Stopover in Sète 2024: visits, practice, naval battle… the unmissable features of this seventh edition!

The naval battle between the Grace and the Shtandart will take place on Wednesday March 27. – Archive V.P.

La parade d'arrivée, un moment inoubliable. – D. I.

L'édition 2024 d'Escale à Sète démarre mardi 26 mars. Découvrez les derniers conseils pratiques et les infos essentielles pour profiter de l'événement.

Flavors
Since its creation, Escale à Sète has contributed to promoting the fishing industry through Escale Assiette: an action highlighting typical recipes from local and seasonal fishing, in conjunction with fishermen , shellfish farmers, partner companies, traders from the Halles de Sète… On deck, nearly 50 restaurateurs, with the flavors “Escale Assiette” in the stands and, Sunday March 31, the big “Escale Assiette” concocted by the dockers of the Port of Sète, at the auction…

Naval battle
On Wednesday March 27, at 12:30 p.m., the new basin hosts the traditional (fake) naval battle. Be careful, big explosions to come between La Grace and the Shtandart!

Maritime Games
For the first time, Escale à Sète is organizing its Maritime Games: a meeting where the crews of the large invited ships, represented by their boatswains, will show to a jury made up of experts and professionals, their traditional know-how in terms of seamanship and sailmaking. With, on the one hand, tests carried out at the feet of the ships where technical reliability and aesthetics will take precedence over speed of execution. And, on the other hand, traditional inter-crew physical tests! To be discovered every day during the event.

The musicians will be everywhere at Escale à Sète.

Music
Stopover in Sète 2024 welcomes nearly 60 international groups of music and songs linked to the work of fishermen, sailors, coopers, dockers, carpenters… showing all the diversity of the culture of seafarers. They will meet the public on the quays, in bars, on board boats, and perform on stage. Their repertoire comes from collections of traditional music and songs. Mediterranean maritime sounds and songs naturally occupy a preponderant place.

National Navy
At each edition, a vessel from the French Navy (the only ship with a single engine propulsion which is accepted at Escale à Sète) takes part in the celebration, Quai du Maroc. For 2024, it’s Capricorn. A tripartite minehunter.

The Capricorne of the National Navy will be visible on the Quai du Maroc. Navy

Port
Free tours of the commercial port are available during the event, from Wednesday March 27 to Sunday March 31, from 10 a.m. to noon, then from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. for the last relay. Departures take place every hour. The meeting point to take the bus is located at Place Mangeot, in front of Orsetti station.

Visits
Admire and climb aboard the most majestic sailboats in the world: Tuesday March 26, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.; March 27 to 31, 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Monday April 1, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Last climb 30 minutes before closing. Please note, access to certain boats may be interrupted depending on the nautical program. Only visits to certain large sailing ships (Belem, Santa Maria Manuela, El Galeón, Morgenster, Pascual Flores, Shtandart, La Grace, Nao Victoria) are subject to ticketing (sales points on Quai République, office tourism, and on the site www.archipel-thau.com). 10 € from 16 years old; 6 € from 4 to 15 years old; free – 4 years. 20 € Family Pass (2 adults + 1 child aged 4 to 15).

The Santa Maria Manuela will be among the tall ships of this 2024 edition. Midi Libre – VINCENT ANDORRA

Cap
Originally from the Netherlands, the “sailor's cap” is a joust sung a cappella. An unmissable time of maritime festivals, where singers from all walks of life sing their favorite repertoire. On a quay or in a tavern, the “cap” is improvised, lively and magical! She will be in the spotlight at the North Sea village – Manche-Atlantique from Tuesday March 26 at 6:30 p.m., Don du vent stage boat, Quai République.

Parking
Stopover in Sète and the Port Sud de France have renewed their partnership for 2024. Motorists arriving from the north and east are therefore invited to join the Zifmar car park. To the west , for vehicles arriving from Agde and Marseillan, the car parks located along the Lido will be open. A free shuttle service is set up to transport festival-goers to the entrance to the event. Find out everything about parking solutions and traffic constraints here.

Come on board with Midi Libre ! Historic partner of Escale à Sète, Midi Libre lets you experience the event at the daily on its website midilibre.fr, its paper newspaper through special editions, and its social networks (Instagram, Facebook, X). This year again, the editorial staff and all services are hoisting the sails!