Tourism
Discover our region, its geography, its culture and its gastronomy
The Thau Archipelago is an almost inexhaustible space for escape.
Ask us, there is so much to discover.
Villa Balāo is at the heart of an exceptional tourist area, central in the southern Mediterranean, between Spain and Provence, with more than 15 major sites accessible in less than an hour, encompassing nature and heritage, including several Natura 2000 and UNESCO sites. Discover a rare diversity: lagoon, beaches, garrigue, vineyards, historic towns.
Slow tourism, gastronomy, walks :
- Balaruc-les-Bains & Balaruc-le-Vieux
Old village, walk along the pond - Sète & Mont Saint-Clair → 8 km | 10 min
Canals, the covered market, exceptional panorama - Massif de la Gardiole → 10 km | 15 min
Protected Natura 2000 area: Garrigue, pine forests, cliffs and views of the Thau lagoon and the Mediterranean, Mediterranean flora, hiking - Bouzigues → 12 km | 15 min
Oyster farming village, oysters - Mèze → 15 km | 20 min
Old port, terraces at sunset - Vineyards
Côtes de Thau (IGP) → 12 km | 15 min
Muscat de Frontignan (AOC) → 12 km | 15 min
Muscat de Mireval (AOC) → 12 km | 15 min
Picpoul de Pinet (AOP) → 15 km | 20 min
Grés de Montpellier (AOP) → 30–40 km | 35–45 min
Pic Saint-Loup (AOP) → 55 km | 50 min
Terrasses du Larzac (AOP) → 50–60 km | ~1h
Faugères (AOP) → 60 km | ~1h
Minervois (AOP) → 70 km | ~1h10
Corbières (AOP)→ 90 km | ~1h30
Major sites :
- Etang de Thau, Major Natura 2000 site
Iconic lagoon: migratory birds, seagrass beds, exceptional biodiversity, oysters, traditional ports, unique light - Lac du Salagou → 50 km | 45 min
Red landscapes, striking contrasts, hiking, swimming - Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert → 60 km | 1h
Major medieval village, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Gellone Abbey, Way of St. James to Compostela - Gorges de l’Hérault / Pont du Diable → 60 km | 1h
Historic bridge, limestone cliffs, turquoise river, canoeing, hiking - Pic Saint-Loup → 55 km | ~50 min
Iconic mountain, protected limestone scrubland, 360° panoramic views, renowned vineyards - Cirque de Navacelles → 95 km | 1h30
Spectacular natural site, Natura 2000 site & Grand Site de France - Plage de l’Espiguette (coté sauvage) → 55 km | 1h
Wild nature, gateway to the Camargue region of the Gard department, protected dunes, feeling of being at the end of the world. - Canal du Midi → 55 km | 1h
Fonseranes Locks (UNESCO)
Discovering
Balaruc-les-Bains
Balaruc-les-Bains, France’s leading medical spa town, is located in the heart of the Thau archipelago. With its highly acclaimed climate of over 300 days of sunshine per year, the town has a ten-month seasonality. Balaruc-les-Bains boasts a vibrant array of local shops and personal services.
Enjoy the village atmosphere by strolling through the parks or exploring the boutiques and shops, and purchasing souvenirs, gifts, and other items.
On land or at sea, sports and leisure activities abound in Balaruc-les-Bains. There’s something for all tastes and ages. A great way to stay fit during your stay.
A wide range of sports are available: from tennis to cycling, including tambourin (a traditional local sporting ball game), pétanque, boules, beach volleyball, mini-golf, pedal boats, and of course, water sports: windsurfing, sea kayaking, catamaran sailing, fishing, and more.
Discover the Mediterranean Antique Garden, a two-hectare promenade spanning a chronological period from the 1st century BC to the 3rd century AD.
Enjoy a boat trip to discover shellfish farming, or rent a bike and explore the cycle paths in Balaruc-les-Bains, Bouzigues, or Sète. Numerous hikes and walks are also possible in the surrounding area.
Wellness
Medical Thermal Spa Breaks
The medical thermal spa break is a 5-day treatment period that focuses on treatments to address everyday ailments: backache, heavy legs, knee pain, etc. Incorporate thermal spa treatments into your lifestyle and replenish your health capital preventively.
