When you visit beautiful Sète, you will be in constant awe of the mountain that the seaside town is built around. Mont Saint Clair rises above the sea, and overlooks the town with a constant promise of protection.

The majestic mountain from afar is a site in itself. It towers over the flat land around it. On its slopes, you will find where the people of Sète decided to build their cemetery. If you think the view of Mont Saint Clair and the town is gorgeous in the daytime, you should see it at night. The warm lights that illuminate Sète and the hill contrast beautifully with the black sky around them, and glitter in the reflecting water below them.

As much as Mont Saint Clair from a distance is a gorgeous site, however, it is also essential to climb it, and see the incredible landscape that unfolds from the top. The panorama that the top of the mountain offers includes, of course, Sète, with all its canals, houses and colors. You can also look out into the Étang de Thau, and, sometimes when its clear, even Canigou. The view is amazing at any time, but sunset is a favorite of locals and visitors alike, as the sky reflects into the water, and shines orange, yellow and red into everything around it.

We’ll be visiting Sète on Ralph Grizzle’s June 17, 2015 barge cruise in the south of France.