in Antiquity a maritime way protected by the lagoon made it possible to go from Arles to the ponds of Roussillon.Cette sees maritime was juxtaposed with the Héracléenne way built by the Greeks who connected Marseilles to Spain.

Among the ponds constituting the Languedocien lagoon, the pond of Thau was most important.

It is extremely probable that Phéniciens moving towards their counters agathois used the natural shelter that offered this site to them to be protected from the storms, the tramontana and the winds of the North-East. The territory of Mèze was then probably occupied by Ibères populations or Ligurians.

It is on the site of the vault of the Penitent ones that one found the first traces of the occupation of Mèze by Phéniciens, probably as of VIIIème front century J. - C.

The name of Mèze would come besides from the phenician Mansa who means: high place from where a smoke rises. Because the site was to be lit by a fire beside the current vault of Penitent (one found the vestiges of an important hearth at this place).

Phéniciens, populates originating in the Middle East, were large navigators and especially of large tradesmen who sailed on all Mediterranean until Spain where they came to seek tin and the money.

On this maritime way, Mèze thus became very quickly a lodging of stage. It knew prosperity thanks to an important traffic and as of VIème front century J. - C, a port was built there.

After Phéniciens, they are the Phocéens colonists (Greek of Asia Mineure), also large navigators and adventurers who are installed on the site. They had founded Marseilles into 600 before JC and very quickly essaimé all along côte.Contrairement in Phéniciens, the Greeks do not make that trade, but add the desire of a local activity and the development of the resources which the establishment offered.

The colony of Mèze was regarded as an advantageous source of receipt because of the piscicultural richness of the pond of Thau (it is noticed that all the words which milked with fishing have Greek origins).

They would have been the first to raise oysters, to acclimatize the vine and to exploit the first saltworks While the colonists of Ionie and Marseilles intallaient themselves in Mèze and thrived there, a great shift in population achieved itself.

But Phocéens were not going to be long in becoming acquainted with a neighbor much more quarrelsome. In 219 front J. - C, daring forwarding which the Romans carried out against Hannibal in Spain had for our town of deep repercussions. Mèze and the pond of Thau became the logistic support of the Spanish countryside.

With the listening of its time, Mèze made environmental protection one of its priorities.

Dynamic city thanks to its many sports activities or of leisures, it lives with through its demonstrations and festivals traditionnelles.L' ecosite (station of Lagunage).

- The Plain of the Dinosaurs (Paléonthologique Museum).

- The old village. The castle of Girard (fine XVIIe century).

- The small fishing port

- The marina.

- The Vault of Penitent (XIIe century)

- Vestiges of the ramparts.

- White Mourre (conchylaceous lake village).

- Festival of coloured musics (July 21-22-23).

- Festival of the Inheritance (July 29). Oyster (August 4 and 5) celebrates.

- Festival of Mèze (from the 18 to August 23, totemic exit of the animal: the ox).

- Gustatory theatrical Meetings “Words and papillae” Mèze act III (from the 4 to September 17).
Dynamic city thanks to its many sports activities or of leisures, it lives with through its demonstrations and festivals traditionnelles.L' ecosite (station of Lagunage).