We have just spent a wonderful lazy Sunday afternoon at Gruissan Plage. 
Gruissan is a real mix of old and new. It’s a wonderful sleepy village in the winter and a bustling tourist resort in the summer. On a winter’s day you struggle to find restaurants open; in summer you struggle to get a table!
The old part of Gruissan – Gruissan Village is a circular village with a 13th Century tower occupying the central position. Bastille Day firework celebrations are stunning from the tower showering out across the étang (lake). The sunsets over the lake with their matching flamingos are simply beauty at it’s best!
The beach part of Gruissan is for me divided into two distinct parts, the”sauvage” side (wild) where we went off-roading and the commercial side. The commercial side has row upon row of beach chalets, 1300 in all. I suppose there is a quaintness to them but not on a French scale! They date back to the beginning of the 19th century and even became famous during the filming of Betty Blue. 
And then there is Gruissan Port with over 1000 berths for boats, restaurants and bars and all the local tourist attractions.
Gruissan is an ideal holiday base, it has so much to offer and for us we have the added luxury of it being only a half hour away from home. So, we are able to pop down to the port out of season and dine in peace, wander around the étangs surrounded by the cackle of flamingos or plunge our way down the dunes in the 4×4! What more could you ask for?
January 15, 2008 at 10:21 am
Have you been up the hill to visit the Sailors’ Cemetery at Gruissan?
By the way, if you have time to visit my blog, you’ll see that you have been tagged.
January 15, 2008 at 6:22 pm
No I haven’t been to visit the Cemetery. French ones are usual pretty impressive. I remember spending a day in one of the big French Parisian ones.
Will have a look at the “tag”!
January 16, 2008 at 4:22 pm
The marine cemetery is very unusual, because there are no bodies – only headstones, all planted amongst the trees in a haphazard way. They are in remembrance of local sailors lost at sea.
January 16, 2008 at 4:32 pm
Sounds a real moving spiritual place. Will have to find it next time we are there. Thanks for the reply.
August 30, 2008 at 2:52 pm
Find this searching for “Berty Blue” location. Look’s very nice. Hope someday to visit.