The Syndicat du Bas Languedoc has entrusted the public service delegation of drinking water for the 27 municipalities1 that make up the Semi-Public Company with a Single Operation (SemOp) “Eau du Bas Languedoc” 40% owned by the local community and 60% by SUEZ generating cumulative revenue of €130 million In order to measure its impact on the planet and society the SemOp “Eau du Bas Languedoc” becomes the first benefit corporation The Illiwap application and the animation of social networks will ensure a dynamic communication “Eau Du Bas Languedoc” SemOp – key figures: 1The Syndicat du Bas Languedoc brings together the following municipalities: Agde 2Based on the consumption of 120 m3 of drinking water HYANNIS ― When customers step inside Chez Antoine Café on Main Street, they take a step closer to Paris, or rather Balaruc-Les-Bains an area in southern France where La Cure Gourmande began in 1989 shop on the principles used by La Cure Gourmande a premium bakery-confectionary company where he worked for 16 years as a marketing developer The company operates about 40 locations globally, primarily in tourist areas where shoppers are willing to try new foods and taste sensations. A 2015 article in Retail Insider quoted a Montreal franchise owner who said La Cure Gourmande would be a world leader in sweets and confectionery by 2030 Vera had come to North America around the time of the article to seek out places that would fit the company’s expansion goals: city centers and areas that drew people with plenty of disposable income they ask me to go back to France,” he said I was in charge of developing the brand all around the world We opened a flagship store in New York in 2015 because of terrorist attacks in Paris and Nice Hyannis seemed a prime location with its seasonality and gentrification to open a shop of his own Where should you eat on Cape Cod?:Cape Cod Times Ultimate food and drink guide Chez Antoine is about 850 square feet with workspace and convection ovens in the back and enough room for a line of people to pass glass cases beckoning with pastries Glass cases filled with French butter croissants Belgium waffles and assortments of colorful macarons entice customers There are Croque madam sandwiches and baguettes filled with turkey and cheese for lunch specialty coffee drinks and products from France and Belgium occupy shelves in a small and “je ne sais quoi” that has turned the tiny shop into a success in less than a year’s time It now employs 20 workers during the high season and five during the winter months Vera was recognized with a small business award from the Greater Hyannis Chamber of Commerce The shop carries whole grain mustard infused with Cognac and spices from Meux a family-run biscuit factory in the south of France fine chocolates from Neuhaus’ artisanal chocolatiers in Belgium and bonbons and lollipops from Bonbons Barnier in Rouen There are other wonders: Forchy cake aux fruits mix small batch truffle products from Truffleist a sea salt hand-harvested from the marshes of South Brittany whether you order take out or sit in the small café enjoying one of the finer things in life: a croissant made with French butter coffee with a touch of 1883 Maison Routin Salted Caramel Syrup 'I found great economic prosperity': Immigrants come to Cape for opportunity, better life But best of all is the welcome Vera and his staff gives to customers and wearing his ever-present bright yellow La Cure Gourmande apron Vera is a man who loves his pastries and his patrons He’s known to Sturgis School students who make the café a regular part of their day In the summer he’s visited by tourists galore And people who live and work nearby pop in for coffees While those items may be out of reach for most comfort can be with at Chez Antoine's Bonne Maman Lemon Tartelettes for $6.95 honey-made candies by L’Abeille Diligente for $9.95 or a jar of Edmond Fallot Tarragon Dijon mustard for $28.95 While he hopes to showcase La Cure Gourmande products eventually and droughts in Europe and Canada (a major producer of mustard seed) have pushed plans back Vera isn’t interested in a La Cure Gourmande franchise It’s hard to garner respect for quality when you have a franchise And he has seen some bad examples in his travels Balancing act: Why it matters to you when restaurants juggle takeout, dine-in orders Americans were great customers in Europe because the food was part of their family history A lot of them had French and Italian roots Parisians are much worse,” he added with a laugh Quebec is Vera’s go-to place for inspiration with its arts scene Contact Denise Coffey at dcoffey@capecodonline.com Stay connected with Cape Cod news, sports, restaurants and breaking news.  Download our free app A man in the south of France has been fined for travelling at almost four times over the speed limit on an electric kick scooter The man was seen travelling at 98kph on a road with a speed limit of 50kph in Balaruc-les-Bains near Sète (Hérault) electric scooters are permitted to travel at maximum speeds of 25kph in France the Gendarmerie de Hérault said the e-scooter had been modified in order to reach the high speed it was more like a fighter jet,” the gendarmerie said The driver has been fined €135 for speeding and could face further fines of up to €1,500 for illegally modifying the scooter The gendarmerie said the modified scooter has since been immobilised and is “awaiting a decision from prosecutors over its confiscation” Electric scooters can be driven at maximum speeds of 25kph They are allowed on roads with a maximum speed limit of 50kph and bike lanes They can also be used in pedestrian areas driven at lower speeds of 6kph as long as drivers do not