Cap d'Agde

The ground floor apartments of the buildings on the quay of the Ile des pêcheurs in Cap d'Agde, you can see at the end of the port the shopping centre and the campanile.

Grande Conque.

External staircase to 1st floor, coming from the garden, roof with round terracotta tiles.

View of Luna Park Cap d'Agde from the port.

Cap d'Agde (French pronunciation: [kap daɡd]) is a seaside resort on France's Mediterranean coast. It is located in the commune of Agde, in the Hérault department within the region of Occitanie. Cap d'Agde was planned by architect Jean Le Couteur as part of one of the largest state-run development schemes for holidays in French history.^[1] It is also one of the cities in France where an increasing number of retirees reside since 1980.^[2]

Agde can be reached by TGV SNCF train direct from Paris or Lille or Geneva whilst the closest airport is Béziers-Cap-d'Agde airport, which runs direct budget airline services to the UK and Scandinavia. Agde is also served by Montpellier-Fréjorgues airport. Public transport (taxi or bus) is available between Agde and Cap d'Agde.

In place of the wine yard,^[3] it is now one of the largest marinas on the French Mediterranean. On June 4, 1971, the town was classified as a "seaside resort".

Development

Main article: Agde

Historically, this area was occupied by moorland and vineyards.^[4][5] and the only industry at the beginning of the 20th century was the distilleries for alcohol supply.

After immediate World War II, a naturist campsite (Camp Oltra) is set up in Port Lano (former Port Ambonne).^[6]

Due to 1960's annual leave and the introduction of plastic instead of wood for the construction of sail and motor boats with the "Plastic révolution"^[7] there is a need for structured coastal development for all seashores in France.

A sea resort at Agde in Occitania was planned in the 1960s by the Mission Racine [fr] in the (insane with mosquitoes) old salt marsh in Cap d'Agde, the Luno lagoon, 1967 builder : SEBLI from Béziers and SOGEBI.^[8][9] The mass plan decided by Jean Le Couteur is in concentric circles of the different thematic zones (housing, parking, leisure, etc.) around the port.^[10] The SODEAL, the builder run by Agde, took place in 1990.^[11][12]

The A9 freeway was built from 1960 to 1978 serving Port Camargue to Argelès.

The mosquitoes were removed from lagoons by chemical spraying.^[13] In 2024 aerial and land sprays are still done.

Built in Cap d'Agde, footbridge from the Flanerie to the Port, in the background on the left, former 1981 congress centre-theater hall, annex town hall, post-office, tourism-office.

The urbanization mission with its architectural rules came to an end in 1983.^[14]

Built from 1981 (once in the office of the former convention center), the Tourist Office was located below the tracks of the central raised roundabout of the Port of Cap d'Agde, a roundabout restored level in 2016. The Office then moved in 2024 to the new center.

Rochelongue's Mail built in 2000, south extension towards Grau d'Agde.

By the 1960s, buildings were small houses typically used by locals on weekends, among which the winegrowers' lean-tos remained. Wine  production has plummeted since the sea-resort was planned,  and the traditional piquette is no longer an economics answer.^[15]

If in Grau there was a start of tourist activity at the beginning of the 20th century with for example permission for casino gambling in 2 places,^[16] the cape with the exception of a winery and a farm among small lots belonging to persons there not residing, plus a temporary exploitation of salt marshes at the beginning of the century, and as forever fishing by small boats with a small home port, the cape was mostly ininhabited. At that time, the State carried out expropriations in Cap d'Agde to avoid land speculation while the general fact was the practice of illegal occupations, including on the islands.^[14]

The first urban plan for Cap d'Agde was to stabilize sand with plants (pines, eucalyptus, coconuts, date palms and neriums), build dunes against wind and shore rains, and excavate a grand marina for sailing boats. The building of houses started 5 years later, with a subdivision (plat), and flats in the housing estate near the port and the shore (sea side). Numerous circular car parks have been set up for access to the beaches. They have been planted with tamarisk and pine trees.^[14] The mostly winding boulevards that connect the residences are lined with eleagnus or oleanders, as a distinct sign the middle strip is planted with large trees of a specific type.

Due to the German occupation, anti-landing mines were placed on the beaches (particularly at the Mole).^[17] Nowadays, the Landing Memorial 1980 allows remembrance on its hill, it is the place where we have the best view of the Pyrenees in the distance and of the entire coastline between Spain and Sète.

