An unforgettable total immersion experience for your French students in the beautiful South of France!
If you want your students to enjoy a totally immersive experience of French and the French culture, then Sète could be the perfect destination for you!
Located on the Mediterranean coast, close to the city of Montpellier, Sète is a small, safe and friendly city that boasts unique traditions.
Originally a small fishing port, Sète is sandwiched between the sea and a large saltwater lagoon called the Étang de Thau, Sète is also the terminus for the Canal du Midi and the Canal du Rhône, so maritime tradition remains strong here. But over recent years, it has begun to attract more tourists and it is now popular with French celebrities, many of whom have bought homes here.
Your students will love the opportunity that a school trip to the South of France offers to combine learning French with time spent on the beaches, trying out watersports on the lagoon or people watching on the quayside.
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Why visit the South of France?
Get your students talking
A school trip to the South of France offers plenty of opportunity for to get your students talking, as the locals here are incredibly friendly and welcoming to visitors. They will love the fact that your students are learning French and will be very keen to help them practise.
The people of Sète are incredibly proud of their city and their unique traditions, so you will find plenty of locals keen to chat to your students about both topics.
In fact, the Director of our partner language school was born and bred here and is very excited to welcome your students to her hometown. The school works exclusively with closed groups, such as school groups and so offers a highly tailored service to ensure that your learning objectives and specific requirements are met.
We would highly recommend choosing host family accommodation to complete the total immersion experience, as this offers the students the chance to chat to locals on an everyday basis, usually over their evening meal. Hosts will be keen to hear about what students have learnt in lessons and what they’ve done in their activities programme for the day.
Unique traditions
Of course, France as a country has a very rich, strong culture and there are certainly plenty of opportunities to explore this on a school trip to the South of France.
But this is also the heart of the Occitanie and so there are many aspects of this culture that remain strong in Sète and the South of France.
And Sète itself enjoys a number of traditions that are unique to the city, including the incredible spectacle of water jousting, which takes place on the canals in the city centre during the summer!
Sète was also the birthplace of poet Paul Valery and singer Georges Brassens, and you will certainly hear more about both of these famous sons during your trip to Sète!
Learn French under the Mediterranean sun
The South of France boasts 320 days of sunshine per year, so if you want to enjoy learning French in the sun then this is the perfect destination for you.
Your group will have the opportunity to enjoy the beaches, try their hand at watersports and enjoy all the incredibly fresh food that being by the sea and a saltwater lagoon offers.
If you want your students to fall in love with all things French, a school trip to the South of France is the right choice for you!
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Laura Lucas
Tour Consultant
Paul Hudson
Tour Consultant
Laura Martin
Language Sales & Product Manager
Emma Gray da Silva
Tour Consultant
Meet our education specialists and get to know more about the people committed to making your school trip the best it can be.
Learn more about South of France school trips
Read some of our latest blogs covering school trips to South of France.
14 Jun 2023
Why Choose the South of France for Your Next French School Trip?
Here's why you should consider the South of France for your next trip!
26 May 2023
Exploring Our New French Language Destination in the South of France
Our languages team recently had the opportunity to visit a brand new destination for French language trips in the South of France - find out more here!
Activities in South of France that your school group will love
Mini Boat, Sète
These electric one-seater boats are hugely popular in Sète and a great way to navigate the city's famous canals. Life jackets are provided.
Pedalo, Sète
Enjoy Sète from the water by hiring some pedalos! This is a fun, relaxing activity that your students will absolutely love.
Boat Tour, Sète
With such a wealth of waterways, there really is no better way to see Sète than by boat. You can explore its canals, the Mediterranean coast around the city, or even the oyster beds of its magnificent saltwater lagoon.
Bike Rental, Sète
Hire some bikes and explore Sète on two wheels! There are a variety of different tours you can enjoy along the canals, the seafront or the lagoon.
Rosalie Quadricycle, Sète
Hop on a 4 or 6-seater bike and enjoy a ride along the beachfront promenade! A great way to enjoy Sète's spectacular setting on the Mediterranean coast.
Cooking Workshop, Sète
Enjoy a cooking workshop with a local chef where your group will be taught how to make a local speciality.
Introduction to Water Sports, Sète
Enjoy a 2-hour introduction to water sports either in the sea or on the saltwater lagoon, depending on the weather conditions.