The thermal spa breaks offered by the Balaruc-les-Bains thermal center are a complementary offering to traditional 3-week treatments. The thermal spa treatment is medical approved for traditional therapeutic areas such as rheumatology and phlebology, as well as other health objectives such as sports training or the management of certain pathologies.
3 reasons to choose a thermal spa break in Balaruc-les-Bains:
- Discover natural thermal water treatments
- Relieve tension and relax
- Relieve early back pain, for example, by joining the “Take Action Against Chronic Pain” program
Offer to yourself a mini spa treatment break in the south of France with unique thermal water: Day treatments or a 5-day thermal spa break, open to all, without a prescription.
Balaruc-les-Bains: An effective health break to feel good.
Wellness
O’Balia Thermal Spa
The O’balia Spa is the first thermal spa in the Mediterranean, offering treatments based on Balaruc thermal water with a thousand benefits.
In this soothing setting, facing the Thau Lake, let yourself be enveloped in a cocooning atmosphere where every detail is designed for your well-being! Immerse yourself in a world where serenity reigns supreme.
Discover signature treatments, renowned for their effectiveness and regenerative power:
- Thermal Water Massages
- Beauty Treatments
- Facial Treatments
- Body Treatments
- Rituals
- Special Slimming and Firming Treatments
All treatments are based on Balaruc-les-Bains thermal water and other local products such as algae from the Thau Lake, renowned for their protective, regenerating, and isotonic benefits.
Don’t forget to treat yourself to Balaruc-les-Bains’ cosmetic and dermatological products, which place thermal water at the heart of their formulas and combine effectiveness with sensoriality. Enjoy all the benefits of thermal water on your skin.
Leisure
Casino
Come and have fun at the Balaruc-les-Bains Casino, in an elegant and welcoming setting facing the Thau Lake. You’ll appreciate the table games area and the new slot machine area.
Play over 100 slot machines that could potentially bring you some nice winnings. Choose your machine, start the game with ease, and above all, have fun!
Traditional games offer the pleasure of playing alone or with others. Against the dealer, it’s the pleasure of betting and possibly winning a nice sum of money.
- English Roulette Table
- Blackjack Table
- Ultimate Texas Hold’em Poker Table
Also discover the fun side of the electronic English Roulette tables: Easy to use and available in several languages, you’ll easily understand the rules of the game.
The Casino also has a lounge restaurant.
Alone or with friends, come and have fun at the Casino!
Gambling can be dangerous: loss of money, addiction…
Relaxation
Beaches
Our villa is located less than 5 minutes from the nearest beach and only 20 minutes from the nearest gay naturist beach.
Les Aresquiers Naturist Beach: A wild and unspoiled beach of sand and pebbles, popular for its relaxed and respectful atmosphere. It attracts a predominantly gay crowd and offers an ideal setting for sunbathing and swimming in complete freedom. Accessible after a short walk, it seduces with its authentic and natural atmosphere, far from the hustle and bustle of traditional beaches.
Cap d’Agde Naturist Beach: For an even more uninhibited experience, Baie des Cochons (Pigs Bay) Beach is considered one of the most famous naturist beaches in Europe, and the world. This beach has become the hottest spot on the planet; a spirit of freedom pervades this beach. Handsome gay men gather there every afternoon during the nice weather.
Balaruc-les-Bains town center beach: a supervised, family-friendly, sandy beach, not naturist, perfect for a peaceful swim in the warm, salty, and shallow Thau Lake.
Lido Beach in Sète: a vast 12 km beach of fine sand, family-friendly, not naturist, ideal for fully enjoying the Mediterranean sun. Its size means you won’t feel crowded.
And many other beaches along the coast.
Food
Gastronomy
We are fortunate to have excellent restaurants just steps from Villa Balāo, including seven Michelin-starred restaurants less than 30 minutes away.
To discover the best of local gastronomy, Balaruc-les-Bains boasts more than 40 restaurants: gourmet cuisine, traditional or Mediterranean cuisine, seafood and fish, brasseries, pizzerias, crêperies, snack bars, cafeterias, and more.
Sample fresh, local produce:
Award-winning oysters and mussels from Bouzigues-Mèze, and many other fish and shellfish caught in the Thau Lake, such as sea bream, mullet or sea bass, peppered snails, murex, clams, tellins, eels, squid, and octopus. Also discover local recipes such as mussel brasucade, tielle, bourride, macaronade, and many other specialties.
