La Grande Motte beach resort near Montpellier, France

If you are looking for one of the best beach resorts to visit in 2026, close to the city of Montpellier in Southern France, then you could probably do no better than La Grande Motte. La Grande Motte is located on the Mediterranean coast, 13 kms from the centre of Montpellier. Montpellier airport is just 5km away.

La Grande Motte is famous throughout France on account of the avant-garde Pyramid-shaped buildings that line the beaches. The resort was developed during the late 1960s and early 1970s under the leadership of the Turkish-born architect, Jean Balladur. This area of coastline close to Montpellier, was originally marshland and had to be drained before the building project got underway. 

La Grande Motte was designed to feature lots of green open spaces, inter-mingled with the iconic Pyramid apartment buildings and hotels. A key feature of the design was to build car parks no more than 600 meters away from the beach, to allow visitors to walk there, but keeping all development away from the beach itself. The beaches at La Grande Motte feature long stretches of golden sand with sheltered, shallow waters, safe for small children and plenty of bars and restaurants nearby. What more could you ask for? 

La Grande Motte Southern France beach resort

La Grande Motte features 7 kms of public and private beaches, a marina, an upmarket spa & aqua-therapy centre (the Thalasso), a large conference centre (Palais de Congres) and a casino. La Grande Motte has a permanent population of around 8,500 people, but this swells to nearly 50,000 during the summer months. The resort welcomes nearly 2 million visitors each year. The town holds the Clé Verte green tourism label, in recognition of the network of shaded cycle paths, pedestrian-friendly streets and mix of nature, culture, and recreational activities.

Over the last few years La-Grande Motte has invested heavily to upgrade its sports facilities in an effort to re-brand itself as the French equivalent of La Managa (in Southern Spain), where atheletes can come to train out of season.

Today La Grande Motte features some first-class sporting facilities including a golf course, a windsurfing and sailing centre, a BMX track, a modern 750 m² indoor fitness center and a large sports complex that features rugby and football training grounds, an athletics track, baseball field, archery range, basketball courts and a handball court. Also close to the beach, you will find Espace Grande Bleu - a swimming pool complex with water slides, indoor and outdoor pools and steam rooms and saunas.

La Grande Motte beaches

Most people tend to turn their noses up at La Grande Motte, but I quite like it. Yes it is a modern beach resort, but it has a sort of ordered charm about it. Everything about the town has been planned and well-thought out. The other thing about La Grande Motte is that it is very green and lush and a real sporty town. You will always see people cycling, running, walking, swimming, etc. I even think that the pyramid apartment buildings are so far out of fashion that they are almost on the verge of coming back in style.

If you are looking for one of the best beaches to visit in 2026, close to the city of Montpellier in Southern France, then you could probably do no better than Point Zero plage in La Grande Motte. The beach here is scrupulously clean and there are 3 stone breakwaters, which create a large cove which extends for 50 metres and makes it very safe for small children. In 2025, Point Zero Plage received the European Blue Flag award for the quality of the beach, the clean water, swimming safety and sustainable management of the coastal areas. 

There is also plenty to do after the beach as well. You can take your pick of restaurants and bars along the front.

Point Zero beach - Montpellier beaches, France

To get to La Grande-Motte from the south of Montpellier, take the A9 up to junction 29 (the airport exit). Follow the D66 and D62 all the way to La Grande-Motte (it is signposted all the way). From Nimes and the north, take the A9 down to junction 27 at Lunel. Now follow the D61 all the way to La Grande-Motte. When you enter La Grande-Motte follow the signs to 'Point Zero'. 

You can also reach La Grande Motte by public transport from Montpellier. The #106 bus runs from Montpellier city centre to La Grande Motte.

Where to next . . . ?

If you are visiting the South of France this summer, then get the inside track on the best Places to see & visit in the South of France in 2026 (written by people who live in Southern France all year around). Read about the best restaurants to eat at, get local information on the best beaches to visit and discover the best tourist sites, markets and festivals to see during your stay.

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