In 1976 Richelieu-Rochelongue -in the extension to the South of the marina- , but also the urbanization of Mont Saint-Martin is designed.^[18]

And if the last vineyard of Bagnas is now very small below Château Maraval^[3] with the Meyer distillery in ruins, walking in is a planned tourist-office leisure nowadays; This "Wine tourism" has been in full development for several years. The main tourist festival is in the 21st century the Vinocap trade show.^[19]

Cars and motorcycle are the folkloric elements for the summer. Bikers with their motorcycles are blessed in a ceremony by a priest in the central plaza.^[20]

Cap d'Agde International Tennis Centre, Medical Centre 2023.

The new Palais des congrès Hervé Di Rosa, its belvedere, next to the bubble of the Tourist Office, 2019.

Streets are labyrinthine in the 1960s' urban plan, shaped with numerous central parking places serving points of interest.^[21]

After Lano, between Le Môle and the cape du memorial, the urbanization of the 1980s took place, (in 1983 Thalacap, a thalassotherapy institute opened in a hotel -it disappeared in 2006-)^[22]

On the 2000s' a new Cap d'Agde center was designed, with no more "Mediterranean style", but the "International Style" and this appears in new Congress Palace and the Casino Barrière facades with their rhythmic perforated metal facades;^[23] To improve the value of the city with the aim of attracting more prosperous people to live there.^[24][25][26]

Golf (2013)^[25] and municipal campsites (2022) change management providers.^[26]

On the 4 main beaches, lifeguards are on duty at several stations, during summer most of the day.

Marinas

There are 2 marinas in Cap d'Agde, many slipways are along the shore mainly for little boats.

Marina Centre Cap

Gateway to Ile des Pêcheurs.

Campanile, landmark-middle of the quays.

Vieux Port.

Footbridge from Flanerie to the Port, background Cap d'Agde former center 1970's annexes.

Ile St Martin in the background, and St Loup hill in the distance above.

Sail center.

Harbour-master offices.

The initial marshland was formed by the flow of water from the Monts d'Agde. But the place became a salt producing place in 1910s'.^[27] It has been replaced by the marina. "Its a base for Mediterranean cruises to Spain (50 miles), the Balearics (200 miles) or Corsica (230 miles)".^[28] The marina is composed with one entrance, 10 basins forming a 35-hectares body of water dredged to 3 m.; attached to islands in administratively two parts, the public-accessible and not accessible ones. The part between accessible Ile des Loisirs and non-accessible Ile St Martin is the part of the harbor where the boat's mooring ring to the quay is private and sold with the villa or apartment, a little part. The part between Ile St Martin and accessible Ile des Pêcheurs is the main part of the harbor where the boat's mooring ring is rented to the harbor master. Composed of 3100 mooring rings, this location is a home port with a small transit portion. Exists : "

• 6 sanitary blocks (toilets, showers, washbasins) with reserved access (electronic key).
• Reserved parking for yachtsmen.
• Fresh water and electricity (220 V mono and 380 V tri) at quayside.
• Secure pontoons (electronic key access): berths are equipped with catways and, for larger units, with piles or deadbeds.
• Special berths for multihulls.
• 2 slipways (Avant Port).
• European-standard waste disposal center.".^[28]

The walk along the quays is one of the attractions for the shops and café restaurants. Just behind the waterfront there are grocery stores for everyday life.

But a significant part of the population (holiday or annually for retirees) resides in that area. The first buildings for annual occupancy were built on the slope of the Bay of Le Môle, and include low-cost housing, which was done at the same time of the marina buildings with the landmark tower, the campanile. Expansion has taken place on both sides of this new center, with the last developments towards the old port taking place in the 1990s, which is now occupied and owned mainly by retirees,^[2] an evolution of the 1960 urban plan that only took working people into account;^[29] this element led to the design of the new Cap center after 2000, with larger and more expensive apartments.^[30]

Marina Port Lano

Naturist camp circular massive building (small apartments), and in front, the marina.

Near the naturist camp, the marina has about 60 places for boats up to 17 metres (56 ft) in length and a large boat yard. Its In racks dry port [fr] stocks cabin cruisers, with racks and elevator for motorboats (no sail baoats).

