Mont Saint Clair
| Mont Saint Clair | ||
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 Beach of Mèze with a view over the Étang de Thau to the Mont Saint-Clair near Sète |
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| height | 175 m | |
| location | France | |
| Coordinates | 43 ° 24 '5 " N , 3 ° 41' 5" E | |
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| rock | limestone | |
The 175 m high limestone hill of Mont Saint-Clair dominates large stretches of the French Mediterranean coast and the city of Sète .
location
Mont Saint-Clair is located approx. 30 km (driving distance) southwest of Montpellier on the Mediterranean Sea or at the Étang de Thau . It is adjoined by narrow headlands and sandbanks in both directions of the coastline, separating the Mediterranean Sea and the 18 km long freshwater lagoon, the Étang de Thau (also known as "Bassin de Thau"). About 25 km southwest of Sète is the holiday resort and retort town of Cap d'Agde ; La Grande-Motte is about 45 km to the northeast .
history
In 1973 traces of a Bronze Age settlement were discovered at the foot of Mont Saint-Clair in the Étang de Thau, two meters below today's water level. As a striking landmark, it has probably been used by shipping for thousands of years. Today it is the local mountain of the town of Sète, which was founded as a port in the 17th century, whose name (formerly Cette ) is said to be derived from the shape of the mountain, which from a distance reminds of a gorse bush. In the 17th and 18th centuries, the place and port were also militarily secured by fortifications.
chapel
In 1861 the fishermen and other residents of Sète built a chapel in honor of the Virgin Mary on the summit of Mont Saint-Clair; this was consecrated three years later to Our Lady of La Salette ( Notre-Dame-de-la-Salette ). The walls of a side chapel are decorated with votive offerings . In 1952 the chapel was painted with frescoes.
view
From the summit of Mont Saint-Clair you can enjoy a good view of the city of Sète, the port and the Étang de Thau.
Sports
In 2012, Mont Saint-Clair served as the 3rd category mountain classification during the 13th stage of the Tour de France .
Web links
- The mountain in the Michelin Green Guide (English)
- Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-la-Salette viewpoint
- View from Mont Saint-Clair
- Summary of the race at le-tour / 2012
Individual evidence
- ↑ Geology in the Hérault department (French)