disrupt pedestrians Electric scooters are not allowed on pavements French police arrest man riding electric scooter at 57kph Recent power cut in Spain and Portugal is warning to holidaymakers to ensure they are prepared for worst-case scenario The resort is set to remain open to the public and not only to professionals Vous utilisez un ancien navigateur. Ce site risque de ne pas s'afficher correctement. Mettez à jour votre navigateur pour améliorer votre expérience Where do the thermal waters of Balaruc-les-Bains come from What is the source of the drinking water that supplies the city of Sète The goal of the DEM'Eaux Thau research project was to improve our understanding of the structure and functioning of a complex karst hydrosystem in the Thau Basin area Find out more about the general context of the study carried out between 2017 and 2022 to the west of Montpellier The underground water resources of the karst limestone formations of the Montpellier western fold are of major interest for the region for the supply of drinking water (town of Sète Syndicat Intercommunal d'Aduction en Eau Potable Balaruc-Frontignan Syndicat Intercommunal d'Adduction d'Eau des communes du Bas Languedoc) in particular shellfish farming/fishing in the lagoon as well as for the spa on the Balaruc-les-Bains peninsula (the leading spa in France with more than 50,000 guests coming to "take the waters" in 2019) The site is located at the convergence of underground waters coming from various surface and deep reservoirs: cold karst waters of the Causses d'Aumelas and the Gardiole waters of marine origin (lagoon and sea) and hot and mineralized thermal waters These different reservoirs interact with each other through complex processes whose determinants are not all understood Vue (de gauche à droite) sur la presqu’ile de Balaruc Sète et la mer Méditerranée (Mont Saint Clair à Sète This karst aquifer is subject to temporary brackish water intrusion phenomena (called “inversac”) via the submarine Vise spring in the Thau Lagoon less than 200 m west of the Balaruc-les-Bains peninsula seven inversac phenomena have been detected which can last several months (about 6 months in 2010 and 2014 instead of supplying fresh water for the aquatic life of the Thau lagoon leading to progressive and recurrent salinisation of the aquifer to the abandoning (in 2014) of the Cauvy spring in Balaruc-les-Bains as a supply of drinking water given the different issues at stake in this coastal area the different stakeholders need a groundwater management tool This spring usually supplies fresh water to the pond which is extremely beneficial for aquatic wildlife the spring began absorbing brackish water from the lagoon and the phenomenon has occurred several times since then This has led to the gradual salinisation of the aquifer which was studied as part of the DEM'Eaux Thau research project This scientific study was conducted by a multidisciplinary team in order to characterise the geology hydrogeology and geochemistry of the Thau hydrosystem The researchers then pooled and discussed their different observations to build a comprehensive conceptual model of the functioning and dynamics of the aquifer This was achieved in various ways by means of geophysical imagery drilling a borehole in Sète and constructing a multi-borehole platform in Balaruc-les-Bains designing and installing custom-made equipment for the Vise spring and unprecedented sampling campaigns (180 samples It is through the Commission Locale de l'Eau (Local Water Commission) that we are closely monitoring the phenomena of inversac and that we are particularly interested in these technical studies so that we can establish a territorial strategy to control the risks of saline intrusion for the various users of the water in this aquifer fishermen and of course the Balaruc-les-Bains spa We all have a responsibility to share this state of the art The results of the various tasks carried out by the project partners are summarised in the form of reports or publications The list below will be updated with links to the documents as they are produced The goal of the DEM'Eaux Thau research project was to improve our understanding of the structure and functioning of the complex karst hydrosystem in the Thau Basin area which has been affected by the inversac phenomenon The project involved creating a web platform to observe the aquifer and spring a 3D hydrogeological model and an aquifer management tool All the project’s results are now available for consultation The project has a budget of 5.3 million euros 42% of which is financed by the Ministry of Higher Education and Research and the Occitania Region (as part of the 2015-2020 State-Region Plan Contract) 17% by the Rhône-Méditerranée-Corse Water Agency 2% by Balaruc-les-Bains and 1% by the Syndicat Mixte du Bassin de Thau The remaining 23% of the project's funding comes from contributions made by most of the partners Logos des financeurs et partenaires du projet Dem’Eaux Thau Subscribe to our newsletter and receive our news every month Discover how Paris 2024 became the most media-covered Olympic Games in history See how the Olympic Games’ communications team supported by Wiztrust’s tailored PR platform overcame complex challenges-from synchronizing teams and managing thousands of journalists to ensuring top-level security Learn how innovative 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Read our Privacy notice There’s a kaleidoscope of life and cultures around the Etang de Thau this shimmering stretch of water is one of the largest lagoons on the Mediterranean shores The area is variously a haven of great seafood charming villages and wonderfully colourful traditions