Fort Brescou locks and protects the port of Richelieu's time.

Recreational activities

Most of them are located in commercial parks with commercial purposes, others are necessary for the local population while others have free entry and an educational purpose.^{[31] [32]}

Cap d'Agde, on the Port, discotheque located on a square set back from the quay, night illuminated by spotlights.

Amusement in Ile des Loisirs (Leisure Island).

Underwater fishing has taken place since the creation of Cap d'Agde in the nearby seagrass beds.

Leisure areas have been created, such as the Ile des Loisirs (designed in 1976^[33])in the main marina (an amusement park, nightclubs and, in the past, a casino (1970s)).

Aqualand.

The Aqualand day-swimming theme park was one of the first of its kind (1984).

Between Cap d'Agde and Grau d'Agde, the Centre Aquatique de l'Archipel ("Cité de l'Eau"), a 21st-century construction by the town and the Hérault Méditerranée urban community.

The former tennis camp was created by Pierre Barthès (on his grand'mother field^[34]) whilst Racine plan is beginning, in the first 1970s'. It became since the International Tennis Center.^[35] In 1978 a club house and an hotel are built for the international competition. Its modern padel hall opened in 2022 after the takeover by SODEAL the developer,^[22] it replaces the hangar.^[34]
Around the Tennis Camp, in its vicinity the tennis courts was the major theme for the development of housing estates, some exists near La Roquille beach.

Golf practice is an activity that was set up in 1980s. Its extension (27 holes) was inaugurated in 2013.^[25]

Les Arènes du Cap offers a variety of shows (and toro-pools during the summer season).

Since 2003 the cultural season of the city of Agde opens with a film festival to which entry is free, it has moved from the old congress center to the new center of the "Rembla du Soleil".^[36]

Outdoor activities are available in the Bagnas reserve, including hiking.

The underwater trails have existed to discover underwater fauna since the establishment of the marina in 1967 with its marine protected area. In 2023, opened to public, an architecturally interesting floating Maison de la Mer was built in entrance of marina bassin n°1 to educationally illustrate the considerable connection between the shore and the salt water.^[37]

• 
  Swimming pool, (built 2008), 25 m bassin, heaten with wood chips 2024^[38]
• 
  Cap d'Agde, Bagnas Reserve, distillery ruins, and a gathering point for hiking
• 
  Congress palace while the movie festival "Hérault du Cinéma et de la TV" ^[39]
• 
  Agde golf course (seen from Mt St Martin, back to the housing estates)

Museum

Ephebos museum.

The Musée de l'Ephèbe houses the bronze nude statue known as The Youth of Agde (l'Ephèbe d'Agde). The statue was discovered in the river Hérault and was housed in the Louvre Museum prior to suitable facilities being made available in Cap d'Agde to house it.

Elementary school

In the same way and for the same reasons as for Grau d'Agde and for Tamarissière, in 1956 mayor Louis Vallière will open in the renovated [former farm] located on the Clape estate the first school in Cap d'Agde (where the Musée de l'Ephèbe is now located).^[40] Urban planners have forecast 2,500 sedentary residents at Cap d'Agde. Due to the particular nature of the environment, the project will be managed by SEBLI and the chosen architect, the Cap d'Agde architect Jean Lecouteur. Due to Museum construction, the "Jules Verne" Elementary school is built between 1976 and 1980. ^[33]

Arena

Aside the antique villa d'Ambonne, on the land of the old farm, à completely new project for an arena in Agde, in use since 1974, a concrete building for open air shows.^[41]

Church Saint-Benoît

A Catholic church was built on a model adapted to the seasonal affluence: its right wing is formed by high bay windows that open onto a courtyard in which pews are placed for the faithful. The rite is ecumenical. Church was built right next to the ruins of the Villa Embonne (a wheat mill), the first Greek settlement (next to the contemporan arena and Clape museum).

• 
  Church's entrance.
• 
  Inside the church, east wing of transept opening onto courtyard.
• 
  Church of Saint Benedict cross campanile stained glass windows 1975.
• 
  Villa d'Embonne in La Clape next to the arena and the church of Saint-Benoît.

