazin | Archipel de Thau

Montbazin A thousand-year-old village nestled amongst hills and vineyards

There is something instantly endearing about Montbazin. Perched between the hills of La Moure and the Thau basin, this Languedoc village exudes the gentle southern way of life in every street, every terrace, and every glass of wine poured in the shade of a plane tree. Its picturesque narrow streets, its Mediterranean garden open to all, its vineyards with award-winning grape varieties and its 19th-century winegrowers’ houses create a rich setting that is a pleasure to explore at a leisurely pace. The Saint-Pierre Chapel, with its Romanesque frescoes of Italo-Byzantine inspiration—unique in the region—adds a historical depth to this scene that is a pleasant surprise.

And for lovers of the great outdoors, the paths leading up to the hills of La Moure offer a 360° panorama of the Thau Archipelago, Sète and the lagoon, with the garrigue and its scents of thyme and rosemary as your only companions. Montbazin is the sort of village you never forget.

Montbazin

Another village you may well know from the labels of its IGP-classified wines, *Vins des collines de la Moure*, for which the hike to the summit is, incidentally, famous… Yet Montbazin is far more than just its wine heritage; its centuries-old buildings date back to the Middle Ages, including Saint-Pierre Chapel, which will reveal its finest secret: a sublime fresco of Italo-Byzantine...

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The must-sees in Montbazin

Byzantine Romanesque frescoes, a restored mill, award-winning vineyards and 360° panoramic views: Montbazin reveals its treasures with a discretion that is characteristic of the village. A thousand-year-old village nestled between the hills of La Moure and the Thau lagoon, it is a place of calm and tranquillity where every turn of the alleyway and every path through the garrigue holds a pleasant surprise. Here’s what you mustn’t miss under any circumstances during your stay.

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The history of Montbazin

Nestled between the hills of La Moure and the Thau lagoon, Montbazin has occupied a strategic position in the heart of Languedoc since ancient times. The village’s history dates back to the time of its construction on the Via Domitia, the Roman road that linked Italy to Spain along the Mediterranean coast. The Forum Domitii, dating from 117 BC, is situated on the site of the present-day village, and excavations have revealed that potters used to fire amphorae and tiles there in several kilns. A dizzying ancient past that can still be glimpsed, for those who know how to look, in the village’s subsoil and stones.

The Middle Ages have also left remarkable traces. The Chapel of Saint Peter, built in the 11th and 12th centuries, is unique for the significance of its Romanesque frescoes of Italo-Byzantine inspiration, rare in the region, and surprising for the passage beneath the choir which once provided access to the feudal castle. The Colonnades, the belfry and the 19th-century winegrowers’ houses complete this picture of a village that has weathered the centuries with a fine sense of continuity, and which bears its history with the quiet pride of places that know their roots.

Montbazin, a thousand-year-old village nestled between scrubland and vineyards

MOULIN DE JUFFET

CHAPELLE SAINT-PIERRE

RANDONNEE DES COLLINES DE LA MOURE

Staying in Montbazin

What is there to see in Montbazin?

We’re here to help you plan your stay!

Need help planning your visit? Find all our practical advice, top tips and must-see attractions in our ‘My Stay’ section, or contact the Mèze visitor centre directly – our team is here to help you plan a tailor-made holiday.

What are the must-see attractions in Montbazin?
A thousand-year-old village nestled between the hills of La Moure and the Thau lagoon, Montbazin boasts a rich medieval heritage to be discovered as you wander through its picturesque narrow streets. The unmissable Saint-Pierre Chapel, a 12th-century Romanesque building, houses rare frescoes of Italo-Byzantine influence that are worth the visit in their own right. Then take a stroll towards the Colonnades, the belfry of the former Chapel of the Penitents and the Mediterranean Garden, a true haven of peace open to all.
A former stop on the Via Domitia, Montbazin is also a land of vineyards where you can meet the winegrowers and taste award-winning wines. Don’t miss the Juffet mill, recently restored thanks to the Mission Bern, or the hiking trails in the Moure hills, which offer splendid views of the Thau lagoon and the Mediterranean.
When is the market in Montbazin?
How do I get to Montbazin?
- By train, you can reach Montbazin via Sète station from Paris in 3 hours 40 minutes by direct TGV, from Lyon in 2 hours 10 minutes, from Toulouse in 2 hours, or from Marseille in 2 hours 25 minutes.
- Once you arrive at Sète station, you can reach Montbazin by bus on route 22, by taxi or by hire car.
- By car, Montbazin is located approximately 22 km from Sète and approximately 23 km from Montpellier, accessible from the A9 motorway, exit 33.
- During the season, it is also possible to cross the Thau lagoon by ferry from Sète station to the port of Mèze, then take bus route no. 22 on the Sète Agglopôle Méditerranée bus network.