Musée International des Arts Modestes (MIAM)
Explore this unique art museum founded by two local artists!
Treasure Hunt, Sète
A great activity designed to help your students practise their French and get to know the town!
Game of Petanque
Enjoy a game of this traditional Southern French sport!
Centre Régional d'Art Contemporain, Sète
Explore this centre for artistic creation, right in the heart of Sète!
Shopping in Sète
Enjoy a shopping tour of all the independent shops, producers and artists of Sète!
Afternoon at the Beach, Sète
Spend an unforgettable afternoon on one of Sète's 9 beaches!
Guided Tour of the Théâtre Molière
Go behind-the-scenes of one of Sète's most iconic landmarks, the Théâtre Molière!
Paul Valery Museum
See some spectacular works of art and learn more about this famous Sètois poet!
Musée de la Mer, Sète
Discover the maritime history of Sète at this fascinating museum!
MACO
Explore Sète and its incredible street art with this fantastic open air museum!
FabLab
Join an expert in the Fablab at our language school's city campus to create a unique souvenir!
Mini Boat, Sète
These electric one-seater boats are hugely popular in Sète and a great way to navigate the city's famous canals. Life jackets are provided.
Pedalo, Sète
Enjoy Sète from the water by hiring some pedalos! This is a fun, relaxing activity that your students will absolutely love.
Boat Tour, Sète
With such a wealth of waterways, there really is no better way to see Sète than by boat. You can explore its canals, the Mediterranean coast around the city, or even the oyster beds of its magnificent saltwater lagoon.
Bike Rental, Sète
Hire some bikes and explore Sète on two wheels! There are a variety of different tours you can enjoy along the canals, the seafront or the lagoon.
Rosalie Quadricycle, Sète
Hop on a 4 or 6-seater bike and enjoy a ride along the beachfront promenade! A great way to enjoy Sète's spectacular setting on the Mediterranean coast.
Introduction to Water Sports, Sète
Enjoy a 2-hour introduction to water sports either in the sea or on the saltwater lagoon, depending on the weather conditions.
Game of Petanque
Enjoy a game of this traditional Southern French sport!
Afternoon at the Beach, Sète
Spend an unforgettable afternoon on one of Sète's 9 beaches!
TV Locations Tour, Sète
Sète, in the South of France, has inspired many French TV series - discover why on this tour!
Espace Georges Brassens
Discover the life and work of one of Sète's most famous sons - Georges Brassens!
FAQs
How long should we spend in the South of France on a school trip?
We recommend staying about 5 days in the South of France, as this gives your group time to enjoy French lessons at a specialist language school and cultural activities designed to help them learn more about the French culture and practise their language skills with friendly locals!
What's the best time of year to visit the South of France on a school trip?
The South of France basks in sunshine around 320 days of the year, so it’s a great destination for a French school trip at any time of year!
What's the best way to get around the South of France?
If you’re based in Sète, you’ll find that the city is very easy to get around. In the centre, everything is within walking distance, and to get to the beaches, you just need to hop on the bus for a couple of minutes. If you’re staying at the beach campus, the beach is literally a couple of steps from the campus. And all the delights of the city centre are just a short bus ride away. You can also visit nearby Montpellier extremely easily – it’s just 30 minutes away by train!
Which visits are a must on a school trip to the South of France?
If you’re staying in Sète then you must take full advantage of its unique location on the lagoon and the Mediterranean coast - try your hand at some water sports! Our partner language school works with a local centre that can provide an afternoon taster session of catamaran sailing, kayaking or stand up paddle boarding at really affordable rates. And don’t miss the opportunity to learn how to cook some of Sète’s delicious local delicacies in a cooking workshop either on the quayside or in Les Halles, the atmospheric indoor market in the city centre!
Are there any free things to do on a school trip to the South of France?
If you’re staying in Sète and on a budget, you’ll be pleased to know that there are loads of free things to do there. Firstly, of course, you could spend some time on one of the gorgeous beaches. There are also a number of free cultural institutions, including the open-air MACO, which is a street art trail, and the Musée de la Mer, which tells the city’s nautical history. If your group is particularly interested in contemporary art, both the Galerie Dock Sud and the CRAC are free too.