Naturist village

Village Naturiste without campsite

Sign on the beach at Cap d'Agde

Cap d'Agde has a large naturist resort.^[1] The naturist village encompasses a significant area along the eastern coast of Cap d'Agde.(43°17′42″N 03°31′38″E) It is built on private land, replaces the former campsite.^[6] It does not follow municipal planning directives of the Mission Racine : shaped volumes rules [fr]) which exclude large architectural complexes with no local architecture references for roof or walls. It is fenced-off with an entrance gate, and it is also accessible along the public beach from the north. It is a self-contained town (sometimes referred to as the "Naked City"), where nudity is both legal and common.

The Naturist Village is becoming a hotspot for swingers and libertines.^[42][43] It has a 2 km (1 mi) beach, a large marina, places for 2,500 campers, apartment complexes, hotel, shops, restaurants, night clubs, bars, post office, bank, ATMs, launderettes, hairdressers, and other facilities.

History of local naturism

See also: Naturism in France

The land adjoining the long sandy beach at Cap d'Agde was owned for many years by the winemaker Oltra family^[6] who farmed the olive groves behind the sand dunes adjoining the beach. After W.W. II, in 1950's, the brothers Oltra noticed that people were coming in increasing numbers to camp on their land, for bathing and sunbathing nude.

The Oltra brothers began to formalise arrangements for campers on their land, and this subsequently led to the creation of a caravanning and camping resort, called the 'Oltra Club' . The camp grew increasingly popular, especially with young families and German and Dutch tourists.

In 1960s the government of Georges Pompidou drew up plans for the development of the Languedoc-Roussillon coastline. Naturism initially had no part in these proposals, but Paul René Oltra, one of the brothers, persuaded the authorities to include plans for a naturist resort at Cap d'Agde.^[44] In 1973 the beach was officially designated as a naturist beach. Regulations for the new resort were also promulgated. The Naturist Village would be a place where voyeurs and exhibitionists would not be welcome.

Early developments

The first development was the construction of flats, shops and pools at Port Nature and Port Ambonne. Later, Heliopolis and Port Venus were built and Port Nature was considerably extended. The flats were sold and the owners often let them when they did not require them for their own use. The Naturist Village became a controlled zone during the season with regulated access. Everyone entering was informed of the regulations and required to comply with them.

The 1980s

By the early 1980s, the Naturist Village was reaching the limit of its development. Many shops and commercial premises remained empty, ready for sale or lease. The election of the government of François Mitterrand was to herald a cooling off of the French economy which lasted well into the following decade. During this time the Naturist Village continued to prove a popular resort and it developed a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere. There were so many German visitors that the Post Office even had a designated postbox for letters and postcards being sent to Germany.^{[citation needed]}

The present position

A BDSM club in a shopping complex, Cap d'Agde

The naturist village is also becoming a hotspot for swingers and libertines, with sex-shops and swinger clubs. The swingers are also active on the naturist beaches, which has made many naturist tourists change destination to family friendly naturist resorts.^[42][43] The nickames is "La baie des cochons".^[45]

The naturist village has rules which require nudity as the norm, and which ban photography, the wearing of provocative clothing and the display of indecent items. In 2008, signs were put on display on the beach warning against lewd behaviour. The nightlife centres around clubs and venues. Many open only at certain times of the year. On 23 November 2008, the British newspaper The Sunday Times suggested that fires at three swingers clubs were started by hard-line naturists, or 'nudist mullahs', who oppose the echangistes or libertines.

In 2009, René Oltra, the company that bears the name of the resort's original promoter, required that visitors to its campsite, villas and flats belong to a naturist organisation. However, because of abuses, Cap d'Agde is no longer registered with or supported by the Fédération Française de Naturisme.

In December 2009, the local authority proposed renovations that would make the village almost traffic-free. These renovations involved the construction of tree-lined walkways and promenades, a raised promenade by the beach, and a hotel. Work was to start in early 2012. Other plans included the renovation of buildings and the construction of new façades.

The naturist village creates employment and revenue in a region of France less affluent than others. It creates income for the local authority through property taxes and admission prices.

