Founded by the Etruscans in the 6th century BC, Lattes sprawls between Montpellier and the Pond of Mejean on France’s Mediterranean coast. It features a lively port clustered with eateries and several riverside trails, as well as a lagoon nature reserve renowned for its birdwatching.
Things to do in Lattes
Cafes and restaurants line the shores of Port Ariane, a circular marina that connects along the River Lez. You can soak up the views across the marina from L'île de la Vasque or coincide your visit with a show at the nearby Jacques Coeur Theater. Walking and cycling trails hug both banks of the River Lez on its journey south to the Pond of Mejean and the Mediterranean Sea.
History buffs shouldn’t miss a visit to Musee Archeologique Henri-Prades, which exhibits artefacts uncovered at the ancient site of Lattara. The museum is named after the archaeologist who excavated the site in the 1960s and stands on the former family farm of Impressionist painter Frederic Bazille. In addition to terracotta and bronze vases, the permanent collection includes mortars, glassworks and ceramic objects reflecting everyday life in Lattara.
You can stretch your legs on the boardwalk trails that lead from the House of Nature, which is located within a protected tract of wetlands overlooking the Pond of Mejean. It features exhibits explaining the local flora and fauna of the lagoon, as well as the migratory birds that visit the wetlands each year. The reserve’s prolific birdlife includes white storks and flamingos.
Getting around Lattes
Lattes is around 15 minutes’ drive from the centre of Montpellier and 10 minutes from Montpellier-Méditerranée Airport, which has flights to destinations across Europe and North Africa. Trams stop at Cougourlude Station and buses travel throughout the area.