Based on seafood or products from the Thau Lake, Balaruc cuisine offers a veritable culinary firework display.
Most restaurants offer terrace dining, and all serve their dishes with the region’s finest wines.
Enjoy your meal and bon appétit!
Food
Exceptional seafood products
Taste the shellfish from the Thau Lake, especially the cupped or flat oysters, known for their exceptional flavor. Enjoy them with a delicious white wine like Picpoul de Pinet.
Many fishing villages border the Thau Lake, offering breathtaking views of the oyster beds; you can eat them on site.
Delicious shellfish such as mussels, tellines, pepper snails, or murex, clams, and cockles await you.
Don’t limit yourself to shellfish. Our village is full of other seafood specialties, such as the delicious Tielles, a spicy pie filled with seafood and tomato, and the Bourride, a fish and seafood stew typical of the region.
The latest seafood trends: Mediterranean fish sashimi or ceviche, or fusion dishes combining seafood and exotic flavors.
Discovering
Traditional markets
The Balaruc-les-Bains market is one of the most renowned and largest over the Thau Lake.
All local products, curiosities, fresh produce, and local specialties are on display at their best. Come stroll through the colorful atmosphere, where the words guide your steps and the scents delight your senses.
The open-air markets take place year-round in the village’s largest wooded park.
In the summer, also visit the Balaruc-les-Bains night craft market, an invitation to discover unique and original creations in a warm and friendly atmosphere.
Among the stalls of passionate artisans, chat with local artists and be seduced by pieces handmade with talent and expertise: jewelry, ceramics, textiles, paintings, decorated glassware, and more. Taste quality local products.
Sports
Cycling, Hiking, Water Sports, Golf
If you enjoy a variety of activities, you’re sure to find something to suit your interests.
Cycling is your passion; whether you’re simply looking for a leisure activity or a true enthusiast, you’ll find what you’re looking for. You can bring your own bike or rent one on site. You’ll find numerous trails designed to explore the surrounding area, including a tour of the Thau lagoon, or even a mountain bike ride in the Gardiole.
Water sports enthusiasts can rent a boat, go windsurfing, or kayaking. The Manureva Nautical Club in Balaruc will help you with your activities. There are also scuba diving clubs.
Finally, indulge in other activities like pétanque, mini-golf, billiards, and tennis.
And why not try tambourin, the iconic ball game of Languedoc?
Golfers can play on the greens in Fabrègues or Cap d’Agde.
Culture
History, Culture
History buffs, lovers of ancient stones, monuments, and other cultural heritage sites will be spoiled for choice just steps from Villa Balāo.
Balaruc-les-Bains boasts a long history, its waters known since antiquity. Monuments bear witness to this history, such as the 1st-century Gallo-Roman aqueduct and the 12th-century Romanesque church of Balaruc. Discover the Mediterranean Ancient Garden of Balaruc, the Ethnographic Museum of the Thau Lagoon, or the Gallo-Roman Museum “Villa Loupian” in Loupian, located on the ancient Via Domitia that connected Italy to the Iberian Peninsula.
Explore the Middle Ages with Maguelone Cathedral, Valmagne Abbey in Villeveyrac, and Saint-Félix-de-Montceau Abbey in Gigean, or the fortified circular villages of Balaruc-le-Vieux, Poussan, Loupian, Gigean, and Montbazin.
Discover diverse local traditions such as water jousting, a true sport with a 350-year history. These competitions are the occasion for numerous festivals.
Also explore:
- Montpellier (Historic Center, Museums) → 30 min
- Pézenas (Molière’s City, Arts and Crafts) → 35 min
- Béziers (Cathedral, Fonseranes Locks, Canal Bridge) → 40 min
- Nîmes (Arena, Maison Carrée) → 50 min
- Narbonne (Episcopal City) → 55 min
Book your next stay now and get the best guaranteed rates.
1220 avenue des Hésperides
34540 – Balaruc-les-Bains
France
Tél : + 33 7 60 80 60 40
contact@villabalao.com
High-end Gay guesthouse, between the Thau Lake and the Mediterranean Sea, near Sète, Montpellier and Agde.
Escape — Relaxation — Comfort — Conviviality
Clothing optional – Massage – Pool – Jacuzzi
