AGDE, Gateway to the Mediterranean

Agde is a city born of the sea, it was originally founded by the navigators of Ancient Greece more than 25 centuries ago

The old city and its monuments are carved from basalt, the volcanic stone of the country, from where it derived its nickname in antiquity, "The Black Pearl of the Mediterranean". In a region of vines, Agde also harnesses the fruits of the sea, with fishing, the production of shellfish (on the inland lake of Thau) and shipbuilding.

Agathois still preserve antique traditions such as the Languedocienne tournaments where two boats joust.

Today, Agde returns to its origins being the center of an international trading partnership, reflecting the Ancient Greek traders of the Mediterranean

At the time of the Greeks, the Agathois coastline was indented much more than today. The old volcano of 'Mont Loup' formed a visible reference mark for mariners far at sea, but the estuary of the river Hérault was then much broader and open. The ancient port was a haven in the delta formed by the river and the Northern point of the island of Agde.

In the 18th century, Agde was a commercial port and a very active maritime base in the Mediterranean. For more than 23 centuries ships have traded from Agde, from the banks of the Herault, a natural port.

Before the recent competition with the port of Sète, Agde competed with the port of Aigues Mortes the two ports vied for the trade of the Languedoc Region. Louis IX ( Saint Louis) granted, in the 13th century, privileges to Aigues Mortes, which made it possible this port to overtake the others.

In 1423, Charles VII cancels these privileges in favour of Agde, while the traffic of Aigues Mortes declines more and more, the channel connecting the port to the sea being silted-up by the alluvia of the Rhone.

In the 18th century, Agde prospered, leading trade throughout the South of France. The shipyards boomed, building tartanes and brigantins. In the town, over 140 new buildings were built between 1762 and 1789. But the decline is close...

The port on Hérault became insufficient when the tonnage of the ships increased. The fall of the traffic was accentuated during the last century. Building steamships left Agde for the port of Séte. The fate of the port was sealed by the decision of the navy to move to Séte.

Since 1809, the department of Agde is not mentioned any more on the official documents of the marine. It was officially removed as a maritime district in 1920.

Agde is one of the focal points of the tourist initiative of Languedoc-Roussillon (installation by the State of a chain of new stations on the littoral to create a "New Florida".

With the construction of the port of Cap d'Agde in the 1970,'s , Agde returned to it's former position as one of the leading ports of the Mediterranean.

Agde has always been an active fishing port, based around Grau d' Agde. Fishing still creates a living for three hundred families.

The traditional trade of shipbuilding is still active, there are still long established family companies in Agde.

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