there are plenty of very productive vineyards for here you can visit an oyster farm and also sample the famous Noilly Prat vermouth Just outside the sleepy village of Marseillan Stéphane Saez runs La Grande Bleue oyster farm – which you approach through vineyards that seem to be planted into the lagoon itself Stéphane explains to visitors that because the Canal du Midi empties into the lagoon nearby part-salty water that is richly beneficial for growing oysters These are complex creatures to farm: they are grown on strings; they change sex every year; and the water quality is tightly controlled in order to meet the strict requirements of the renowned AOC Bouzigues label under which oysters in this area are marketed The absorbing afternoon tour culminates with a tasting accompanied by a glass of the local Picpoul de Pinet white wine which is a particularly good match with seafood By the lovely old harbour of Marseillan you’ll learn how the lagoon environment is also integral to Noilly Prat which has been produced here for more than 160 years The vermouth is made with two types of white wine that are matured indoors for eight months and then left in barrels outside for a year the wines are blended and infused with herbs A tour through this attractive old winery ends with a tasting of the original clear aperitif – the slightly sweeter red vermouth or amber Noilly Prat that is available only from the Marseillan headquarters The Marseillan Plage resort is several kilometres south Stretching east beyond it lies the narrow bank of the lagoon At the far eastern end the lively little town of Sète is set at the foot of Mont St Clair It was purpose-built as a port in the 17th century and its elegant town buildings are laid out along a series of canals – so you may feel as if you’ve reached a French version of Venice here Wander the canals of the centre to take in the bustling atmosphere of the water traffic and to see fishing boats coming and going Take a cruise around town or into the lagoon then make your way to the top of Mont St Clair (it’s a short drive or a steep walk up more than 400 steps from the heart of town) From this vantage point you variously gaze over the sea the terracotta roofs of town and the oyster farms of the lagoon About one third of the residents are descendants of Italian settlers (from Naples rather than Venice) and this is reflected in the cuisine: try a tielle a sort of pasta pie with a picquant squid-and-tomato filling which is a local version of pasta with meatballs This spirited town is also renowned for the tradition of water jousting – a striking spectacle and a serious sport in which contestants attempt to knock each other off long platforms extending from boats Tournaments take place in the summer on the Canal Royal there’s a party atmosphere during much of the summer with a number of festivals held around town – among them are celebrations of photography in May; French song in June; jazz in July; and world music in August a few kilometres north of Sète you reach the spa town of Balaruc–les-Bains It was the Romans who first started using the warm thermal springs here for the curative treatments and therapeutic sessions and today the town is the third largest spa resort in France The mineral mud treatments here are said to be particularly effective against rheumatism and arthritis visit the picturesque adjoining village of Balaruc-le-Vieux an ancient medieval settlement that still retains its circular defensive walls seaside sport and historic charm around the market town of Frontignan which adjoin the Etang de Thau by way of the Canal du Rhône à Sète Frontignan in many respects offers the best of all worlds Its medieval heart centres on a lovely 12th-century church while its lagoon shores present 7km of golden beaches There are four well-equipped campsites here and a bustling marina on the other side of the waters stretch the tranquil parkland and vineyards of the Gardiole hills What to do and see La Grande Bleue Oyster and Mussel Farm, Mas 778, Lieu-dit la Fadeze, 34340 Marseillan (00 33 4 67 53 14 91; conchyliculture.com) Guided visits around the farm are available on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 4pm €6 including a tasting of mussels and oysters and a glass of white wine Noilly Prat, 1 Rue Noilly, 34340 Marseillan (00 33 4 67 77 75 19; noillyprat.com) Guided visits March to November daily between 10am-11am and 2.30-4.30pm (and until 7pm in the summer); adults €3.50 Cruises are available around Sète and the lagoon with Circuit Canaux et Etangs (00 33 4 67 74 35 30) and Sète Croisières (00 33 4 67 46 00 46; sete-croisieres.com) which has boats with viewing galleries below the surface 34110 Frontignan (00 33 4 99 04 05 53; lepoissonrouge34.fr) The menu of this bright new restaurant emphasises seafood Terre et Mer, 28 promenade JB Marty, Place du Cap St Louis, 34200 Sète (00 33 4 67 74 49 43; restaurant-terreetmer.com) An intimate and good-value restaurant serving beautifully presented cuisine based on local ingredients Where to stay Port Rive Gauche, Rue des Pêcheurs, Marseillan Port, 34340 Marseillan (00 33 4 67 11 87 15; garrigaeresorts.com) The 11 apartments have terraces with great views Grand Hôtel Sète, 17 Quai de Tassigny, 34200 Sète (00 33 4 67 74 71 77; legrandhotelsete.com) This elegant Belle Époque building in the heart of town has 43 comfortable rooms Hôtel Mercure Sète-Balaruc-les-Bains, Ave des Hespérides, 34540 Balaruc-les-Bains (00 33 4 67 51 79 79; mercure.com). Newly renovated, this 86-room hotel has a swimming pool and courtyard restaurant and is close to the new O’balia spa. Doubles from €70 without breakfast. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies