If you’re thinking about a beach holiday with kids, let me talk to you about Le Castellas Eurocamp parc near Sète and Béziers in the South of France. Perched on the sandy shores of the calm, clear waters of the Mediterranean, with pools and waterparks for all ages, plus family-friendly activities, stunning sightseeing on the doorstep, miles of flat, traffic-free cycle paths and glorious seafood in abundance, Le Castellas has all the makings of a brilliant family holiday.
When Eurocamp invited us on a press trip for May Half Term 2026, they offered up their entire portfolio of parcs for the picking. After the initial giddiness of choice (this is very much kid-in-a-sweet-shop territory to me), we narrowed it down to: somewhere with guaranteed sunshine, a destination we could drive to in a week (works out cheaper for us, especially when you book travel through Eurocamp, plus we love a road trip), great waterslides, a beach nearby and somewhere we’d never travelled before. Le Castellas and Serignan Plage came out on top! So we packed up the car – five of us – including three kids aged 12, 10 and 5, approximately forty million snacks and drove down from Calais.
This is my full Le Castellas Eurocamp review of everything you need to know about a stay at Eurocamp’s Le Castellas parc – the pools, the accommodation, things to do nearby and whether I think it’s worth booking as a family holiday.
Dates in mind? Check live prices & availability for Le Castellas → Check availability on Eurocamp
We stayed at Le Castellas as a guest of Eurocamp, as we are loyal fans and have paid to holiday with them for over a decade. As always, I’ve given my honest review. This post contains affiliate links – if you book through them I may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you.
Eurocamp review: Le Castellas Sète
| Category | Our Rating |
|---|---|
| Pools & Waterpark | ★★★★★ |
| Beach Access | ★★★★★ |
| Kids’ Entertainment | ★★★★ |
| Value for Money | ★★★★ |
| Evening Activities | ★★★ |
| Overall | ★★★★½ |
Why Choose Le Castellas for a Family Holiday?
There are a oodles of Eurocamp parcs to choose from across France. Here’s why Le Castellas was at the top of our list and why, having stayed, I’d recommend it without hesitation.
- The Mediterranean on your doorstep. Sandy shores, calm clear water, just steps from your pitch. The parc sits directly on the coast with private coded beach access gates.
- Those sunsets. Pack a bottle of wine and watch the sun go down while the kids play in the sand. We made it a nightly ritual!
- The pools. Waterslides for older kids, splash parks for younger ones, and a dedicated adult-only jacuzzi-style pool for when you need five minutes of peace.
- The cycling. A flat, traffic-free path runs right past the door, parallel to the sea, all the way to Sète, Marseillan-Plage and the Thau Lagoon.
- Kids’ activities on tap. Mini jeeps, a shaded adventure playground in the trees, volleyball, basketball and nightly entertainment.
- Exceptional seafood. This is oyster and mussel farming territory – visiting the oyster shacks at Bouzigues on the Thau Lagoon is an absolute must.
- Sète day trip. Known as the Venice of the Languedoc. Explore the canals, take a boat trip, visit the incredible indoor food market.
- Béziers day trip. A beautiful city famous for its nine canal locks at Fonserannes, the spectacular Saint-Nazaire Cathedral and the ancient Pont-Vieux spanning the Orb River.
- Guaranteed sunshine. Warm weather and sunshine in France during May, summer or September is a pretty safe bet!
- Flamingoes. Can be spotted around the Étang de Thau.
Le Castellas Eurocamp: Where Is It and How to Get There
Le Castellas sits in the Hérault department of the Languedoc-Roussillon region in southern France. It is perched right on the Mediterranean coast, with the city of Sète roughly 30km to the east and Béziers approximately 15km to the north-west.
| Starting Point | Distance | Approx. Drive Time |
|---|---|---|
| Calais (via motorway) | ~1,050 km | ~9.5 hours |
| Béziers Cap d’Agde Airport | ~18 km | ~20 minutes |
| Montpellier Airport | ~75 km | ~50 minutes |
| Carcassonne Airport | ~110 km | ~1 hr 10 mins |
We drove down from Calais, breaking the journey with an overnight stop. If you are flying, Béziers is the closest airport. Montpellier has more year-round options and is still a relatively easy drive. Obviously we had a car with us and I’d say having one is the easiest way to get around.
For the crossing itself, check ferry prices early and make sure you call Eurocamp to book your preferred ferry for you – they have access to massive discounts. If you’re planning on taking the Poole/Portsmouth ferry, it’s also worth getting in early if you want a cabin with a window – these go first!
Accommodation at Le Castellas: Which Holiday Home Should You Choose?
The accommodation tier affects your comfort level, pitch location and the overall feel of your stay. What’s great about Eurocamp is you tend to pay per accommodation, rather than per person – which makes a big difference as a family of five. Prices do go up in summer holidays, which is one of the reasons why May Half Term is a brilliant time to go, as it feels like an absolute bargain in comparison, plus the parc is a bit quieter.
We were booked into the Ultimate holiday home and I’m not sure I can downgrade from this level in future now! Our spot was outstanding. It had masses of space around the holiday home with no through road, meaning the kids could play freely without any passing traffic (my five year old basically cycled loops all evening!)
The holiday home backed directly onto the cycle path (with secure fencing in between) which runs between the campsite and the beach, so we were hardly overlooked, save for the big open skies stretching overhead and the lapping sound of the sea carrying across the dunes.
The interior had a proper kitchen, three bedrooms that had been made up with bedding and bath towels on arrival (one was a bunkbed much to my kids’ excitement), a generous covered deck, dishwasher (gamechanger), fridge freezer, air con and loads of storage.
We also had excellent, free wifi and end-of-stay cleaning included. While the Ultimate holiday home is the most expensive option, I feel like it is genuinely worth the upgrade for the position and comfort levels. It felt like we were in a boutique self-catering bolthole!
Ready to check availability for your dates? See live prices for Le Castellas on Eurocamp →
Pools, Waterparks & Beach Access
The Main Swimming Pool Complex
Le Castellas has two swimming pool complexes. The main one has seven water slides alongside a dedicated splash area for younger children plus an adults-only jacuzzi pool. Our five-year-old spent hours in the splash zone and braved some of the bigger slides, while our older two worked their way through all the slides on repeat.
The pool itself was well-maintained and lovely and quiet at opening time (10am). It got busier throughout the day, before people started thinning out again towards the end of the afternoon and around lunchtime. There is a pool snack bar which sells hot dogs, chips and ice cream – this is also where you hire the Mini Safari Cars.
If like us, you arrive earlier than your accommodation is ready, Eurocamp will issue you with wristbands and you can use the facilities until your holiday home is available (normally around 3pm). This is a godsend on a hot day when you’ve been travelling for hours!
The Second Pool
In the middle of this long narrow campsite there is a second pool with another splash park. In May this was not heated, so we didn’t venture in, but the splash park and swimming pool here looks great.
Beach Access
Le Castellas is a long campsite that stretches along the Mediterranean coastline on a narrow spit of land, known as the lido, between the vast Étang de Thau (saltwater Lagoon) and the sea.
There are several access gates directly from the campsite onto the sand – each operated with a code, so non-Castellas guests can’t wander off the beach into the site. As such, the beach felt much quieter here than similar spots further along the coast. There is only a cycle path to cross, no car park to navigate, no public beach crowds to fight through. You simply tap in your code and step through onto the sand.
We made this a ritual each evening. We would grab a bottle of wine, the children would bring their swimmers and bucket and spade, and we would settle on the beach (occasionally getting hold of an old tree stump as a table) and watch the light play magic with the colour of the sea.
One minute the shallow waters were their daily gleaming, clear aquamarine, and then, as the sun drops, it shifts. The sea turns iridescent, almost petrolic in the changing light, deep blues and silvers playing against a sky that fades from gold to the most extraordinary dusky pink. The kids dug holes, played in the sand. We sipped our wine. In the background, the sounds of the nightly entertainment drifted across from the campsite. An absolute highlight of our time here.
Love the sound of this? Check availability for Le Castellas on Eurocamp →
Kids’ Entertainment, Activities & Campsite Amenities
Le Castellas is a large, well-equipped parc with a range of activities and facilities on-site.
The kids’ clubs run across different age ranges throughout the day (although ours are never keen to join these sadly!), and the evening entertainment programme kicks in after dinner with nightly shows, which can be audible sometimes from your holiday home. On select nights there is also a small market on-site. For slightly older kids and adults there is volleyball and basketball available.
My three were keen to try out the Mini Safari Cars available to hire from the pool snack bar. These mini jeeps cost €11 per car for 20 minutes, with your holiday home key held as a deposit.
There is also a play park set beneath the trees – shaded and well-equipped if you want to do something out of the heat of the sun, although, beware when the mosquitoes come out at dusk!
As I mentioned, Le Castellas is a long, narrow parc that stretches along the coastline and if you are placed in the far reaches you will be probably be doing a significant amount of walking each day. Fortunately, there is a land train that shuttles guests from the furthest pitches to the main facilities (although they don’t like you using this as a ride for fun).
