Olympic Games 2024 Paris: route, timetables, traffic… the complete guide to the passage of the Olympic flame in Sète

Sète will welcome the Olympic flame on May 13 for the second time in its history, after a first visit in 1968 during the Grenoble Winter Olympic Games. Midi Libre – MICHAEL ESDOURRUBAILH

Monday May 13, the Olympic flame will pass through Sète for the first time since 1968. A celebration which aims to be popular and of which we give you all the details.

After Marseille, Toulon, Manosque, Arles and Millau, the Olympic flame arrives on the singular island, this Monday, May 13, for a sporting visit, since Mont Saint-Clair will be used in particular. At the end of almost 4 hours of visit, she will leave for Montpellier.

Also read: Paris 2024 Olympic Games: discover the names of the Olympic flame bearers on May 13 in Sète

What courses ?

The Olympic flame will rediscover Sète in two ways this Monday: one called "agile", the other called "engaged".

For the first route, the porters will set off at 11:30 a.m. from Sémaphore (Fort Richelieu) to head towards the cross of Mont Saint-Clair, located 104 meters higher, along the eponymous path. . After 800 m of effort on slopes of around 20%, participants will arrive around 11:55 a.m. at the top of the singular island and will be rewarded with products. ;nbsp;locals served by fishermen, shellfish farmers and wine growers of the territory.

In Sète, the flame route extends over 5.2 km. 35 torchbearers will follow one another along the route. Free Midday

The Olympic flame will then take its lunch break and will not leave until 1:40 p.m. from Balaruc-les-Bains by boat, for the so-called “committed” route. She will cross the Etang de Thau on the Lycée de la Mer educational ship, escorted by several hand-picked ships. Upon arriving at La Pointe Courte, the flame will have the right to a guard of honor, with the successive lifting of the SNCF and Sadi-Carnot bridges.

Once at the station, around 2 p.m., she will take avenue Victor-Hugo, before heading in the direction of Quais Louis-Pasteur and Philippe-Régy, Pont Virla and from Quai Maréchal de Lattre de Tassigny. She will then head towards the statue of the jouster in the city center, before boarding, to music, aboard the "blue boat" to climb the Cadre Royal, with Simon Caselli, double winner of the Saint-Louis, as bearer.

The relay will resume at the Pont de la Savonnerie, then on the Quai de la Marine, towards Le Môle via the Promenade Jean-Baptiste-Marty. Finally, it will pass in front of the Théâtre de la Mer via the Promenade du Maréchal Leclerc, then continue its path with the Corniche de Neuburg, before arriving at its final point, the Roger-Thérond esplanade.< /p>

Where to see the flame ?

For the first so-called “agile” route, it is possible to stand on the banks of Chemin de Saint-Clair, where the bird's-eye view will really allow you to appreciate all the convoy of the Olympic flame.

For the second so-called “committed”, the Agglo recommends considering: "la Plagette, la Pointe Courte, the Estacade de l’interchange, the quai de Bosc, the station bridge, the Molière theater square, Place Victor-Hugo, the Léopold Suquet quays and the Consigne, the Maréchal Leclerc promenade and the Neuburg corniche…" It is recommended to arrive at least 30 minutes before the departure of the torchbearers scheduled for 2 p.m. at the station.

In Balaruc-les-Bains, the viewpoints to see the flame are the Promenade des Bains (after the first aid station) and the edge of the quay (avenue de la gare).

What traffic restrictions ?

With a few exceptions, the entire Olympic flame route will be closed to traffic on May 13, from 12 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Chemin de Saint-Clair will also be inaccessible between 11:15 a.m. and 12 p.m. 15, while it will be between 12:45 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. for Quai Maréchal-Joffre and Route de Cayenne. It will also be prohibited to park on the routes used by the flame from May 12, at 8 p.m. Almost all bus lines circulating in Sète will be impacted from late morning to early afternoon.

As for the car parks, those of the Hôtel La Marine, the Saint-Pierre site, the Théâtre de la Mer and the Maquis Jean-Grandel will be closed to the public, like of those located around the Anau cove, access prohibited from 12:45 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. The Sète tourist office recommends using the parking lots on the square Victor-Hugo, from Cayenne, Mas Coulet or Midi. The Canal one will close at noon.

Concerning port users, navigation will be prohibited, from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., in the port of Sète from the Etang de Thau from the mouth of the canal to the Pont de la Bordigue and at the station bridge, as well as in the Royal setting, from the civette bridge to the savonnerie bridge.

In Balaruc, lane closures are also planned, starting the day before. Avenue de la gare (from the nautical center roundabout) will be closed to traffic and parking from Sunday at 6 p.m., as will the parking lot near the residence &quot ;Gemini".

Also read: Paris 2024 Olympic Games: how much does Sète Agglo pay to see the Olympic flame pass on May 13 ?

Concerning port users, navigation will be prohibited, from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., in the port of Sète from the Etang de Thau from the Etang de Thau. mouth of the canal to the Pont de la Bordigue and the Pont de la Gare, as well as in the Royal setting, from the Pont de la Civette to the Pont de la Savonnerie.

What animations during the passage of the flame ?

Many activities are on the program for this festive day. Starting with a gastronomic meeting at 10 a.m. at the Saint-Clair panoramic. The CRCM (Regional Committee for Shellfish Farming in the Mediterranean), the AOP Picpoul-de-Pinet union and the CRPMEM (Regional Committee for Maritime Fisheries and Marine Farming in Occitanie) offer a tasting and sale of seafood products. and wines.

Also note that during the passage of the flame, the bearers will be accompanied by a one-kilometer convoy made up of Paris 2024 partner vehicles, like a Tour de France advertising caravan, who will distribute goodies. A sound system will be present in the procession and will broadcast music and practical information.

Finally, Place Roger Thérond and outside the Lido complex will host sports villages offering numerous activities (dance workshop, human table football, relay, volleyball, rugby flag, blind obstacle course…) to more than 400 children supervised by educators, teachers and associations.