In September 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic it was reported that a testing station outside the village found 30% of 800 naturists tested positive for COVID-19. Under normal circumstances at the time—much reduced during the pandemic–the village itself held 10,000 campsite pitches and 15,000 beds, a population density seven times greater than nearby Montpellier.^[46]

Naturist beach

See also: List of social nudity places in Europe § France

Nudist beach in Cap d'Agde at night, with the town of Sète in the background

The naturist beach (where nudity is technically mandatory) has a length of about 2 kilometres (1 mile) and is about 30 metres (100 feet) wide. Sand and water are of good quality, varying from 16 to 22 °C (61 to 72 °F). Free access to the nudist part is possible, coming from the north of the beach but impossible from the south with the Port Lano entrance. Two security posts feature police and medical facilities. Six restaurants border the southern end of the nude beach. Only one restaurant is available towards the northern end. Even though Cap d'Agde is in France, most service staff speak English.

See also

• Wreck of Rochelongue

See also for naturism

• CHM Montalivet
• Euronat
• Levant Island
• Platais Island

Notes and references

1. Hoad, Phil (27 August 2015). "Welcome to the naked city: sun, swingers and very little shoplifting". The Guardian. Retrieved 2015-09-14.
2. "Commune d'Agde, Exercices 2011 et suivants" (PDF). Chambre Régionale des Comptes Occitanie (in French). 2019. Agde is France's leading seaside destination. This is why the commune has committed a 48.7 M€ investment project in the heart of the resort, the economic benefits of which are not yet measurable [...]
   1.1.2.2.An aging population : The percentage of the population aged 60 and over rose from 34% in 2010 to 37.8% in 2015, which is higher than the percentage of the population aged 60 and over in the sample (27.1%) and in France (24.9%). This aging can be explained by the fact that by the fact that retired people represent 25% of new arrivals to the town, and that the net positive net migration. Conversely, while the employed and unemployed represent 46% of new arrivals, they also account for 56.4% of departures.
3. Camps, Christian (1999). Agde d'hier à aujourd'hui (in French). les Éd. de la Tour Gile. pp. 3–4. In 20 years, (1970-1990), the vineyards has shrunk from 2,200 ha to 900 ha with new plantings.
4. The phylloxera disease (imported from the United States) led in 1907 to riots by winegrowers. The agathois soldiers of the army refused to shoot and were sent to the penal colony (exhibition at the Espace Molière)
5. La révolte des vignerons du Languedoc de 1907
6. "Naturism". Cap d'Agde Tourist Office (official) (in French). 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2024. Two young winegrower brothers, René and Paul Oltra, worked their parents' seaside vineyard. After work, they went skinny-dipping. But they weren't the only ones, as more and more bathers, especially German campers specially installed on their land, went skinny-dipping.
   At the time, grape growing was in crisis. The two brothers came up with the idea of creating a naturist campsite. In 1954, René and Paul obtained authorization for the project, which, like all avant-garde projects, was tinged with skepticism. At the time, Cap d'Agde resort didn't exist.
7. Marez Lopez, Izol Emilia (18 January 2021). Tourist towns in Languedoc-Roussillon (PDF). Nautical sports were available to all, due to the introduction of plastic for the construction of boats. Step by step, the coasts of France were invaded by the masses. A transformation of spontaneous and unorganized coastlines was observed. Ports de plaisance [leisure ports] were built for nautical activities, and the beaches became insufficient, overflowing and decadent. The rise of boating became the activity generating the tourist exploitation of the coast of Languedoc-Roussillon. The ports de plaisance and marinas would be the urban elements guiding the nautical activities on the French coast and causing the change in the activities in tourist resorts...
8. "Mayor Pierrick Lapeyre 1965-1971". ville d'Agde(official) (in French). A semi-public company, SOGEBI, was created, with capital shared between SEBLI, the town of Agde (20% of the capital, 50,000 francs), other coastal towns and the Béziers Chamber of Commerce and Industry. This SEM is responsible for managing the fledgling port of Le Cap.