Our Ultimate holiday home was extremely well-positioned in Zone 3, known as the Quartier Étang de Thau: a short walk to the main pool, reception, bakery, shop, beach access and the entertainment area, and within easy reach of a washing block that included washing machines and baths (should you need them) for younger children.
There’s a small onsite shop which we used regularly and a decent selection of beach bits (parasols, inflatables, suncream). We used this, plus a Carrefour in Sète and ate out the rest of the time.
There’s also a boulangerie onsite selling fresh bread, pastries and coffee every morning – get there before 8am if you want to skip the queue, it gets busy!
For eating and drinking onsite, The Oasis restaurant serves things like paella, frites, salads and burgers, while the Hacienda Bar does Mexican-inspired tapas if you fancy something different in the evening. The snack bar by the pool covers the quick-lunch bases: pizzas, paninis and hot dogs. We tended to either self-cater or eat at one of the many lovely restaurants nearby.
If this sounds like your family’s idea of a perfect holiday, you can browse availability here.
Days Out & Things to Do Near Sète (The Venice of Languedoc)
Le Castellas is close to Sète (we drove and cycled there!), a characterful port town in Southern France. Known as the Venice of Languedoc, its network of canals is lined with beautiful old buildings, fishermen’s houses, working boats, swing bridges and low-lying bridges.
Cycling to Sète Along the Beach Path
The campsite has bikes available to hire on-site (it cost about €34 to hire 2 adult bikes and helmets). We brought the children’s own bikes with us and cycled the flat, traffic-free path that runs alongside the beach all the way into Sète. The return trip is approximately 16km, and the surface is excellent throughout – smooth and car-free. There are multiple places to stop for a dip in the sea if the heat gets too much.
About half way along there is a bike pump track – if you’re kids are into that!
Our five-year-old managed the whole thing, although did need some encouragement on the way back due to the heat. Go as early as you can so you’re not cycling in the midday sun or plan a long lunch/beach day at the other end and come back later in the day.
Les Halles de Sète
Foodies: don’t miss Les Halles de Sète, the covered food market in the heart of the town. Inside, counters are piled with fresh local produce, vendors sell oysters shucked to order, whole roast chickens spin and Iberian ham is sliced tissue-thin. There is communal eating at long shared tables, cold wine, and a hubbub of people tucking into delicious food.
The Canals and an Evening Boat Trip
On a separate day, we drove into town in the afternoon (parking at underground car park Parking du Canal), and took a guided 45-minute evening canal boat trip, ducking under bridges (much to my kids’ delight) and visiting La Pointe Courte – the old fishermans’ quarter, bedecked with lobster pots and nets on the water’s edge.
Several operators run these, with various durations available. We would have loved to do the two-hour dolphin-spotting trip out to sea, but that requires children to be at least eight years old – something to plan for on a return visit in a few years time!
Sète Lighthouse
My five year old was desperate to see the lighthouse at Mont Saint-Clair up close – so, and I quote, he “could see how big it was”. Apparently you can climb the 126 steps for views over the town, the Étang de Thau, and the Mediterranean, although it looked pretty closed when we visited.
Water Jousting (Joutes Nautiques)
Don’t Miss Sète’s most spectacular tradition: two competitors stand on poles extending from the backs of boats and try to knock each other into the water using lances. It’s been going for over 350 years. Free to watch from the canal banks.
Tournament dates run throughout summer. The biggest event is the Fête de la Saint-Louis (21-23 August 2026). Smaller tournaments run from late June through early September.
Espace Georges Brassens
A cultural museum dedicated to Sète’s most famous son – the singer-songwriter Georges Brassens. Even if the kids aren’t remotely interested in French chanson, it’s a beautifully put-together space in his birthplace neighbourhood of La Pointe Courte.
Where to Eat in Sète
Sète has a seriously good food scene built around the sea. The local speciality is tielle – a small savoury pastry filled with octopus and spicy tomato sauce. You’ll find them everywhere.
Oh Gobï – Tables are set right on the canal’s edge, beside fishing boats and the general life of a working waterway. The atmosphere is wonderful. That said, it is expensive, and our children were not impressed with the menu (fish and chips or steak haché and chips for kids – mine are fussy though!) I had a tuna steak that was excellent. Worth going for a drink for the vibes though.
L’Ananas – This hole-in-the-wall eatery serves Réunionnaise cuisine, and I lived in Réunion for five months, so spotting the sign was a memory blast from the past. I have never encountered this cuisine outside of the island itself, which makes it a rare find indeed. The aromas and the menu were exactly as I remembered them – bouchons, rhum arrangée, cheese samosas, bourbon…yum!)
