A great maritime festival open to all
Escale à Sète is a free access event that will welcome a fleet of 120 boats, moored on three kilometers of quay. Mixing large commercial ships under sail and small vintage boats, this maritime festival allows to approach and visit this floating heritage. Several parades will be organized at the arrival and departure of the large ships.
If the event and the stroll on the quays are free, a ticketing system will be set up for the ship visits. A single ticket will give access to the deck of all the tall ships present during a whole day. The previous edition having welcomed 300,000 visitors, there will certainly be some waiting in front of the most important ships.
The largest European sailing ships
The quays of Sète will welcome a fleet from all over Europe, composed of replicas of commercial, war or exploration ships:
The Micea is a former three-masted barque built in 1938 and used as a sail training ship at the Romanian Naval Academy.
The Galeon is a replica of a 16th century Spanish galleon. Measuring 51m, it regularly sails around the world to promote the Autonomous Community of Andalusia
The Santa Maria is a replica of one of Christopher Columbus' ships that participated in the discovery of the American continent in 1492.
Launched in 1918, the Pascal Florès is a three-masted schooner. It was used to transport salt and fruit.
The Grace, a 32m schooner brig, is a replica of a 17th century Czech frigate.
The Netherlands in the spotlight
Great maritime nation, the Netherlands will be the guest of honor of this new edition. Several Dutch ships will come to the city of Languedoc to participate in the festival. The Oosterchelde (a 50m long three-masted ship) and the brig Morgenster, which became a training ship after being built for sail fishing, will tour Europe to participate in the festivities.
The navigator and explorer Magellan will also be honored. For the 500th anniversary of his circumnavigation, the sister-ship of his ship, the Nao Victoria, will be moored on the quays of Sète.
A gastronomic festival and workshops for children
For those with a sweet tooth, you can also take advantage of the "Escales assiettes" event, which honors fishing by promoting local products. You will be able to taste shellfish or fish soups, and even participate in workshops to make Tielles or local recipes.
Workshops for the youngest will be organized on the village of the shipwrights, where the children will be able to dress up and climb a replica of an old rig.