9. "Birth and history of Cap d'Agde". Archives municipales d'Agde (official) (in French). 1961-1962: The Ministry of Construction and the Compagnie du Bas Rhône (CNABRL) (Lower Rhône Company) embarked on major land acquisitions, creating the "zones d'aménagement différé" (deferred development zones) in the Agde "Lano" region of large tracts of land suitable for tourist development [an insalubrious area]. In 1964, a decree was issued for the "Plan d'Urbanisme d'Intérêt Régional". In 1968, the Société d'Economie Mixte "Société d'Equipement du Biterrois et de son LIttoral" (SEBLI, an offshoot of the CDC) developed the whole of Cap d'Agde, including all types of buildings.
10. Archives Municipales d'Agde (2018). 2901-La construction du Cap (document).
11. "SODEAL". (official) (in French). SODEAL is a mixed economy company (SAEML) which is a particular form of limited company in which more than half of the share capital is held by the City of Agde. The rest of the shareholders are made up of institutional or private partners.
12. 2012 Political/financial issues "SODEAL (Mayor Régis Passerieux 1989-2001 creator of the institution) - inventory". infocapagde (in French). 15 January 2012. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
13. In 1959, the General Councils of the Hérault, Gard and Bouches-du-Rhône departments, assessing the exceptional future opening up for their departments, decided to create EID Méditerranée, the Interdepartmental agreement for mosquito control on the Mediterranean coast) [fr] EID-Med (official) : "In 1963, the French government created the Mission interministérielle d'aménagement touristique du littoral du Languedoc-Roussillon, known as the "Mission Racine" (after its president, Pierre Racine). Setting mosquito control as an essential prerequisite for any development initiative, the French government contributed to the financing of EID Méditerranée, alongside local authorities, until 1982, when the Mission interministérielle was dissolved. Aude and Pyrénées-Orientales then joined the other Départements within EID."
14. "Development of Cap d'Agde". INA (in French). 4 September 1970. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
15. "shitwine". levindemerde.com (in French).
16. The situation after the war : Ville d'Agde (2024). "Louis Reboul Maire d'Agde de 1945 à 1953". Official (document) (in French). The "Château-vert" and the "Pergola" are authorized to operate casino games (the municipality taking up to 10% of the turnover achieved with a minimum of 250,000 F each year).
17. "Mur de la méditerranée à Agde". FR3 tv chanel.
18. "Mayor Pierre Leroy-Baulieu 1971-1989". ville d'Agde (official) (in French). In 1976 Richelieu-Rochelongue -in the extension to the South of the marina-, but also the urbanization of Mont Saint-Martin, begins with the development of a mandatory Concerted Development Zone to define the development of these 200 hectares planned to accommodate 20,000 beds.
    In fact, this perimeter includes "the Rochelongue earthworks for which no agreement has yet been reached regarding the development modalities, between the municipality, the owners concerned and the Interministerial Mission [-Mission Racine-]".
    This 3rd tranche in 1980 is the project presented for the Richelieu zone. 12,877 beds are planned on 12 hectares, 10,800 m² of commercial space, a nautical complex and a body of water where Aqualand will be installed in 1984, widened and extended beaches of green spaces, a green break of 9 hectares. A minimum surface area 25 m² is defined for housing, with each housing program having to include a maximum of 33% small ones.
    The action of the Interministerial Mission [-Mission Racine-] ended on December 31, 1982. That of the SEBLI officially ended on April 30, 1983, but the city renewed the SEBLI in its mission on an annual basis, because Cap d'Agde was not completed.
19. Vine mainly from the Hérault region, plus a few from Bordeaux (2024 15th edition) "Vinocap". vinocap.fr (in French). 8 May 2024.
20. "Bénédiction des motos". Midi Libre (in French).
21. "évolution urbaine, Herault tribune" (in French).
22. "Reminder of the Barthès Tennis Center bought by SODEAL: How to save the thalassotherapy center, by Didier Denestebe member of municipal Council". Hérault-tribune (in French). 21 January 2006. SODEAL has already shown its effectiveness in the past, when, for example, it acquired the assets of the Pierre Barthes Tennis center in court, thus saving the company, the jobs and the international Tennis center.
23. "The new Casino Barrière Cap d'Agde". Groupe Lucien Barrière (in French). Nearly 17 million were invested by the city for the construction of the new Palais des Congrès and 4 million for the casino, operated by Barrière, and owned by the municipality.