Le Bar au Bobar – Steps from the fish market, with a canal-side terrace that’s perfect for a long lunch. Specialities include squid stew, octopus bourride, and of course, tielle sétoise. Authentic, atmospheric, and brilliant value.
La Méditerranéenne – Known for consistently excellent tielle and fresh fish, with a nice terrace. A solid all-rounder for families wanting classic Sète cooking without the fine-dining price tag.
The Halles de Sète (Covered Market) – As mentioned above – a must-visit for a brilliant, good-value lunch. Order oysters and wine at the stalls (Bouzigues oysters are some of the best in France).
Coco Mango – A dessert and ice cream spot on the Avenue de la Méditerranée in Vias. The tiramisu flavour was delish! I also had a freshly squeezed orange juice which was very welcome on a hot afternoon.
Other Day Trips from Castellas
Montpellier (30 min)
Great for an afternoon – the Place de la Comédie is beautiful, there are good shops, and the tram system makes it easy with kids.
Marseillan & Marseillan-Plage (20 min)
Marseillan is a gorgeous little port village on the Thau lagoon.
Agde & Cap d’Agde (15 min)
Cap d’Agde has the famous Luna Park funfair, which was open during the evening during May Half Term.
Bouzigues: The Oyster Shacks of the Thau Lagoon
This was one of my best experiences of the whole trip, although I’m the only one of our family who ate there (nobody else is a shellfish fan)! Bouzigues is a tiny village on the edge of the Étang de Thau, the heart of oyster and mussel farming in the region. The lagoon is dotted with the wooden platforms of the oyster beds.
Les Jardins d’Oc – Rock up when the staff are preparing the oysters for the lines along the waterfront, then grab a seat at the oyster bar and take your pick from the simple menu. Bowls of fresh prawns, oysters, moules – all for around €6-8 per bowl. €2 for bread to go with it, a carafe of cold rosé wine, and the oyster farm literally within eyesight on the water.
As fresh as they come and great value. There’s also a covered restaurant if you’d rather sit inside, but the bar is where you want to be.
Day Trip to Béziers
Béziers is about 15km north-west of Le Castellas. The magnificent Saint-Nazaire Cathedral dominates the skyline, with the ancient Pont-Vieux bridge spanning the Orb River below.
Make sure Écluses de Fonserannes is on your sightseeing list – the nine historic canal locks on the Canal du Midi are an extraordinary feat of 17th-century engineering that steps boats up (or down) the hillside in a staircase of nine consecutive chambers. Even if engineering isn’t your thing, it’s extremely impressive watching the boats navigate the locks – my five year old was mesmerised.
Time it right and you can park at Parking du Pont Vieux, walk along the river and follow the locks up the hill. There you’ll find toilets, a restaurant and a land train with audio guide (Petit Train de Béziers) that takes you all the way into the centre of town (€9 for adults, €5 for kids). Book this in advance at the office beside the restaurant where the train stops if you can. We thought it was a hop-on, hop-off affair, but unfortunately it was completely full when we tried to board and we had to walk back (not so good in the heat and when we thought we’d conjured the perfect plan!)
Round off the day at another excellent covered food market – Les Halles de Béziers – brilliant for lunch: fresh produce, local charcuterie, cheeses, sushi and even a chicken nuggets and chips stall for the youngsters.
Honest Pros & Cons of Le Castellas Eurocamp
The Pros
- So many! We loved the general vibe of this site.
- Direct beach access through coded private gates.
- Outstanding cycling – the flat, traffic-free beach path to Sète. Our kids also loved doing loops of the site, or just pedalling outside our holiday home.
- The Ultimate holiday homes are generously-sized, spotless and in a great location.
- Swimming pools have enough variety for different ages of kids.
- Brilliant location for day trips to explore the Languedoc region.
- Wifi is exceptional! Included for free in our Ultimate holiday home package – we could get great signal even on the beach.
The Cons
- Site size: Le Castellas is very long, so if you are allocated a holiday home at the far end of the parc, the walking distances are significant and you’ll be reliant on the land train.
- Nightly entertainment: we only watched one show, but I have seen better at other parcs. It was well-attended though and the kids all seemed to enjoy it. If you have a spot close to the stage you may find it too loud some nights.
We’d book Le Castellas again without hesitation.