24. D'Ettore, Gilles (February 2024). "Agde le MAG". Official municipal news magazine. No. 122. p. 10. Creation of a 100-room, 4-star hotel close to the Palais des Congrès to « attract a clientele with high purchasing power ».
25. "Cap d'Agde les 27 trous du golf". Hérault-Tribune (in French). 23 October 2013.
26. The town managers hopes for positive economic benefits after the Covid disaster in 2019."AGDE - What future for the municipal campsites of Cap d'Agde and Tamarissière?". Hérault-tribune (in French). 13 October 2020.
27. Carles, Alain (2006). Agdes des remparts à la mer (in French). Aldacom. p. 126.
28. "Cap d'Agde Main Port Presentation". port-capdagde.com (in French).
29. In Le Monde : "Project for separation of the municipality of Agde and Cap d'Agde by an association of co-owners". Le Monde (in French). 14 October 1990.
30. "Plan local d'Urbanisme de la Ville d'Agde". Agde official site (in French). 2000. >Y e s t e r d a y : The commune underwent a major urban development boom after the 1960s, with the implementation of the Mission Racine and the massive urbanization of the coastline. We went from dense urbanization in the old center and Le Grau to mass collective housing in Le Cap. Individual housing in the form of "houses in the middle of the plot" then dominated urban development in the commune. Added to this is a marked phenomenon of urban sprawl and "cabanisation", which is harmful to the environment and accentuates the fragmentation of the territory.
    > T o d a y : There is a risk that the three urban areas of the region will be linked up along the coastal fringe, particularly in the "champs blancs" area. Nevertheless, the problem of "cabanisation" is being addressed through local initiatives that have helped to "decabanize" certain sectors, including Rochelongue.
    > Evolution over time: The commune continued to build subdivisions, with interurban areas such as the Champs Blancs the white fields are built up, Agde becomes a single urban mass, losing some of its three-faceted identity. It is also becoming a real barrier to E/O ecological exchanges within the commune, and the cost to local authorities of providing network services is becoming significant...
    > Prospective development: The commune has opted to densify its future development zones, control diffuse urbanization by polarizing its territory around the three urban centers (the center, le Grau, le Cap) and encourage urban renewal. This approach maintains the Champs Blancs as a green belt and reduces service costs for the community...
31. Samuel Métairie. "Visiter Cap d'Agde". Génération voyage (in French).
32. "6 activities to learn while having fun". Tourism Office, (official) (in French).
33. "Mayor Pierre Leroy-Baulieu 1971-1989". ville d'Agde(official) (in French).
34. "Le Cap d'Agde, la vidéo qui retrace les grandes étapes du club de tennis créé par Pierre Barthès" (in French).
35. "1973, Camp Barthès in Cap-d'Agde". L'Équipe (in French).
36. "Les HERAULT du Cinema et de la Télé" (in French).
37. "inauguration de la Maison de la mer à Agde". France bleu (FR3) (in French). 14 December 2022.
38. (From Salvetat-sur-Agout,ecological transition a wood-fired boiler for l'Archipel)
39. Le Cap d'Agde les Hérault du Cinéma et de la TV
40. Ville d'Agde, Culture et patrimoine - Histoire (2024). "Louis Vallière Maire d'Agde de 1953 à 1965" (document). on September 13, 1964, Jackie Fanjaud, member of the Agde Underwater Archaeological and Diving Research Group, discovered in the bed of the Hérault the statue of the Ephèbe, "this unique bronze considered by the scientific world as one of the most beautiful pieces of sculpture found on our territory.
41. Rey, Gérard (20 May 2014). "arena". hérault-tribune (in French).
42. DENESTEBE, Florence (16 September 2010). "Quartier Naturiste du Cap d'Agde: Parlons en sans tabou!" [Cap d'Agde Naturist Quarter: Let's talk without taboo]. Hérault Tribune (in French). Retrieved 2015-08-27.
43. Beaugé, Marc; Delmas, Gino (29 July 2012). "Les Inrocks - Baie des cochons: bienvenue sur la plage libertine du Cap-d'Agde" [Bay of Pigs: welcome to the libertine beach of Cap d'Agde]. Les Inrocks (in French). Retrieved 2015-08-27.
44. "Das ist eine autonome Nacktwelt" [This is an autonomous nude world]. Süddeutsche Zeitung (in German). 5 September 2010. Retrieved 2019-03-29.
45. "Libertinage : coup de blues sur la "baie des cochons"". midilibre.fr (in French). Retrieved 2023-11-20.
46. "The nudists spreading coronavirus in a French resort". BBC News. 2 September 2020.

External links

• An excerpt from The Naked Truth About Cap d'Agde
• Official website

43°17′03″N 03°30′02″E