Who Is Le Castellas Best For?
| ✓ Perfect For… | ✗ Maybe Not For… |
|---|---|
| Families with children aged 5-14 who want waterslides and beach in one place | Couples or adults-only groups seeking a peaceful retreat |
| Parents who want self-catering convenience with resort-level facilities | Those after a back-to-basics camping feel |
| Families who love camping but are looking for more creature comforts | Anyone who dislikes large, multi-operator resorts in peak season |
| Cycling, active families – the beach path to Sète is exceptional |
If that sounds like your family → check dates and prices for Le Castellas
Cost Breakdown & Money-Saving Tips
For Eurocamp accommodation at Le Castellas you are paying for the quality of the parc, the beach location, the pool complex, and the overall standard of the facilities and in our experience, it is very much worth it, especially if you’re in a good spot.
| Expense | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| Accommodation (Ultimate) | While we stayed in the top-tier ultimate accommodation option, Eurocamp offers a variety of budget-friendly alternatives. Staying outside the peak summer rush can yield incredible savings, with seven-night stays in June starting from just £460. During the peak August school holidays, that figure rises to around £1,898. To secure the best value, keep an eye out for early booking promotions released throughout the year, and remember that returning guests can leverage loyalty discounts of approximately 10%. |
| Fuel (UK return) | Approx £345 – £375 |
| Ferry crossing (return) | Approx £200 Dover-Calais (cheaper if booked via Eurocamp – give them a call with your preferred crossing details) |
| Tolls | Roughly £160-£180 in autoroute toll fees (Péages), although we used a toll tag. |
| Bike hire and activities on-site | €34 for 2 adult bikes and helmets |
| Mini jeeps etc. | €11 per car |
Eurocamp’s early booking discounts are significant – booking in January for summer travel can save considerably compared to booking in May or June. Keep an eye on their seasonal sales.
Self-catering for the majority of meals makes a substantial difference to the overall cost, and the local supermarkets near Castellas are well-stocked and excellent value for French produce.
Check current availability for your dates →
Frequently Asked Questions About Le Castellas
Is Le Castellas Eurocamp suitable for toddlers and very young children?
Le Castellas has dedicated splash areas for younger children at both swimming pool complexes, making it manageable for toddlers. The site is large and some facilities involve walking distances, so a pushchair or carrier is advisable for the youngest visitors. Our children loved getting around on their bikes and there is a land train too to ferry visitors around (be warned, they don’t like you using this as a ride).
How far is Le Castellas from the beach?
Le Castellas is directly on the beach. From most of the holiday homes the coded beach access gates are a matter of a few minutes’ walk.
Is Le Castellas worth visiting in May or September rather than July and August?
Yes. Shoulder season visits mean warm temperatures, but significantly fewer crowds at the pools and lower accommodation prices.
Which accommodation should I choose at Le Castellas?
If your budget allows, the Ultimate holiday home is our recommendation – particularly for families of five or more. If budget is a consideration, the Comfort and Premium tiers are solid alternatives; just request a central pitch location when booking. Compare all tiers and check live prices here.
Is there WiFi at Le Castellas Eurocamp?
WiFi is available on-site and is excellent, even reaching as far as the beach. It was included in our stay, which I’m not sure is the case for all accommodation.
Final Verdict: Is Le Castellas Worth It for Families?
Yes. For families with children in the five to fourteen range who want a beach holiday with proper waterpark facilities, exceptional cycling infrastructure, and direct Mediterranean access, Le Castellas is fantastic.
In peak August, like many places in France, I imagine it is buzzing and busy. The beach at sunset will be yours to savour with a glass of wine while your children rush in and out of warm waters, the Mediterranean turning from aquamarine to iridescent gold is hard to beat.
We would definitely go back and in fact, we actually combined our stay at Le Castellas with another Eurocamp parc 40-minutes drive away – Le Serignan Plage (review coming soon)!
We are bonafide Eurocamp fans and are already looking at more of Eurocamp’s vast portfolio for our next trip away, because they just tick so many boxes and work so well for family holidays with kids of varying ages.
Dates fill up fast. Early booking secures the best pitches and prices. Ready to Book Le Castellas? Check Availability on Eurocamp →
More Eurocamp Reviews from This Bristol Brood
- Camping Canet Plage: Le Brasilia review
- Les Prairies de la Mer Review: Family Camping Near St Tropez
- La Croix du Vieux Pont: campsite near Disneyland Paris
- Eurocamp Sérignan Plage Review 2026: Our Honest Family Verdict (coming soon)
- The Best Eurocamp Sites in South of France for Families (coming soon)
- Our Full France Road Trip with Three Kids: Calais to the Mediterranean (coming soon)
